It's not the same as coffee, doesn't TASTE like coffee, so if he's a red-blooded coffee lover, I'd have to bet he won't like it.

Here's a web site that might inspire you - and more in the link below.

Confederate Coffee Substitutes:
http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/coffee.htm

Be sure to come back and tell us what works...
-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Coffee Substitutes From Plants Around Us

Thanks Grainlady. I will check out your links.

What does the grain coffee taste like? Do you brew it like regular coffee? Do you drink it on a regular basis?

When I was pregnant with my children 30 years ago, I used to drink coffee substitutes. I switched between Postum, Pero, and dark roasted barley from health food stores. At that time, Postum came in the instant and the brew varieties. As Grainlady said, they don't really taste like coffee. They're dark brown & hot -- that's about it. However, they're not bad tasting, just different. I'm betting that you could get both Postum & Pero instant varieties at a natural foods store. You might want to get one and see how you like it.

Are you worried about caffeine? I only drink decaf and enjoy its taste. Of course, it has anywhere from 1%-3% caffeine, so I don't drink it after 7:00 p.m.

Check out the website below. You can research the options listed there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Top Coffee Substitutes

It's...well...grainy tasting. I'm trying to think of another word. I reminded me of rye bread, burned toast and stale beer -- not because it tasted like that, but it just reminded me of it. Some people can drink it; I can't. It tastes about as much like coffee as carob tastes like chocolate -- in other words, not much. Probably like with carob or soy milk, if you drink it for itself instead of trying to pretend it's something else, it's more palatable.

If you're worried about caffeine and want decaf, looks for Swiss Water or CO2 processed dacaf coffees. No chemicals in those. (I can ID a chemically processed decaf every time.) If you're worried about acid reflux, switch to freshly roasted coffee and stay away from the cheap canned (or...plastic jarred now I guess) coffee. Part of the reason it's so cheap is because so much of the weight is chaff.

Beanthere, I was thinking about the comparison between carob & chocolate too. Carob brownies are a fine sweet treat, but they could never pass for chocolate brownies.

I've had to cut down on caffeine but decaf just doesn't make it for me. I've found some excellent herbal teas such as peach, lemon, berry make a nice hot drink for nighttime, even DH will take it as a substitute for regular coffee at night, although he can still drink the caffeine at night. Good luck finding a good substitute. I'd be interested in more suggestions.

I'm with terrapots. I've grown more and more sensitive to caffeine as I get older, and even decaf has some caffeine, so I just don't do coffee after noon.

There is an amazing variety of herb teas out there, and if your DH isn't all that excited about fruity or minty teas, you might want to try him on some of the "dessert" teas. Celestial seasonings has a number of them...I like the English Toffee (roasted carob, roasted barley, roasted chicory, natural English toffee flavor (???) and other natural flavors). Stash has a Creme Caramel that is excellent as well...it is actually a decaffeinated black tea, flavored with "natural chocolate and dulce de leche flavors". A bit of honey, sugar or fake sugar (and a drop of cream if one isn't watching the calories/fat too closely) and you really feel like you're sipping a dessert.

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. Unfortunately, DH doesn't like tea. I've tried to get him to even try tea and he just says no. I've been drinking yerbe mate lately and really enjoying it. He won't even try it.

Has anyone tried teechino? It is a grain coffee that you brew like regular coffee and it is supposed to taste close to regular coffee.

I don't think I understand: Why doesn't he just drink decaf coffee?

There are other reasons for not drinking coffee. It was on the list of foods and drinks to avoid I was given when I was diagnosed with GERD. I looked for Postum which I drank and enjoyed years ago and learned that it is no longer being made. I bought some Kaffree Roma at the health food store. It tasted OK but it also acted as a laxative. The compromise I arrived at was to buy a small (6 oz) coffee cup and limit myself to one cupful of really good coffee at breakfast and half a cupful later in the day if DW leaves any for me. So far so good.

bump

I always loved coffee with chicory. Is that what you mean by grain coffee?

DH cannot drink coffee for medical reasons, although he still insists. I thought if I can provide him with an acceptable alternative, he would give it up.

The grain coffees may contain some chickory. I am going to the natural foods store this week and will try and purchase some to try. I think I will be trying the teechino brand. I will let you know how it turns out.

Chicory has a long history of being added to stretch out coffee supplies or as a substitute (esp during Civil War and WWI). It's the root of the Cichorium intybus plant that is usually used. I believe that's kin to the diasy and sunflower. Someone with more plant knowledge please correct me if I am wrong.

And, of course, most of us recognize it as the "secret" to the coffee famous in New Orleans, especially at Cafe du Monde.

And, yes, chicory can act as a laxative. Various parts of the plant are used for a "spring tonic", gout, diuretic, laxative -- and, ironically since it's considered a coffee substitute, for insomnia. :)

I occasionally drink a coffee substitute called "Bambu" (that is the brand name). It is an instant product that you mix with hot water, and it contains rye, chicory, barley, malted barley, figs, and acorns.

It is dark brown, and very savory (it is not sweet at all on it's own, despite the malted barley and the figs). It lacks the bitter quality of coffee.

It doesn't really taste like coffee, but it is pleasant enough and hit the spot those times I wanted coffee but didn't want the caffeine. Now I tend to drink it more just as an alternative hot drink, more than to replace anything.

As far as giving up coffee completely, I agree a person that drinks pot after pot might be overdoing it. But studies show that up to a couple of cups of black coffee a day might even up the odds for heart health etc.

Maybe instead of giving it up completely, he can cut back on the amount or reduce the cream and sugar if he uses it?

If your husband is not on board with this change, he won't do it. Why not just drink decaf. Anyway, you'll have to cut his caffeine intake down gradually, or he'll get pretty sick from withdrawl. He might tolerate a 50/50 mix or cafe and decaf, then cut that in half again, and keep going until it's all decaf. It will take a while.

Once he's off caffeine, you can try switching him to a coffee substitute, but there's something very satisfying about the taste of hot coffee - sometimes, nothing else will work. If he's been drinking coffee for years, and years, you may never get him off of some kind of coffee.

Good luck.

I have quit coffee for the simple reason that caffeine is an "excito-toxin", but I considered switching to de-caf until I found out more about the de-caf process. There's an interesting article by Steve Pavlina about how to give up coffee at http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-give-up-coffee/

"I donÂt recommend decaffeinated coffee or tea because known carcinogens are used in the decaffeination process, and decaffeinated drinks are still highly acidic. From what IÂve read on this, IÂd say youÂre better off with caffeine."

Swiss Water Process(TM) decaffeinates with carbon filters and water. CO2 method uses just that, CO2. Both are more expensive than chemically decaffeinated methods, but neither process makes coffee more acidic. There is some evidence that SWP method may make it a little less acidic. If the blogger (Pavlina) did not make the distinction between the SWP or CO2 methods and the chemical methods, he is remiss. IMO, he needs to check his sources before making such sweeping and erroneous statements.