It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and delicious breakfast drinks are a wonderful way to either cap off an excellent meal or get a start to your morning when you’re too busy for a sit-down breakfast.
Below, you’ll find a list of twenty of the best breakfast drinks you may have never heard of that can help you shake up your morning routine. Read on to learn more about the different types of breakfast drinks and how you can make them at home.
Different Types of Breakfast Drinks
Several different types of breakfast drinks exist that are suited for different kinds of breakfasts. Here’s a brief overview of the breakfast drink types found in this list:
Coffee breakfast drinks
As a natural source of the stimulant caffeine, coffee is one of the most popular beverages on the planet. Different coffee breakfast drinks include adjunct flavors, such as caramel, vanilla, or cinnamon, to put different spins and variations on the classic morning cup of coffee.
Latte drinks for breakfast
Latte-based breakfast drinks are similar to coffee breakfast drinks except they incorporate more milk or milk substitutes such as oat milk or almond milk. Latte drinks have a creamy mouthfeel and incorporate different flavors such as mocha, matcha, and strawberry.
Breakfast smoothies
Smoothies are a popular breakfast drink for people in a hurry in the morning who don’t have time to cook something more substantial. Smoothies can be made with a wide variety of different fruits, vegetables, and greens. They can even incorporate nutritional supplements such as flax seeds and protein powder.
Alternative breakfast drinks
Even though coffee and coffee-based drinks are the most popular in the world, there are other time-honored breakfast drinks from around the world that have also been beloved for centuries. These include drinks like taho, lassi, haldi doodh, and English breakfast tea.
Breakfast cocktails
Alcoholic breakfast cocktails are an indulgent way to start your morning to accompany a heavy holiday breakfast or spice up a casual weekend brunch. Alcoholic cocktails can also be made with the alcohol omitted for a breakfast drink that can be served to adults and children alike.
Out of all the different breakfast drink types out there, the best breakfast drink to learn to get started is a simple breakfast smoothie. These drinks are useful as a versatile breakfast on the go or to help incorporate more nutrients into your diet.
Smoothies are easy to make with a blender. In addition, they can easily incorporate whatever kind of fresh ingredients you like most. Keep reading to learn more about the steps and ingredients you need to make breakfast smoothie drinks.
How to Make Breakfast Smoothie Drinks
Making breakfast smoothies is one of the easiest breakfast drinks you can get your day started with. Using just a few ingredients, you can mix and match your favorite fruits, vegetables, greens, and supplements together for a smoothie that you’ll be happy to have for breakfast.
Ingredients
- Fruits: Several types of fruits are suitable for adding to breakfast smoothies since they give the smoothie a sweet, creamy flavor and texture while also adding a dose of nutrition. Popular fruits to use in breakfast smoothies include banana, apples, pineapple, strawberries, watermelon, and blueberries. You can include either fresh or frozen fruit.
- Vegetables: The best vegetables for breakfast smoothies are sweet vegetables that can be masked by the other flavors in the smoothie. Carrots are a popular addition since they are high in nutrition and their flavor pairs well with many fruits. Beets are also popular for their natural sugars and their bright red coloring.
- Greens: Leafy greens can add a powerhouse of nutrients to any breakfast smoothie, and they’re generally bland enough to add to fruit smoothies without giving the smoothie too much vegetal flavor. Baby spinach is easy to mix into any smoothie without having a big impact on how it tastes.
- Binder: Many breakfast smoothies use banana or milk as a binder to make the smoothie more creamy. Substitute milks can also be used, such as oat milk or almond milk. Greek yogurt is also a popular choice.
- Supplements: If you’re trying to make your breakfast smoothie healthier, adding nutritional supplements can boost the nutritional profile of the drink. Common ones include protein powder, flax seed, and chia seeds.
- Ice: If you use fresh fruit rather than frozen fruit, you’ll want to add a few handfuls of ice to your blender to help chill the ingredients while they’re blending. If you’re using frozen fruit, adding additional ice usually isn’t necessary.
Steps
Step 1 – Gather the ingredients and equipment
It’s a good idea to gather together all the fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients you’re planning to blend ahead of time so you don’t accidentally leave anything out.
Leafy greens used in the smoothie should be thoroughly washed. Also, any larger fruits that might bog down the blender like bananas and apples should be chopped. Using frozen fruit rather than fresh fruit can prevent you from needing to add ice to your smoothie.
Step 2 – Place the ingredients in the blender
Ingredients in the blender should be layered as follows: liquid (milk or milk substitute), yogurt, fruit, greens, and frozen fruit. Finally, you’ll do the add-ins like protein powder or flax seed.
Be sure that any frozen fruit is allowed to thaw for at least five-ten minutes before adding to the blender so that it doesn’t hang the blender motor up.
Step 3 – Blend the ingredients
Make sure that the blender lid is locked down tightly before turning it on to blend the ingredients. Start the blender slowly by pulsing ingredients to ensure that they’re mixed evenly before increasing the speed.
