You're right at the break point of breaking the caffeine addiction and dependency completely. I honestly would push through, if you can. And later, explore options like Mark's Daily Apple's Iced Primal Coffee (you can use great quality decaf if you love the taste of coffee, etc.)...

I hear ya. My daily coffee drink was one of the only sweet things I had besides fruit. So I miss that sweet coffee flavor for sure. Search on Google "Keto Starbucks drinks" and many ideas will pop up! They have a Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup which I think is a good substitute. Try it with heavy whipping cream at Starbucks.

Bullet proof coffee. Or just whatever coffee from the store with flavored syrups (they make sugar free) in the blender with whatever cream you use and make it frothy.

If I don't feel like drinking espresso before I head to work, I'll stop at one of the coffee shops on the way in and pick up an iced americano with sf vanilla syrup and add some half n half to it (I know people do HWC, but it's got way too many calories for me). I think Starbucks also has sf caramel syrup that you can do that with instead.

At home though I have a Nespresso and will use a couple pods and add 2tbsp half n half, 1/4c unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and mct oil (I only use it if I'm also eating something - otherwise I will get an upset stomach), and use an immersion blender to get the oil into everything. It's still not the same as my vanilla lattes I used to get, but it still gives me plenty of energy.

If you can push through that would be best for the long term but if you decide to try a sugar free version, I'd suggest asking for half n half instead of hwc because you'll end up with tons more calories and you'll have no idea how much they really put in. It's less likely to end up a 500 calorie drink with half n half. And you're only going to get like 0.2g more carbs per tablespoon.

If you don't object to artificial sweeteners, stock up on Skinny Syrups. I have half a pantry of their syrups which I add to coffee, yogurt and smoothies. They have a wide variety of flavors but my favorite is Chocolate Caramel Truffle. You can find some of their products at Bed Bath and Beyond stores, with a wider selection at BB&B online. For some reason, I've been able to find some of their products at discount stores like TJ Maxx and (of all places) Burlington Coat Factory.

Full disclosure: I hate Starbucks, the ultimate America Inc. ripoff. Geez, how hard is to to make a pot of coffee at home and pour it into a thermos bottle? Or you can be as lazy as me, get a Keurig coffeemaker and STILL only pay between 35 and 50 cents a cup. And avoid all that yup-snot pretentiousness and irritating music at the same time.

@mandycat223 I've got to confess I just really like Starbucks and Dunkin. Starbucks for espresso drinks and Dunkin for iced coffee.

I have an espresso machine and a keurig at home. I make my morning coffee there. I consider my iced coffee or iced Americano my lunch time treat and I don't really have time to go home and hassle with warming up the espresso maker and all that on lunch. Going to Starbucks or Dunkin gives me a break...lets me listen to my music. Worth the money for me.

Also the water at work is awful and as such the coffee at work is beyond awful.

Another vote for the Cafe Americano with a splash of HWC. So smooth and divine. Annoys me that it has 3 carbs for a grande (I think that's the size I get) but I easily make them fit. And it just tastes GOOOOOOD.

MeghanC1840 wrote: »

Y'all before I started Keto I was a Starbucks iced caramel macchiato EVERY MORNING kind of gal. This is the only thing I crave now 3 weeks in. I just feel like I NEED it to wake up. Anyone have any suggestions on what I could replace this with that is Keto friendly?? I've stuck to my guns and gone without but the struggle is REAL now.

If I'm traveling, I'll order a Starbucks quad espresso shot in a venti cup, fill with ice, add 2 oz. heavy cream, garnish with 1/2 dropper of chocolate stevia (from my pocket pantry). Voilà! $3

MeghanC1840 wrote: »

Great ideas guys! Thx so much!! I don't think I'll ever be totally off caffeine!! I have had Coke Zero and mio energy so I haven't been off caffeine....

@MeghanC1840 - I get you. I'm there. I can't/won't do coffee as my body and coffee are 100% incompatible, but I do caffeine in other forms...

If you find one type of sweetener doesn't work for you, don't be afraid to try others. I don't tolerate powders well, nor any liquids with "natural flavors" in them. Walden Farms products tend to give me instant migraines, and I've no idea what they HIDE under that term...

Just remember, a long term success in this regard will be dialing back your sweet tooth's settings. You want to reduce the sweeteners as much as possible to still make your drinks/treats enjoyable without instantly wanting ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NOW.... So just start small and use a little bit less every few times until you adjust to the lowest level you're comfortable with. For most of us, it happens over time. Some of us have to be deliberate about it... And some things I like a lot sweeter than other things, so it's really a trial and error process.

But if you like Splenda, that's great. Most of those syrups use splenda/sucralose. Stevia is another one that there are a ton of different types of it (some artificial, some natural). There are things like monkfruit, and old school stuff like sweet and low and nutrisweet...there are things like lacuma powder and yacon syrup that are a little higher in carbs, but less side effects/reactions on the body... So there are SOOO many things to try. The things I try to stick with is avoiding aspartame, ace K, maltodextrin, and dextrose - for different reasons. Sucralose is said to have gut effects (any pink, blue, or yellow packet is supposed to have those), but I don't know if liquid does... So there's a world of options to try.

Just be sure to address the mental side of the sweet craving, too. It will serve you better in the long run that just finding straight up swaps.

EDITED TO ADD: No judgments here, I promise! Just opinions and sharing what has worked for me. First time I did low carb, I never addressed my sugar/sweet cravings/addictions. This time, I've focused on the mental side of things, and it's helped loads - and of course, a decade of maturity and perspective never hurt anyone. LOL

elisa123gal wrote: »

did you know Americano and Espresso shots have more carbs than drip coffee? just fyi folks.

By volume, but not by serving size. 1 ounce of espresso and 1 cup of coffee both have about a half gram of carbs.
Kinda like the alcohol in a shot of whiskey compared to a glass of beer: same alcohol, different volume.