A Healthy Substite For Coffee That Tastes Great
Want the java monkey off your back without headaches, cold sweats, and an ever-present fear of falling asleep at the wheel? This delicious raw beverage was created during a two week living foods cleanse to keep my husband from going postal on anyone within five feet of him. I find it eases the transition off the bean, keeps me awake, focused and clear-headed. It puts an extra pep in my step like coffee but without the 10am come down that has me jonesing for sugar or another cup o’ joe. Try it for yourself and let me know your results.
"The Maca FACA" 1 teaspoon Maca Powder 1 tablespoon Raw Cacao Powder 1/4 teaspoon DoMatcha Green Tea Powder 1 to 1 1/2 cup Almond Milk (easy to make your own) 1 teaspoon raw honey dash of cayenne pepper
In a blender (Magic Bullet works great for this small job) mix all ingredients until well combined. Adjust the Matcha Green Tea Powder as needed to keep yourself caffeinated. For most ¼ teaspoon in combination with the Maca and raw chocolate is plenty, but there is no need to suffer through the transition. Maca is an adaptogen and will help you through the change. It is also a stimulant that helps with focus and mental clarity (and some say sexual prowess- bonus!). This beverage will give you the pick me up of coffee without taxing your system. Once you no longer physically crave the caffeine you can cut the green tea powder.
Dollars and Sense
A quick mention on cost is in order since you will be laying out some cash up front for the organic ingredients in this beverage. When you add up the Maca (about $18 for 16oz), Raw Cacao ($14 for 16 ounces), Matcha Green Tea ($25), and the raw honey ($7) you get a grand total of $64. Not cheap (prices shown are what I found on Amazon today). Keep in mind that this should keep a single person stocked for two to three months if not longer. It bares mentioning that coffee gives you mental stimulus but no nutritional value, whereas the Maca Facka contains a bounty of antioxidants, phytonutrients, bioflavinoids, and even iron. All that and for less than the price of 16 cups of coffee at Starbucks. You are worth it! Also note that you can taper down the use of the matcha green tea and use that as a yummy, antioxidant rich treat on its own.
Whether or not to invest in a Magic Bullet is a question of efficiency and clean up time. A VitaMix is the only blender you’ll ever need, period. I got one of these as a gift and thought, “pisshaaw, I’ll never use this goofy little machine. I have the mighty Vita-Mix.” I was wrong. I busted it out to make baby food for my son and it has been out and actively used in my kitchen ever since. Love it for the Maca Fack, small or single servings of smoothie, salad dressings, and baby food. It’s definitely not a MUST-HAVE, but man is it handy if you hate the blender clean up as much as me.
Im not a big fan of coffee but this is a delicious alternative. Did this work on travis, has he made the conversion?
Hi Joy,
I was very skeptical about trying this drink at first. I loved my hot coffee in the morning and when I have tried to go off before I suffered horrible headaches. I started this 2 weeks ago and I am happy to say that not only have I not had a cup of coffee but I feel soooo much better. I don’t crash during the day my stomach is not bloated and my skin is looking great! This is a wonderful alternative and I am so happy that I found you. Thank you again!
Carla,
Thrilled to hear about your success. If you ever want to heat this beverage up, go for it. It’s still better for you than coffee, but don’t denature it by popping it into the microwave. Heat it in a pan on the stove. If you dig it cold, it keeps all the raw benefits as well. If you need a mid-morning pick me up a nice, anti-oxidant rich green tea will give you the satisfaction of a warm drink as well. Good for you for making a healthy switch! Thanks for sharing with me.
To your good healthy,
Joy
Dru,
Thanks for asking. Way to watch out for your bro! Travis did great on this drink during the raw cleanse. He still does the bean- he loves Two Dollar Tuesdays at Dutch Brothers! But he has cut his consumption considerably and drinks it by choice when he wants to instead of waking up like a zombie joensing for that first cup-o-joe. The idea is to get the monkey off your back. Remember this revolution is all about balance, not abstinence of what your love to eat/drink.
To your good health,
Joy
Hellz Yes! Can’t believe it!
This recipe for Maca Faca ROCKS. Caffeine has been my Monkey for much much too long. I would have never thought I could get off coffee without going thru that 10 days of Migrane-Pain. My Yo-Yo diet with coffee has an ongoing struggle for decades. This is the first time that I’ve gone off coffee AND felt good while doing it. I actually enjoy this recipe for Maca Faca as much as I enjoy a good cup of coffee. Also, the process for making it is much like my ritual for making French Press. I think I like the process and ritual of making my morning drink as much as I enjoy imbibing it as well.
Thanks for coming up this recipe Joy. It worked for me!
Oh, Lordy. I cut out caffeine 30 years ago. But a year ago, I had a tiny cup of it, and, long story short, now am totally addicted again! Talk about an addictive drug. I’d like to try your recipe to get off of it again. Is the green tea only to add a little caffeine, to help the body adjust without headaches? I don’t like the taste of green tea. Is there something else to substitute? Or is it so little, you don’t even really taste it?
Thanks,
Constance
Constance,
You are correct! The green tea is to ween you off caffeine without any ill effects. You are also correct in assuming that the amount is so small it does not effect the taste. Another easy way to do this is to mix half coffee and half maca and reduce it down until you have ZERO coffee and ALL Maca FACA. Either way, you will be off the bean in no time.
Keep us posted!
Joy
Maca Faca, what a great concept. I will have to try this, I have been on and off coffee so many times I lost count. Super cool, thanks Joy!
