Nothing’s better than reaching for that first brew in the morning. Until it gets…kind of boring. No offense to our normal coffee routines (mine is sugar and half-and-half, every day), but sometimes we just want to try something different without leaving the house and paying $7 or more for it.

So we tried some of these coffee mix-ins, and have found some new favorites! All are so delicious, although one is definitely different, and some of them are actually health and beauty boosters too!

Monk Fruit (Sugar Substitute)

Nutritional guru and influencer Liana Werner-Gray swears by this alternative to refined white sugar, which she points out is actually quite toxic to our bodies. I decided to give it a try with my coffee and a recent sugar (semi) detox and I’m not going to lie, I did not miss my old white sugar. I normally get a pretty bad sugar crash with my coffee, but since monk fruit “sugar” doesn’t change your blood sugar levels, I wasn’t crashing before 1 p.m. and going to grab another cup or two. This one is staying next to my coffee pot. 

Butter

If you’ve ever done keto, you know about bulletproof or butter coffee. It’s adding healthy fats to your coffee, like butter, ghee, or MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides). Those are healthy fats that go straight to your liver and are converted into energy. When I first heard of it a few years ago, I thought there’s no way adding fat to my coffee could taste good. I was wrong.

Simply add 1-2 Tbsp. of butter or MCT oil (like coconut) to your coffee (about 8-12 ounces), and try to skip any sugar or sweeteners. You can even blend your coffee and fats in a blender, giving you a rich, smooth, frothy coffee that helps provide energy and long-lasting hunger control. 

Collagen Powder

Collagen is a protein that helps keep our hair, skin, bones, and nails looking healthy and younger. But as we age, collagen breaks down, and it’s harder to get our bodies to make more. There’s also collagen breakdown in our joints which can lead to painful arthritis and loss of mobility. Any chance to get additional collagen into your diet should be taken.

This is why collagen powder has become so popular. It’s completely tasteless and can be mixed into anything, coffee included. I add a scoopful of Vital Proteins Original Protein Peptides and make it a part of my skincare routine. This is such an easy, effective way to replenish collagen loss and improve skin health.

Cinnamon

This one brings back memories of a good Mexican hot chocolate during the holiday season. Sprinkle as little or as much as you like into your coffee to add a warm, cozy spice to your cup. Cinnamon is a superfood spice because it’s full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been shown to lower blood sugar and support heart health. However, try to find ceylon, or “true” cinnamon, since it contains most of these health benefits. You can get a pound of this premium ground ceylon on Amazon for around $15.

Ice Cream

Zero health benefits here, but sometimes you just need to indulge! In Italy, it’s common to pour espresso over your ice cream. The drink is called affogato, and it’s so good. I’ve tried this once with both vanilla and chocolate ice creams, which were so dessert-like. The possibilities here are endless. Any flavor of ice cream like mint, butter pecan, cookie dough, etc. would taste fabulous when soaked with hot espresso.

Coconut Oil

This is an easy way to get healthy fats into your daily diet. The nutty, sweet flavor you get from coconut oil goes so well with coffee, and it helps make it creamier and smoother. Coconut oil is also an MCT, which can provide you with energy and hunger control. MCTs have also been found helpful for brain health and may even improve cognition for those with Alzheimer’s.

I find that I don’t have to add any additional sweetener, which is an added bonus. If you don’t like the thicker texture of coconut oil, you can always substitute it with coconut milk and get the same flavor.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a warm spice that has been added to coffee in India for many, many years. It’s another antioxidant rich superfood spice that you can feel good about adding to your coffee. It’s been shown to help fight off free radical damage, and may even help with anxiety, which is great if coffee gives you the jitters. You can either sprinkle it into your mug, or add cardamom powder to the coffee grinds before you hit brew. 

Orange Juice

This trend has been all over TikTok for weeks, so don’t let the idea scare you off, because thousands of people say they love it. We’re not exactly sure who had the idea to pour orange juice into their coffee, but Bon Appetit posted a recipe for a Spritzy Americano back in 2018.

I find it tastes much better with iced coffee instead of hot. Just fill your cup or tumbler full of ice, fill half with cold brewed coffee and top it with the orange juice and seltzer water. On top of tasting different (in a good way), you get a beautiful color swirl, so use a clear glass mug or tumbler if you can. 

Honey or Agave Syrup

Either of these natural sweeteners taste great in coffee! I’m used to adding them to my hot tea, so I wondered, “why not coffee?” I love that the sweetness is not overpowering with either, but find the honey gives a more sweet/sugary taste than the agave. 

Cacao Nibs or Powder

Pure, very dark cacao is actually very good for you! Pure cacao is loaded with antioxidants that can help elevate your mood, lower blood pressure, and contains iron, protein, and magnesium (when’s the last time you can say you’ve added those to your coffee?).  It gives a wonderful chocolatey bitterness to your coffee, which reminds me of a rich hot mocha. Use the whole cacao nibs if you want a thicker, smoother texture, or powder if you prefer to keep it lighter.

These are just a few of our favorites, but we would love to hear yours in the comments or on our social channels!

Hannah Kohut is Content Editor for Be Vivid You