5 Good Things - caffeine edition

the beverages in my rotation

Being almost in my 40’s, I protect my sleep fiercely and try to choose wisely when it comes to caffeine. Said another way - that random extra cup of coffee is no longer a good idea! But I’ve found my sweet spot - for now, at least.

And since Thanksgiving is later than usual this year, I realized I had time to sneak in one last ‘Good Things’ post for the year - the caffeine edition.

So here are my favorite coffees and teas, sorted in what I believe is the decreasing amount of caffeine (and no affiliate links).

• Counter Culture Coffee - My morning cuppa of sustainable black coffee. I buy the ‘Big Trouble’ beans on subscription and grind them myself with this grinder. Remember, the larger the grind size, less bitter is the coffee. I also use the Mocca Master brewer.

• Pique Sun Goddess Matcha - my new obsession, after falling prey to Instagram advertising. I’ve replaced my second mid-morning coffee with matcha - it’s somehow gentler and carries me beautifully into the afternoon. I have always disliked the taste of green tea so I was surprised by how much I love this matcha. The brand also has some excellent caffeine-free teas and a coffee alternative.

• Vahdam Chai - Post lunch, I migrate to black tea and love this vanilla chai, especially in the winter. I enjoy it black, occasionally with this Einkorn-almond cookie. The brand has a host of other flavors and is one of the leading sustainable tea packagers from India.

• Anjali’s Cup chai masala (caffeine free) - If you brew your own loose leaf tea and enjoy chai, Anjali’s chai masala is the easy way to infuse an authentic chai experience. I love this little tin and have made it part of my morning ritual to hydrate with lemon water and spices.

• Other caffeine-free options - I love Rishi Tea’s Lavender Mint and Turmeric Ginger. Also the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra Tea is my secret wind-down weapon.

See you next week with some notes for Thanksgiving! xoxo