Similar to coffee in that.... It picks you up? or that it is warm and a nice way to start your day? or..?

If you're looking for something that picks you up, it may be hard to find since the caffeine is what most people look to get out of coffee. I found that I am much more alert when I make sure I am fully hydrated, so I would suggest water. If you're like just having a warm beverage, you can go the decaf coffee route, or teas. Yerbe Mate is a decent choice.

I have been drinking rooibos instead of coffee. Black tea on an empty stomach makes me feel nauseous, because of the tannins, and rooibos is low in tannins and naturally caffeine-free. Of course it does not taste as good as coffee (what does?) but I think it tastes pretty good. Sometimes I stir in a spoonful of full-fat coconut milk.

http://teeccino.com/

I've had their Vanilla and Hazelnut. It tastes similar to coffee but it's definitely not the same. It tastes more "sweet" and is barely bitter. It's basically a blend of nuts, things like Dandelion root, chicory and tea leaves (depending on what flavor, the ingredients vary) that comes together to tastes similar to coffee.

I can't remember, but I'm fairly sure that there is a very very small amount of sugar from dates/figs. I think one serving is like 15 calories or something, but I can't remember.

For me, it was wasn't a coffee substitute at all, so I couldn't drink it thinking of it as "coffee"...but as a tea, it's not too bad. You might think it's pretty good though!

I like rooibos - there's a green rooibos/nettle/rose petal blend from Mountain Rose Herbs called Dawn Chorus that I really like. Other coffee-esque herbal blends include dandelion root, which has a nice roasty flavor. A lot of "herbal coffees" contain roasted barley, which is probably not paleo (i.e. Teecino, which brews like coffee). I saw a roasted cacao bean drink at the store yesterday (http://www.criobru.com/) that looks interesting but I haven't tried it.

Celestial Seasonings Roastaroma Tea is nice (it has roasted barley though). I've purchased chicory from Sweet Maria's in bulk. OR you could just use the whole thing as an excuse to drink paleo hot chocolate...with cayenne pepper.

As mentioned above, Chicory. I've started mixing chicory with coffee decaffeinated via the swiss water process (http://www.swisswater.ca/). I haven't worked my way up to straight chicory yet.

I go one of three routes depending on my mood:

1. Red Bush Tea. I make up a giant batch of it and drink it 'till it's gone. Good stuff; highly recommended.
2. Decaf. I know it isn't technically caffeine free, but damn it's good stuff!
3. Carob 'Hot Chocolate'. To make up a 12oz mug, fill your blender with about 12oz of good water, then add .5-1 cup of powdered coconut milk. Then add 1Tbsp. of Carob Powder** and push the button. To drink it cold: Add a couple eggs and tank it. Good stuff. Warm: Heat it in a double boiler sans eggs until it steams.

** Paleo disclaimer: Carob has a TON of sucrose, but since it's a natural, 'whole' food, kinda like honey, I'm OK with it in small amounts, and a tablespoon isn't going to hurt me.

love the Crio Bru (http://www.criobru.com/) but think it has caffine

and love Red rooiboos - The Republic of Tea, Good Hope Vanilla Red Tea and that IS natually caffine free http://www.amazon.com/The-Republic-Tea-Vanilla-36-Count/dp/B001B2SY9U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1333455386&sr=8-2

I like tea made from freshly grated ginger. It's not similar to coffee in flavor, but it is strong like coffee. I imagine you could put cream/butter in it and it would taste pretty good. I usually find it's substantial enough plain, though.

How about hot cocoa made with a couple of teaspoons of cocoa powder, some coconut oil, and some coconut cream or coconut milk, (or maybe heavy cream or go bullet-proof style with a bit of ghee/butter?)

A touch of vanilla extract or cinnamon works nicely too.

And if you like spicy foods, a touch of cayenne pepper works wonders. Let the hot water steep the cocoa for a few minutes to deactivate any remaining phytate, and it's ready to go.

You could also have it cold, or add some gelatin powder and leave it in the fridge overnight for a chocolate like jello

Perhaps its the coffee and not the caffeine? Have you tried cold brewed for less acid? Have you seen the Bulletproof "upgraded coffee?" I'm not sure whats so special about it, but I recall seeing it on balanced bites.. Following a link from a Kresser article, I ended up at Enterolabs, which does stool tests for gluten intolerance, and I thought I read some people process coffee similar to gluten??? I cant find it now..

I drink Dandy Blend - it's made from dandelion and chicory root, tastes like coffee, similar diuretic effect to coffee, no caffeine.

http://www.dandyblend.com/

I've been curious about Teecino and Dandy Blend for a while now, but the barley rye (grain) factor makes me hesitate. Any comments from regular drinkers are welcome -- what's your experience?

But I do second the ginger root tea, very warming, nice bite -- I put chopped up root (with skin) in the slow cooker on low for about 24 hours and then save it in Mason jars in the fridge. It's concentrated so it goes a long way, very tasty heated or iced.

check out organo gold. its healthy http://mycapturepage.com/cp23.php?id=470

Hi everyone (I'm newbie to this community, enjoying everyone's comments very much - on Paleo since Christmas lol, and former vegetarian and pescetarian) :) To me, coffee triggers rough hypoglycemic episodes (specially after an HIIT strength/ resistance workout (but I did cardio as well the other day when that happened), along with the protein recovery drink eh! I know stupid me). Didn't happen again since I quit on coffee, neither I feel sluggish anymore after the workouts (or after anything for that matter, as long as I don't take ANY simple sugar sources or too much fruit along ...)! The thing with the (hot) coffee for me? Comfort!, after a good meal, finishes it all up :) So I was decided to try rawdawg's idea here that I saw the other day, of making hot chocolate (in my case I did like this: just very hot water from the coffee machine, a full tsp of the cocoa powder, unsweetened, pinch of cinnamon and little lactose-free milk for the texture and some sweetness) the thing is that yesterday and in between recovery drink after my workout - I add cocoa powder to it for texture, once it's a mass gainer so, has poor texture and I use water - and small cups of chocolate after all meals (I was craving this XD), I end up having 5 portions through the entire day. I guess it's a lot because it still has natural sugars (and even though I'm a woman working out hard and regularly, and near a new period - the week before my periods I'm always so hungry all the time), and because of the phytic acid :S So I guess I'm replacing some with decaffeinated drink, the less the bad what can one do... :S :)

Teecino herbal coffee http://teeccino.com/

suck on this....

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/caffeine.shtml