How about a nice black tea?

LuAnn, sorry, should have clarified that I have to avoid anything acidic and caffeinated, so black tea is out too.

Why not just go with water? It's good for you, tastes great, and doesn't cause health issues. While I've always drunk a fair amount of water, I've been a big iced tea drinker for the past 50 years. But last summer, when told to avoid iced tea because of kidney stones, I just started drinking water almost exclusively. I really don't miss the iced tea.

Check out Pero. I think it is an all grain product, but the last time I had it, it tasted very similar to coffee. Just remember that any substituted product will never taste like the real thing. It good to remember that it is a different item, not a substitution.

Azzalea, water is all I drink all day, I never drink soda or juice, and tea only rarely. I'd love to keep drinking my one cup of coffee, but I am tired of paying for it for hours. So, I'd like something different and hot in the morning.
Marie, thanks much for the info. Similar to coffee is exactly what I am looking for! I totally agree with your advice to remember it's not coffee, nothing can measure up to a good cup of java anyway. :o)

Mom used to drink coffee flavored POSTUM I dont know if they still make it

What is the name of the chicory based 'coffee'? Have you tried the caffeine free teas like Constant Comment?

I have not been able to find Postum in years, but used to drink it all the time. If memory serves, it didn't taste like coffee to me.

Petra, did the sampler pack have the Java flavored Teecino in it? That was always my favorite. I felt it was a good substitute for my morning coffee.

Minnie and KayJones, I googled Postum and they discontinued making it in 2007. I did read it was similar to Ovaltine?
Lydia, it did have the Java and also Maya something, which tasted sort of cinnamony.
Lynn, Constant Comment is tasty, but it contains black tea. I am pretty much stuck with herbal tea only, and that is no fun first thing in the morning.

I had a professor once who drank hot water instead of coffee or tea. He said it didn't smell the same, but holding a warm cup and sipping a warm beverage at least felt comforting.

My Grandmother used to drink hot water with lemon first thing in the morning. Worked on her bowels-got her "going" for the day. Sorry if this is too much information.

Yep, Jannie - it works! Put a bit of honey in with the lemon - YUM!

There is a product (often sold in the health food aisle at the grocery store) called Bambu.

It is a coffee sub, but does not specifically taste like coffee. It has a somewhat deep flavour, not sweet at all (so you can add cream and sugar if you would normally to real coffee).

I like it as a hot drink in the morning or late evening when I want something different from coffee or tea. I have had it in the morning instead of my usual cuppa, and it satisfies IMO.

Dances - the link is just for the info about the product. I found it on the net after a quick search, I know nothing about that seller.

Here is a link that might be useful: Just an example

I agree with Marie. You should check out Pero. A few years back when I decided I should cut down on caffeine I tried it. It was the closest thing I found to coffee flavor.

Pero can be found in some health food stores also. Check in your health food section, or ask the Manager of the store to order it.

forghtv and Jannie, I've heard of hot water with lemon before, but not just hot water. :o) I don't think I want to get that far away from coffee.
Dances, I've never heard of Bambu before, thanks for posting the link. Is it more full-bodied and less watery than tea?
donna, thanks for the Pero info. I've read up on since Marie posted and, based on web reviews, the Pero extra dark roast is quite similar to coffee. I think I might order that and hope for the best. :o)

I like Kaffree's Roma. Sometimes I mix it with instant coffee, but mostly I drink it by itself. I buy it at the health food store, usually when it's on sale.

Petra, has your doctor prescribed any medication for your problem? If he has then maybe you can drink coffee.

Sue, who does not drink or like coffee :)

Marie and Alisande, I checked at our one small healthfood store, and they don't sell any coffee substitutes. The next largest health food store is a 2.5 hour roundtrip, so it's cheaper to order online.
Marilyn, I was on Prilosec and then Nexium for a while and it caused horrible bloating and other problems. So the doc said I can take something as needed. I think if I limit my dietary indiscretions, I will do okay, but coffee seems to be a major trigger and I just can't drink it any longer. What do you drink in the morning, hot tea or something cold?

Petra, I see that Vitacost has Kaffree Roma. I order other stuff from Vitacost quite often, and have been pleased with the prices. They have customer reviews on a lot of their products, too.

Petra, can you have decaf?

Petra, it depends on my mood, summer time mostly something cold like iced tea or milk. When it is cold or chilly out I have hot tea or hot cocoa. Sometimes just water year round. This morning, I really don't know what I want :) Sorry you can't take those medications and enjoy your coffee.

