# What's a good coffee substitute? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [May 29, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051 "2018-05-29T12:14:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/21 "2018-05-30T06:05:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > From my point of view, a caffeine addiction is better than a heron addiction. No addictions is clearly preferable to both. I use caffeine sometimes and only when driving a long distance–and that is in the form of caffeine tablets. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/22 "2018-05-30T06:14:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, the people who say that they can’t function until they’ve had their third cup of coffee: Their problem isn’t tiredness. It’s caffeine addiction. The problems they’re suffering before their coffee are from withdrawal, and would go away if they quit the caffeine entirely. Yes, exactly. I used to be in that situation myself. I couldn’t function in the morning before I had a cup (or two) of coffee. Then I gave it up, and now I wake up alert and ready for the day, without any coffee craving. In fact, I don’t even like the taste the coffee any more. With coffee addiction, you wake up with _sub-standard alertness_, and you have to drink coffee just to get back to something like normal functioning. Coffee _reduces_ alertness overall and in the long run. There’s a cost to it, like any drug. It’s that simple, though many people prefer not to believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/23 "2018-05-30T18:21:02Z")
Well gosh, now I’m just depressed. Maybe if I just drink black tea on days I’m feeling _really_ bad? > [@TruCelt](#): > > Have you had allergy tests? Histamine can make you really drowsy. Try an OTC anti-histamine and see if it helps? Oh, I can’t use anti-histamines any more. They knock me loopy for the next twenty-four hours. Completely “durr hurr whazzit” non-functional. (Which really pisses me off, because I used to be able to take them with no side effects- and then one day, I dunno, my body chemistry flipped a switch or something). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/24 "2018-05-30T18:52:54Z")
If you’re going to go the tea route, I’d suggest an Irish Breakfast Tea; they tend to be fairly strong, and among the higher caffeine levels among teas. I’m personally partial to [Barry’s](https://www.amazon.com/Barrys-Tea-Irish-Breakfast-Teabags/dp/B00IBMOBAE/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1527706324&sr=8-3&keywords=barry%27s%2Birish%2Bbreakfast%2Btea&th=1), an Irish brand, but it may or may not be easy for you to find – our local grocery store has it in their “imported foods” section, but Chicago has a pretty high Irish population. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/25 "2018-05-30T21:31:22Z")
Mountain Dew. Get the diet variety and save yourself the sugar effects. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/26 "2018-05-30T21:45:20Z")
Coke. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/27 "2018-05-30T23:31:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, the people who say that they can’t function until they’ve had their third cup of coffee: Their problem isn’t tiredness. It’s caffeine addiction. The problems they’re suffering before their coffee are from withdrawal, and would go away if they quit the caffeine entirely. I can quit whenever I want. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/28 "2018-05-30T23:44:28Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > I can quit whenever I want. Not me. #chasingthedragon ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/29 "2018-05-30T23:47:49Z")
Modafinil: Less rush & crash than coffee, lesser side effects and potential for withdrawal. It doesn’t trigger euphoria so little addiction potential. Exercise: A steep hill for someone with chronic tiredness syndrome but may be worthwhile. The exercise doesn’t have to be running a 5k. Something as simple as doing squats can help. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/30 "2018-05-31T03:34:53Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > . . . > Oh, I can’t use anti-histamines any more. They knock me loopy for the next twenty-four hours. Completely “durr hurr whazzit” non-functional. (Which really pisses me off, because I used to be able to take them with no side effects- and then one day, I dunno, my body chemistry flipped a switch or something). It may be because the formulation changed. When they moved Pseudoephedrine to UTC (And now in some states, prescription) quite a few brands just quietly changed their ingredients around. Do you remember what you used to take? > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Modafinil: Less rush & crash than coffee, lesser side effects and potential for withdrawal. It doesn’t trigger euphoria so little addiction potential. > . . . Can you get that though? I thought it was only allowed for narcoleptics and extreme sleep disorders? (and I’ve never understood why, if what they say about it being non-addictive is true.) I do know that the pro-drug “Adrafinil” is available, but it’s a supplement, so hard to find a responsible supplier. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/31 "2018-05-31T10:57:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Can you get that though? I thought it was only allowed for narcoleptics and extreme sleep disorders? (and I’ve never understood why, if what they say about it being non-addictive is true.) > > I do know that the pro-drug “Adrafinil” is available, but it’s a supplement, so hard to find a responsible supplier. Off-label prescription allows physicians to prescribe for non-traditional uses. Quite often, a drug will be intended for one thing but end up being effective for a related but otherwise quite distinct use; Famously, Viagra was first researched as a heart medication. If it’s effective for narcoleptics, extreme sleep disorders and allows a US soldier to be effective while sleep-deprived, its possible utility for chronic fatigue syndrome is worth taking a look at. Why it’s more difficult to get than worse drugs: Because often, large organizations with a lot of inertia are stupid. Also, people tend to fear what’s unfamiliar more than what’s familiar; Think of how many people are more afraid of pot than alcohol and cigarettes. In my case, I had to first take Ritalin and then Vyvanse (similar to Adderall) before being allowed to try Modafinil and only because I asked for it. That’s not because of price, 100mg of Modafinil costs 10 cents. Yet Ritalin and Vyvanse are most definitely speed and are much more prone to abuse and withdrawal. For me at least, Modafinil is milder than coffee in its ups and downs. Adrafinil as a supplement and responsible suppliers: Research your options then experiment with them on a gradual, methodical basis. I don’t recommend Modafinil as the primary coffee replacement. That would be exercise. Yet I realize that for most of us, especially those with chronic fatigue, trying an exercise regimen without a little help from our friends may seem impossible. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/32 "2018-05-31T11:29:35Z")
I’ve tried fl-modafinil and hydrafinil from a reputable supplier, but they don’t do much for me. But then neither do conventional antidepressants. Even ritalin only helps a little, and then I need larger and larger doses with less effect. I’ve tried it and given up on it a couple of times. However, I’m getting very good results with **bromantane**. Bromantane was developed in Russia in the 1980s and has been well researched there. It’s unusual in that • it has almost zero side effects • it is not addictive • it does not become less effective with time It also won’t give you a quick ‘high’. You have to take it for several days or weeks to start getting the effects. But my experience is that it actually works, and makes a real difference. I feel more alert and motivated during the day, my depression is gone, and I sleep well at night. It’s a prescription drug in Russia (for general fatigue, anxiety, depression, and mental ‘fog’), but seems to be unlisted and generally available everywhere else. It’s banned as a performance enhancer in professional sports. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051/33 "2018-05-31T16:50:55Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It may be because the formulation changed. When they moved Pseudoephedrine to UTC (And now in some states, prescription) quite a few brands just quietly changed their ingredients around. Do you remember what you used to take? Sudefed? Or whatever was around the house, I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-coffee-substitute/815051.md?page=1)