Step 4 – Pour and serve!
Serve smoothies with a wide straw since you might find it difficult to suck the smoothie up with a more narrow straw.
Need a more specific recipe? Check out the delicious breakfast smoothie recipes found in our list of twenty breakfast drinks below!
20 Best Breakfast Drinks to Jump-Start Your Day
Coffee Breakfast Drinks
1. Oreo Iced Coffee
If you’re looking for an indulgent coffee breakfast drink, look no further than this iced Oreo coffee drink at The Littlest Crumb. By making this flavored coffee drink at home, you can skip the premium prices you’d be paying for a similar drink at a cafe.
The only ingredients you’ll need are Oreo cookies, coffee, and milk.
2. Easy Homemade Vanilla Coffee
Vanilla is a tropical flower with seed pods known for their mellow, sweet flavor. You can make homemade vanilla-flavored coffee at home using this recipe at Mindy’s Cooking Obsession.
To make it, all you have to do is add vanilla-flavored milk to coffee. Using real vanilla beans can add a deeper flavor than using artificial vanilla extract. However, either will work.
3. Quick and Delicious Banana Coffee
Banana is another flavor that pairs well with coffee breakfast drinks. This banana-flavored coffee from Little Pans can be made with only three ingredients and five minutes to spare, making it the perfect choice for a quick weekday breakfast.
4. Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee is another coffee-based breakfast drink that only requires three ingredients to put together. All you’ll need to make it is instant coffee, sugar, and milk.
In dalgona coffee, these ingredients are whipped together until they form a fluffy, creamy froth. Learn how to make it for yourself at I Am a Food Blog.
Latte Drinks for Breakfast
5. Iced Dirty Chai Latte
The vegan iced dirty chai latte at Green Eggs and Yam is a cooling option for a hot summer day. Luckily, this drink can be made with only five ingredients: chai tea, soy milk, maple syrup, coffee, and water.
If you want to make a warm version, omit the ice and steam the milk instead.
6. Iced Tiramisu Latte
A tiramisu is a creamy, layered Italian treat made of small cakes soaked in espresso, coffee liqueur, and cream. The tiramisu latte at Ruchi’s Kitchen invokes these classic flavors by combining milk, chocolate syrup, Kahlua liquor, honey, and frozen ice cubes.
The recipe creates a creamy treat that will delight on any morning menu.
7. Strawberry Matcha Latte
Matcha is a fine green tea powder that is commonly used to make Japanese style green tea. The mellow, grassy flavor of matcha is an awesome pairing for sweet strawberry in this latte from Elke Living.
Buy loose matcha powder and have it on hand to make this creamy breakfast drink in a snap.
8. Biscoff Latte
Biscoff is a butter made from ground-up cookies, which makes it a delicious component in sweet-flavored breakfast drinks. The biscoff latte at 2pots2cook combines creamy biscoff spread with espresso and warm milk or cream for a decadent treat that will guard you against cold winter mornings.
Breakfast Smoothie Drinks
9. Pineapple Weight Loss Smoothie
If you’re thinking about drinking breakfast smoothies to help reduce calories and lose weight, this pineapple weight loss smoothie at Nutrition in the Kitch is a practical option.
The sweet pineapple that forms the basis of this smoothie provides filling fiber. In addition, it boosts the body’s metabolism and boosts energy levels.
10. Apple Greens Smoothie
You might be a little apprehensive about adding leafy greens to your smoothies. But you’ll want to trust us when we tell you that the sweet apple in this recipe from Nutrition in the Kitch is the perfect pairing to cover up the vegetable flavor of the greens.
The smoothie is gluten-free and dairy-free. However, it can easily be made vegan too.
11. Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie
Here’s another smoothie recipe from Nutrition in the Kitch that incorporates leafy greens. This time, it’s baby spinach leaves paired with fresh strawberries and bananas.
To keep the smoothie an appealing pink color, keep the amount of spinach you include down to a small handful at first. Then, you can increase it as desired.
12. Best Watermelon Banana Smoothie
For a different twist on a summer breakfast smoothie, try this combination smoothie at Nutrition in the Kitch that contains watermelon and bananas. The watermelon gives the smoothie a refreshing flavor while the banana keeps the smoothie’s texture nice and creamy.
Alternatives to Coffee Breakfast Drinks
13. Homemade Taho
Taho is a sweet traditional Filipino breakfast drink that combines silky tofu, brown sugar syrup, and tapioca pearls. Tapioca pearls take a while to cook completely. So make a batch of it the day before to make taho first thing in the morning.
Learn how to make it for yourself at Amiable Foods.
14. No Milk Hot Chocolate
Just because you don’t have any milk or cream doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge in a creamy dose of hot chocolate for your breakfast drink.
Instead of milk or cream, this dairy-free hot chocolate recipe at Annika Eats uses sesame paste (tahini) to give the drink a smooth, creamy flavor that balances out the bitterness of the dark chocolate.
