Giada De Laurentiis' Favorite Smoothie To Replace Morning Coffee
Looking to change up your daily coffee routine? It's time you try Giada De Laurentiis' favorite smoothie. If you're feeling skeptical about how a smoothie could ever replace the joy of a classic cup of joe, you should know that De Laurentiis' smoothie contains not just coffee but chocolate, too.
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De Laurentiis is known for her connection to Italy where the coffee and chocolate flavor combination is very popular and has been made famous in classic dishes like tiramisu and the marocchino. Whether or not this was the source of inspiration for her unique smoothie, it's a delicious excuse to start the day with these two incredible ingredients.
As luxurious as it sounds, De Laurentiis' drink is also packed with nutritious foods that will help stave off a mid-morning crash from too much caffeine or sugar. In addition to ground coffee and coarsely chopped chocolate, her smoothie includes bananas, ice, spinach, almond milk, salt, and avocado. And there's no need for complex coffee equipment — all you need to do is throw everything into a blender to enjoy this energizing and sustaining breakfast beverage.
Flavorful ways to start the day
If you tend to prefer cold coffee types, such as iced, cold brew, and nitro to a steaming cup of joe, you'll find that Giada De Laurentiis' smoothie is an equally refreshing and uplifting alternative. It's also easily adaptable depending on your personal preferences and what's in your pantry.
Make it your own by taking inspiration from your favorite morning drink. If you love a vanilla latte, add a splash of vanilla extract and honey or opt for a vanilla-flavored almond milk, or if you're a huge fan of a pumpkin spice latte, throw a sprinkle of cinnamon and ginger in there. Another option is to lean into the tropical flavors from the coffee, chocolate, and banana, in which case you may want to swap in coconut milk.
On those days when you find yourself craving a classic coffee, but still want a little something special, try adding the uncommon ingredient in De Laurentiis' coffee order: agave. This syrup may be more commonly associated with happy hour, but it's great first thing in the morning, too. Agave dissolves well in both hot and cold drinks, and it's significantly sweeter than sugar, so you only need a light drizzle to mellow out the bitter notes in your coffee. You can find the syrup in different shades of color ranging from light to dark; to add a hint of caramel or molasses to your coffee, opt for the latter.
Warmer coffee alternatives
For those who are interested in exploring new drinks to get the day going and appreciate the nutritious qualities of Giada De Laurentiis' smoothie, but prefer a warm beverage, there are plenty of other options out there. One increasingly popular possibility is mushroom coffee, which is made from a mixture of ground coffee and medicinal mushrooms, such as reishi, chaga, turkey tail, and lion's mane. This is an especially great alternative for those looking to cut back on caffeine since this drink tends to contain about half the amount of caffeine compared to a regular cup of coffee (per Healthline).
If you're seeking a fully caffeine-free beverage that still offers an earthy flavor profile and warming drinking experience similar to coffee, try chicory, which is made from the ground, roasted, and brewed roots of the flowering chicory plant. On the other hand, if you're less enamored with the taste of coffee, but could use an energy boost in the morning, opt for a matcha latte with almond milk to enjoy some of the nutrition and fresh flavors of De Laurentiis' smoothie.