But first, coffee… An Ayurvedic perspective on caffeine

It’s your go-to on an early morning. It’s there for you during those late work nights. Whether you like it warm or cold, and whatever your milk style, it can’t be denied that coffee is often a ritual in many of our lives. 

But just like everything else, the things we enjoy the most aren’t always the best for us. Of course, this piece isn’t to scare you or to tell you to cut caffeine out completely, but instead it’s about recognising when caffeine can be useful and when you might be best reaching for something else. 

Caffeine and Ayurveda

If you’ve followed us for a while, you’ll know that our unique dosha makeup has a big part to play in how well we tolerate certain foods. We’re all made up of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - but we’ll have a more dominant one which dictates the way we behave and react to things around us (including ingredients). So if you find that coffee doesn’t agree with you, it’s likely to be down to your individual dosha. 

Those Kapha doshas can typically handle caffeine the easiest. This is because the qualities of coffee help to balance out Kapha’s heavy and slow nature. Those Vata and Pitta types are likely to find caffeine less tolerable - until we reach the season of spring however, when the world’s cool and damp qualities mean caffeine can work better for all of us.

If you’re not ready to throw away your coffee cup just yet, don’t worry. Instead, you just need a few Ayurvedic tips so that you can enjoy coffee all year round. 

Avoid coffee on an empty stomach

When your stomach’s empty, the negative effects of caffeine will increase - in the same way that drinking alcohol without eating can heighten its impact. For this reason, instead of reaching for your coffee as soon as you wake up, wait until you’ve had breakfast or at least pick away at something while you drink coffee.

A better way to start the day? Hot water (you can add lemon) to warm up your body, hydrate, detoxify and boost your metabolism.

Add flavour to your coffee

Unfortunately, we’re not talking about a double shot of vanilla syrup and extra cream. Instead, Ayurveda recommends adding either Cardamom, Coconut Oil or Ghee to your coffee. Cardamom, which is used in lots of cooking, has a delicious warm flavour and is also good for reducing Vata and Pitta. This means it directs any movement and energy from excess Vata and Pitta levels and restores the body back into balance. As it works its magic, you can expect to feel less anxious and more stable. 

By adding a tablespoon of Ghee or Coconut Oil to your coffee, you’ll be counteracting any dry and acidic effects. This is great for your nervous system and digestive tract, and also gives the coffee a more nourishing effect.

Know your dosha

If you’re wondering, does caffeine fit within an Ayurveda lifestyle? Then the answer is that it can, but not all of the time. For this reason, it pays to be aware of your individual dosha as well as your current physical and mental state. We’ve made it easy for you to recognise your dosha with our simple and easy quiz.

Those fiery individuals, who are Pitta dominant or experiencing an increase of Pitta, can enjoy a cup of coffee - but don’t make a habit out of it. The warmth and acidic nature of caffeine can increase Pitta further and lead to skin issues, redness, rashes, anger and even digestive concerns. Likewise, if you’re Vata dominant, you might want to reach for an Ayurvedic alternative to coffee. This is because coffee can worsen anxiousness, sleeping problems and digestive concerns that Vata can often experience.

Switch it up

We’ve already mentioned that Vata and Pitta doshas should try not to reach for caffeine on a regular basis and, the truth is that Kaphas may also benefit from drinking other things too. Herbal coffee, which is a combination of herbs and mimics the taste of normal coffee (but without the caffeine) is a great alternative. Ayurvedic practitioners also recommend green tea, which contains less caffeine, and black tea to awaken your senses. Be mindful that tea is still astringent however, so Vata doshas may benefit from another drink. 

Create a ritual

Whether you commute into the city with your morning latte to-go, or start your day by turning the kettle on, we can’t deny that having a cup of coffee has become an almost ritual in our lives. Instead of the flavour or drink itself, for many of us, it’s about slowing down and enjoying something warm to lift the senses. If that sounds familiar to you, Ayurveda advises that we try to create a new ritual with a drink that’s appropriate for your dosha. 

Warm water and lemon is great for refreshing you, and a herbal tea can be used for all manner of things. But we have another drink that’s revolutionising the Deja-verse like no other. With everything you need to chill, focus and connect, our Latte Powders not only look and taste great but have a bundle of benefits for the mind, body, skin and even your libido. 

If you’re looking to replace your morning coffee, then it’s got to be Gold Power - the deja take on Golden Milk. Packed full of Turmeric, Black Pepper, Ashgwanda and Manjistha to name a few, this adaptogenic blend gives energy levels and immunity a boost in the right direction. We can’t not mention the other two blends either. Love Cacao combines adaptogenic and aphrodisiac Ayurvedic herbs to help you to connect on a deeper level and tune into your body, and Glow Wild, which contains a cooling and soothing mix of herbs leaves you with a glowing complexion - whatever season. 

Add a supplement 

If you’ve become too reliant on caffeine, then consider exactly why you reach for the coffee jar in the first place. For many, it’s because we’re feeling a lack of energy or overly stressed. If this is the case, then you could benefit from adaptogenic herbs - like Shatavari and Ashwagandha - which help your body and mind to be able to deal with these emotions. As well as this, they support your body’s energy reserves giving you the boost you need to make it through the next few hours!

Other coffee drinkers believe it keeps them regular but caffeine isn’t the only thing that can get your gut moving. Triphala, which is a tridoshic herb, soothes, rejuvenates and detoxes the digestive system and is great for all three doshas. By keeping things moving, and eliminating any waste and toxins, it ensures that you’re healthy from the inside-out and that any bacteria left in the gut is the good kind. 

We’ve included Ashwagandha and Shatavari in our Love Cacao Latte Powder, and our best-selling natural nootropic Mind Balance capsules contain a blend of 11 Ayurvedic herbs to boost focus, reduce stress and keep you calm. That’s not all either as you can get your daily fix of Triphala in our Rest and Digest capsules, which restore your gut back to balance and keep everything moving in the right direction. 

So, is coffee suitable for me?

In short, it can be. However, it’s probably better to not be reaching for your mug endlessly throughout the day. Instead, mix it up with warm water, herbal teas and one of our new latte powders and your body, mind and gut will be thanking you in no time. There are plenty of health benefits of coffee, you just need to be mindful of the effects and enjoy it in moderation.