New fitness fad? Turbocharge your coffee!

How do you like your coffee? Dubbed the ‘original superfood’, your daily cup is chock-full of health benefits: It wakes us up in the morning, increases focus and can even boost mental health.

And that’s before we even mention the heart-healthy antioxidants. But what if you could now make your coffee even healthier? Bring your good brew: a new range of ground and instant coffee and coffee alternatives designed to boost your well-being.

But are they good enough for your daily cup swap? Lucy Dunne pops into the boiler…

Keep the doctor away

Complete Vitamin Coffee, £3.49, Holland & Barrett

This ground coffee is packed with 14 essential vitamins and minerals (the Recommended Daily Intake) to give you both caffeine and nutrition in one morning cup. All beans are sustainably sourced and freshly roasted in the UK.

Verdict: A smart multitasker for people who are too busy to remember to take their supplements. The nutty blend of Asian, African and full-bodied Monsoon Malabar beans with hints of cocoa really came into its own.

completely cooled

CBD Coffee, £9.99, Cheerful Buddha

stressful day ahead? A cup of this drink contains a nice boost of good vibes to keep you calm and focused. It’s free of THC, the compound found in cannabis, so it won’t give you a high.

to rule: a surprisingly smooth and silky drink. The CBD is derived from the organic hemp plant, but there is no herbal tang. Drinking CBD through coffee seems to mean that you metabolize it more slowly, which results in a long-lasting effect.

Mushroom magic

Boost Shroom Coffee, £19.99 for 150g, Antioxi

A half-and-half blend of instant arabica coffee with chaga, cordyceps and maitake mushroom extracts, along with antioxidant-rich herbal ginseng root for added oomph. Also great for people trying to cut down on caffeine.

Verdict: It smells and tastes like chocolate mushrooms with a hint of Bovril, and while that may sound disgusting, it turns out that coffee and mushrooms make for a surprisingly good flavor. Although it did not give a noticeable boost, I felt virtuous in drinking it.

the height of the day

Rokit’s Mind Boost coffee pods, £4, Tesco

Combining health and convenience, these coffee capsules are rich in vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 to support your nervous system and contribute to mental performance.

to ruleThe flavor profile promises a nutty milk chocolate taste with a “chocolate orange richness,” although this wasn’t a strong aftertaste.

pull pints

Guinness 232 Coffee, £8, TikiTonga.co.uk

Coffee and Guinness have a lot in common – they contain antioxidants that are believed to improve heart health and reduce the risk of certain chronic health conditions. Guinness hasn’t been added to Guinness 232 Coffee, though: Instead, to mimic the beer’s heady sweetness, the beans are roasted to the same temperature as the malts when the beer is made.

to rule: not the novelty you might first suspect. Instead, it does a clever job of simulating the velvety mouth of the beer and the licorice aftertaste complements the coffee nicely. You might be relieved (or disappointed?) to know that it contains no alcohol—nevertheless, it’s a fun drink to serve at the end of a dinner party.

Beets continue

Organic Beetroot Latte with Ginger, £9.95, Sweet Revolution

Beets are quickly gaining a reputation for their antioxidant properties and are one of the richest sources of glutamine, an amino acid essential for good gut health.

to rule: A warm and savory drink, the sweetness of ginger takes a welcome edge from the earthy beetroot.

glow for it

Collagen + Coffee, £24, Ancient + Brave

This cup blends ground coffee and collagen to improve digestive health, strong bones and joints, and healthy skin; Ashwagandha, an ancient herb believed to relieve stress. and the nutrient-rich baobab fruit, which is high in vitamin C.

Verdict: Raw cacao and roasted chicory root enhance the toasted flavors for an earthy, luxurious flavor with hints of cherry and chocolate. superior sip.

Health booster

Organic Medium Ground Roast, £20, exhalecoffee.com

British company Exhale’s self-professed ‘coffee cups’ taste and independently lab-test over 45 coffees from around the world to make what they call “ridiculously healthy coffee”. The result is Organic House Roast – they claim that one cup has as many antioxidants as 1.8 kg (about 12 baskets) of blueberries.

to rule: an invigorating coffee with fruity notes of apricot and hazelnut made from premium quality beans so you don’t suffer from the energy burnout after a caffeine crash.