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One of the things people use as an excuse to prevent them from deciding to jump in and start a Whole 30 is this:
I just can't drink black coffee.
Good news friends! Not only do you NOT have to drink black coffee but you can actually have very good, very tasty coffee on Whole 30! No joke. Now, you may need to do coffee a little differently than you've done it before but the truth is that I'm actually enjoying my new Whole 30 compliant coffee routine more than when I was over sweetening it with sugar.
Start with good coffee
So this might seem obvious - but the number of people drinking bad coffee in this country is astonishing so maybe it isn't. If you are buying cheap, poor quality coffee, what you end up with in your cup will not taste amazing. Period. There are no miracles in coffee. If they cut corners in production you can taste it.
If you've been buying cheap super market coffee like Maxwell House and Folgers, consider expanding your coffee horizons. We like to buy coffee from a local coffee roaster (whom I have confirmed does not sell his coffee online - sorry!). Find a small, local roaster if you can as the attention they pay to the quality of their coffee is usually quite high (look at your local farmer's market or on Craig's List). No one available? My favorite coffees available from big stores include Starbucks' Caffe Verona Coffee which has rich cocoa tones as well as World Market Vanilla Bean Coffee
Change your brewing method
The true flavor of the coffee is contained in the natural oils present in the beans. If you are brewing in a paper filter, the paper absorbs the oils leaving you with less flavorful coffee! Be adventurous and try brewing up your coffee in a French press (learn how to brew coffee in a French press here). Not feeling adventurous? Swap out your paper filters for a permanent mesh coffee filter to not only save money -- you'll never need to buy filters again-- but since there is no filter to absorb the oil, your coffee will taste more like itself.
Add a flavor enhancer
I'm not talking about sugary syrups here. Enhance your coffee naturally with the tastes of cinnamon, vanilla or chocolate by adding a crushed cinnamon stick, part of a whole vanilla bean or chocolate in the form of roasted cocoa beans like Choffy to the grounds in the brew basket.
Secret Ingredient: Coconut Oil
Mixing coconut oil into your coffee might sound odd but it is so so tasty. Start with about a teaspoon, stirring it into your coffee. The good fats will help give you energy for your day and the oil gives your coffee a delicious coconut flavor that is slightly sweet. Please note that this only works with hot coffee as coconut oil solidifies in cold environments (like in iced coffee). My favorite brand of coconut oil is Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.
Lighten it up
If you are used to diluting your coffee with milk or creamer, you might want to try a similar Whole 30 compliant idea. My favorite thing to add to my coffee is full fat coconut milk (the kind in the can). You can also make your own Whole 30 compliant almond milk or Whole 30 compliant cashew milk. Of course, the coconut milk comes compliant from the can (less work!) and it has good fats for energy for your day. After trying about 8 different brands, I found that 365 Everyday Value Organic Coconut Milk from Whole Foods is my favorite. It isn't chunky or gritty and incorporates well into itself just by shaking the can or about a full minute before opening a new one.
I hope these tips help you on your Whole 30 journey. You may even discover a new favorite way to drink coffee that you'll want to permanently adopt once your Whole 30 is finished.
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