A tea pot pouring tea in to cups

Coffee to Tea How To Switch

If you're used to your morning beverage of choice being a mean cup of joe, you might be thinking... Tea tastes like water. Will I like switching from coffee to tea? We've taken some of this guess work out by coming up with our select favorites if you are ready to switch from coffee to tea.

Switching from coffee to tea

Many people look to diversify their coffee habit by incorporating tea, or get introduced to tea by a doctor because of health concerns. Examples could include lowering or eliminating caffeine intake, reducing acid content, problems with sleep, or incorporating some of the unique health benefits of tea. 

And you've consumed coffee most of your life... so what do you do?

If you're used to your morning beverage of choice being a mean cup of joe, you might be thinking...


Tea tastes like water. Will I like switching from coffee to tea?


This is common, especially for lifelong coffee drinkers. If you've consumed nothing but coffee all day long for years, you are used to a strong and bold taste. And what often happens is that any time a coffee drinker tries tea, many times "grocery store tea" that is lacking in quality and strong flavors, making tea seem generally underwhelming compared to the tried-and-true taste of their favorite brew.


Worse still, many people gravitate directly toward green tea because their doctor told them they need antioxidants while their taste buds are still skewed towards dark and strong coffee flavor, leading to a struggle in choosing the right tea. This is often compounded by grocery store green tea being very easy to over brew and become bitter.


This leaves our lifelong coffee connoisseurs feeling like tea is simply coffee's weaker cousin, lacking the punching power of their favorite pick-me-up.


Our biggest recommendation when it comes to a brand-new coffee-to-tea drinker... GO BIG. GO BOLD.


We mentioned inferior-quality bagged teas before, and it is in this regard that quality becomes a factor. Loose teas simply have many more varieties, and most importantly they are far more flavorful than their bagged counterparts. We've taken some of this guess work out by coming up with our select favorites if you are ready to switch from coffee to tea.

Teas to consider if you want to switch from coffee to tea

  • Assam Black tea - many breakfast teas use teas from Assam (from India) as the backbone of the any bold blend
  • Yunnan Black tea - we like Yunnan black tea from China because of its rich, full flavored 'woody' profile. It doesn't have the sharp bite of an Assam, but it makes up for it by offering a rich complex flavor.
  • Pu-erh - This fermented tea has a unique and earthy flavor, and it has the dark black infusion of coffee. We recommend a flavored variety to start out with.
  • Mate/Guayusa - These South American herbs are rich in anti-oxidants and have caffeine levels approaching that of coffee, but don't have the levels of acid that coffee does.
  • Decaf Tea - If you need to avoid caffeine entirely, but want to avoid the acid of coffee, consider a decaf black tea.
  • Green tea - Of all the categories of tea mentioned, green tea will be the biggest difference in terms of flavor, and the different types vary greatly with flavor. A gyokuro is shaded green tea, and has bold unami flavors. Gunpowder greens are also full bodied.
  • Herbal Tea - These general do not contain any caffeine. While a traditional herb like peppermint may not be a coffee subsitute, there are other spicy blends that may offer bold flavor.

Want to switch from coffee to tea? Our top recommendations:

Below you will find specific recommendation for the various teas mentioned above. If you are new to tea, we recommend getting samples. And to make things easier, we also offer a sampler of our TOP 6 teas.

1. TruGrit Energy Tea


The ultimate solution to increase energy in your mind and body while helping you find your own true grit... A combination of Pu-erh, Purple Tea and Yerba Mate is the tea equivalent of a time release capsule. Moderate energy with no caffeine crash - this is the perfect way to start your day.


2. Java Bean


If you're looking for a tea with that authentic java flavor, look no further - Java Bean Tea is the perfect tea for you! This pu-erh blend has real coffee with a hint of cocoa to give your palate the full range of coffee-inspired flavor.

3. Irish Breakfast


For maximum strength, Irish Breakfast tea leaves are processed using the 'Crush-Tear-Curl' method. These tiny pellets produce a bold cup - which is the preferred style of Ireland. This black tea is so robust and thick, you'll be wide awake after just a few sips. Try it in the morning with a splash of milk.


4. English Evening


You may want to start the morning strong but the when the day wears on, something a little less bold is needed. This blend lightens it up with a touch of Darjeeling and a pinch of green tea. English Evening has the classic roasty flavor of English Breakfast but is softer and smoother. The afternoon doldrums don't stand a chance.


5. Scottish Caramel Pu-erh


For tea drinkers new to Pu-erh, this is a good starting point. The deep, earthy Pu-erh flavor is softened with mouth-watering notes of rich caramel and butterscotch. Our Scottish Caramel Pu-erh brews an exceptionally smooth infusion with a hint of fragrant almonds.


Another option if you want to switch from coffee to tea and need some curated teas picked out, is to join a tea of the month club. If you are interested in sampling as many teas as possible, this is a good way to get a variety shipped to your door each month.

Related Blogs