Sue

Years ago I gave up coffee in the morning and switched to hot chocolate. Tea just didn't do it for me in the morning . I only like it in the afternoon. Love the sugar free hot chocolate. I know chocolate has caffeine in it but perhaps because it's mixed with milk, it will not affect you in the same way.

This is it: Half Pero half hot chocolate. Nice and rich, hearty. Love it. Used to use Postum, so sad it died.

Alisande, thanks for the link. I ordered Pero and Caffix from iherb last night. I'll check Vitacost for the Roma.
Ntt_Hou, decaf is also too acidic, so I can't drink it. According to doc, I have to stay away from all coffee.
Marilyn, you are lucky to not like coffee. I am hoping to get there too. :o)
Georgysmom, I also don't like tea in the morning. In my case, it would have to be herbal tea anyway. Cocoa gives me heartburn, so can't do that.

Yes, I believe it does have more body than tea. To me it has a good "mouthfeel" - but it's not thick or anything. The taste, to me, is like the nuances of coffee without any trace of bitterness.

I take cream and sugar in my coffee, but can get by with just milk or a bit of cream in a cup of Bambu. Tastes good with sugar, mind you, just doesn't need it to counteract bitterness and acidity.

Dances.

Dances, that Bambu sounds really good, am going to have to try it. I am going to try Alisande's Roma as well. But for the first round, Pero and Caffix. :o)

Amyfiddler, don't know how I missed your reply! Have to stick with just the Pero though, the hot chocolate gives me heartburn. GERD stinks!

I've been drinking Pero for years. But.....I've never liked coffee.....sooooooooooo....I'm not saying it's going to taste the same. I put flavored coffee creamer in it and splenda or Stevia to sweeten it. It is hearty. I drink it instead of eating breakfast.

Sanka and Postum were coffee substitutes popular during WW2. Real coffee was rationed. Chickory was used as a coffee substitue or extender, hoever, I don't know about its caffeine content. It has a bitter taste. Today, it is still used in the deep south. If you visit an office of a shipyard in Lousiana and you find two pots of coffee brewing, the second pot may be chickory.

Nicole, I am glad to hear the Pero tastes hearty. I don't think anything tastes the same as coffee, but I am hoping to find something similar. And a hearty cup of Pero might be just the ticket. :o)
Jemdandy, they sell coffee with chicory here in TX. Have had it a few times, it's pretty good.

We almost always drink coffee with chicory - it is less acidic and smoother than regular coffee to me, but I know that won't suit your needs, Petra.
I am very intersted to hear a follow up on the products you are trying, so best of luck and please let us know.

I know you said you can't drink coffee due to the acid and caffeine, but there is a cold-brew coffee system called a Toddy, which removes most of the acid.

Whenever I have a bout of gastritis, I brew my coffee with this method, and it is very good; however, I use regular, not decaffeinated, but you can use any kind you want.

gardenspice, the chicory coffee does taste very good. I think it is sold as "Louisiana Style" around here.
Toby, thanks for the cold brew info. I've felt a lot better physically since quitting coffee (except for the initial headaches), so I am going to try to just keep away from it. Good to learn about this cold brew method removing the acidity though, knowing that might help quite a few people who read this if acid is the problem.

Many years ago when I had a desk job, during the week, I'd start the morning with a cup of coffee and then throughout the day, I would sip several more cups at my desk. On weekends, I rarely drank coffee, maybe a half-cup in the morning. On occassion, I'd get a sick-headache on Saturday afternoon and sometimes on Sunday. Since this did not happen every weekend, I did not put two and two together. It was much later that I realized what these headaches were: Caffeine withdrawal. Apparently, my body would became addicted to caffeine and when it was suddently removed, it reacted.

After I swithced to decaffeinated coffe at work, these headaches dimished. These days, most of my caffeine comes through an occasional soft drink at a fast food place and a single cup of coffee in the morning, and I haven't had one of these headaches in years. For sipping through the day, I use decaff soda or plain water.

I don't have time to read the other answers and if this has been said then I apologize but it's worth saying just in case.

What I have found is that you need to find something to enjoy "instead" of coffee.

If you look for a coffee substitute, it will never happen and you will never be satisfied. Just find something else to drink.

I started eating veggie burgers to replace hamburgers...just didn't happen. When I gave up trying to replace the hamburger and just started eating the veggie burger, it tasted good and I was never disappointed but I made sure my brin new it wasn't a hamburger.......