Tom,
Let me know who the switch goes for you. Travis, my husband, was a massive coffee crack head with a ton of yo-yo-ing over the years. He loved the switch because he experienced no headaches, no mood swings & no sweats. The theobromine (and maybe the low levels of cannabinoids) made the switch painless. I love it simply because it tastes great.
Great to hear from you Tom. Take care.
Joy
Your presentation is delightful! This recipe has been in my repertoire for awhile as I love to have a hot foamy drink on a cold snowy day! I add carob powder sometimes or lucuma powder. But I am with you on the honey.
For what it’s worth… You should have won the hot raw chef Valentine’s contest. I also noticed your two page publication in “Fresh” at the Wellness Show in Vancouver this past weekend. Keep up the good work. Is your book available in Canada? How many times have I told myself that I do not need anymore Raw food “cook”books????
Thank you Afke. I love the lucuma idea, I will try that too. I have been adding mesquite powder for the bone building calcium, magnesium, potassium combination. And the malt flavor is a bonus too.
Thanks for the “vote” of confidence about the contest. I had fun entering and have been experimenting even more with my dessert skills. I have a new raw pistachio baklava made with a “pastry” from dehydrated young coconut meat. My skills will continue to grow. As you know it is a labor of love.
I am inspired by your line of cookies and crackers. What a handy option. I can’t wait to try them. Let me know if they will be distributed here in California. I will look out for them and do a feature on them.
I here you about the raw food books. My shelf may very well fall off the wall if I stack another book on it. The book is electronic, a PDF and is included in the Rocking Body Raw Food Course. As fellow chef, you probably don’t need it, but I sent a copy to your email as a gift for your kind words and support.
Thank you again.
Joy
I just ordered the ingredients and I’m really excited to try this. Can you tell me the difference between cacao, cocoa, and carob? I noticed all three next to each other on the shelf at my health food store, and even one labeled “Cacao Powder” on the front said “Cocoa Powder” in the ingredient listing.
Beth,
I am so pleased to hear you are making the switch! I will happily describe the difference between cacao, cocoa and carob. I will do that in a full length post so I can answer your question thoroughly. For now suffice it to say that you want raw cacao for that recipe. We will go into different uses for each in the next post!
Thank you for being in the healthy eating conversation with me here on the Delicious Revolution.
Joy
Joy,
Have you tried this with powdered honey? I have not played with powdered honey before, but if it works well, it would be great to mix the dry ingredients in a small crock so that all I have to do is spoon it out and add almond milk in the morning. Is there any reason to worry about the integrity of the ingredients if they are mixed together on the shelf? Maybe it is crazy to worry about, but at the price of these goodies I want them to maintain full potency. Oh, if this idea works, may I use your recipe (and credit your website) to make jars of Maca FACA for Christmas gifts (just for family and friends)?
Thanks!
Jessie
Jessie,
I love the idea. Because of the powerful enzymes in honey and its antimicrobial benefit, I would keep the honey separate. Perhaps give a little basket that has a large mason jar filled with the powdered ingredients mixed already in the right ratio, and a jar or local raw honey. If they are boot the type to make their own milk, you could include a couple of boxes of organic almond milk. If they have a good blender, you cold give them a nut milk bag, some almonds, and a vanilla bean. That would not only give the gift of a healthy alternative to coffee, but also expose your loved ones to an easy, yummy, dairy alternative. Your friends and family are lucky to have you!
Joy
I love this! So much better than coffee! Every time I order coffee I feel bad about myself because of the crazy caffeine and the icky dairy. I am so happy to have a great alternative that boosts my energy level but is also good for me in so many ways! It is totally worth the investment in the ingredients! You\’ll save yourself a bundle if you have a coffee shop addiction. Thank you so much, Joy! My boyfriend and I love you and your recipes! : )
Stacy,
One of the single best ways to start a shift from acid to alkaline is too get off the bean. This drink makes the transition pain free, and as you tasted, yummy! I am thrilled to hear you are enjoying it and that you are using the recipes on the site. Lovely to have you in the community.
Joy
I just made this and have to say I am more lit up than if I drank 3 jumbo extra large Dunkin donuts coffees all at once. I can barely type I’m so hopped up. I did not add cayenne and I used raw coconut crystals in place of the honey. I also had raw cashew milk on hand instead of almond milk. Whoa! Holy jet fuel!!!
Lots of people who have burned out their adrenals from long term, massive coffee drinking need this much “jet fuel” to get off the bean. If you are sensitive, as I am, a 6oz cup of this is more than enough to pump you up in the AM. Ease back, no need to overdo it!
Joy
As vegans don’t eat honey, is maple syrup a reasonable alternative to the honey? I’m about to go out and get the ingredients and kick the habit.
Hi Joy,
This drink is AWESOME!!! I have a few questions:
-Can I double it, or would that be too much Maca, Cacao, or Green Tea Powder?
-Could I have 1 in the morning then 1 in the later afternoon, or maybe one of the Healthy Latte’s later on? Or is that too much?
Thanks!
Too much is relative. For me that would be too much! If you are coming off a 3-cups-a-day coffee routine, it might work well for you. You can always add a cup at a time to see what works for you. Go easy, no need to switch from one hook to another when it comes to morning drinks!
Thank you for your question and for your participation here on The Delicious Revolution.
Joy
Kerry,
Yes, maple, coconut sugar, raw agave, Jerusalem artichoke syrup, all good substitutes. Thank you for your question & for being in the conversation here at The Delicious Revolution.
Joy