15. Haldi Doodh (Golden Milk)
Another traditional breakfast drink you may have never heard about is known as haldi doodh, or “golden milk.” This turmeric latte is a popular breakfast drink in India. In fact, it is associated with Ayurvedic Eastern medicine.
Along with turmeric, haldi doodh also contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamoms, and honey. Learn how to make it at Annika Eats.
16. Strawberry Lassi
Lassi is another classic Indian drink that is created with yogurt rather than milk. This strawberry lassi at Cooking and Cooking combines with fresh strawberries, honey, ground cardamom, and ice for a creamy, indulgent breakfast drink that you’ll crave morning after morning.
Cocktail Breakfast Alcoholic Drinks
17. Basil Bloody Mary
Bloody Marys are a classic breakfast cocktail. But this version at Entirely Elizabeth adds fresh basil and basil-flavored vodka for an herbal twist on this rich drink. The basil helps round out the spicy Cajun flavors.
18. Mango Mimosas
If you’re looking for a sweeter version of a breakfast cocktail to complement your brunch menu, check out these mango mimosas at Lemons for Lulu. The inclusion of the canned mango nectar gives these mimosas a tropical vibe.
19. Bellini
Bellini cocktails are popular afternoon cocktails that include only two ingredients: Prosecco and peach puree or nectar. The simplicity of these cocktails and their fruity flavor profile make them a good match for breakfast cocktails, too.
Learn how to make this simple alcoholic drink at Culinary Hill.
20. Pink Paloma Grapefruit Shots
Sometimes when you’re drinking an alcoholic cocktail at breakfast, less is more. These pink paloma grapefruit shots at Take Two Tapas have just enough alcohol to act as an apertif to prime your appetite for a hearty breakfast.
How to Drink English Breakfast Tea
English breakfast tea is usually consumed with milk and a sweetener such as honey or sugar. If milk is not added, the tea is sometimes served with a wedge or slice of lemon instead.
To make a cup of authentic English breakfast tea, perform the following:
- Prepare the tea. If you’re using loose tea, load it into a tea infuser to prepare it for steeping. Tea bags can also be used for convenience.
- Steep the tea. Dunk the tea infuser or tea bags in a teapot of boiling water and allow the tea to steep for at least ten minutes. Agitate the infuser or tea bags by gently bobbing them in the water to strengthen the tea and speed up the steeping process.
- Pour the tea. Place cream or milk in the teacup, then pour the tea over it. Add sweeteners and condiments like lemon, then serve with biscuits, pastries, cookies, and finger sandwiches.
English breakfast tea is one of the most iconic breakfast drinks in the world. If you’re looking for a delicious alternative to your regular cup of morning coffee, it’s an excellent substitute.
Breakfast Drinks FAQ
What Are Some Instant Breakfast Drinks?
Instant breakfast drinks are a practical breakfast option when you don’t have time to throw together multiple ingredients to make your drink in the morning. Here are some of the most famous instant breakfast drinks:
- Carnation Breakfast Essentials
- Boost Nutritional Powder Instant Breakfast Drink
- Pirq Vegan Protein Shakes
Is It Okay to Drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast?
It’s okay to drink a protein shake for breakfast since many protein shakes are designed to provide a varied nutritional profile. The additional protein load in protein shakes for breakfast can help prevent hunger cravings and can help you build muscle if you’re working out.
What Drinks Give You Energy in the Mornings?
If you’re looking for a breakfast drink that will help you have some get-up-and-go in the mornings, there are several types of drinks that can give you more energy and help get you out of bed.
Try some of these energy-boosting drinks to give you a breakfast boost:
- Water: You might not think of water as an energy-boosting drink. However, making sure that you’re well-hydrated first thing in the morning can prevent you from feeling late morning fatigue as your day wears on.
- Green tea: Green tea has caffeine in it like black coffee. But the caffeine in green tea is less bioavailable. This means that green tea can give you a smooth and mellow energy boost without the accompanying crash after the caffeine wears off later. Green tea also contains catechins and other botanical nutrients that can improve your general health.
- Bulletproof coffee: Bulletproof coffee is a high-calorie, high-carb version of coffee that includes butter or coconut oil to increase the amount of fat it contains. Bulletproof coffee can serve as a substitute for large, high-carb breakfasts for those on a keto diet or want to decrease their intake of carbs in the morning.
- Yerba mate: Yerba mate is an herbal tea mix that is popular in parts of South America. This drink is traditionally served in a calabash gourd with a special straw that has a filter to remove any fibers left over from the herbs. Like coffee, green tea contains high levels of caffeine that can help boost your energy levels in the morning.
- Goji berry juice: Goji berries are a superfood associated with boosted energy levels if they are consumed regularly over a period of several weeks. Goji berry juice is also associated with better sleep quality.
Conclusion
No matter which one of these breakfast drinks you choose, taking the time to make a delicious beverage in the morning is well worth the effort. With just a few ingredients, you can create a healthy treat that will help set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
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