Choosing between tea, coffee and capsules is mostly a question of habit. Think about what you already do each morning, and pick the format that adds the least effort.
Tea: a warm drink with a gentle taste
Instant herbal tea comes as powder in single-serve sachets. You stir it into hot water and it dissolves. A good example is Diox Tea Detox: 60 sachets per box, one glass in the morning and one in the evening, with a light, slightly fruity taste from blueberry and stevia.
The tea sachets dissolve in seconds, so you can make one at your desk or in the kitchen without any equipment beyond a cup and a kettle.
Tea suits you if you like a warm drink before meals and do not mind making two cups a day. It also asks the least of your taste buds, since most blends are lightly flavoured.
Coffee: a swap for the cup you already drink
Herbal coffee builds on an instant coffee base and adds botanicals. Wiltlife Coffee lists instant coffee with blue dandelion, ginseng, moringa and valerian and passiflora, and a box holds 60 sachets. You mix one sachet with a glass of hot water or semi-skimmed milk.
Some coffees are meant to replace your usual cup rather than add to it. The shop describes Slt Slim Lux Coffee Premium that way: a 5 g sachet makes one cup, and a box of 30 lasts 30 days. If you prefer a plainer taste, Harmana Coffee is 60 percent instant coffee and 40 percent soluble chicory extract, enjoyed black or with milk.
Capsules: no preparation at all
A capsule needs only a glass of water. Meri Capsule is a simple example: one capsule in the morning before breakfast with a large glass of water, and 30 capsules per package for 30 days. It lists green tea, guarana, red pepper extract, citrus, gum tragacanth and starch.
Capsules have no taste to think about, and they travel easily. The trade-off is that you do not get the warm-cup ritual.
Not every capsule is the same, either. Each product has its own formula, so read the ingredient list before you compare boxes; the capsule category lists them all with their ingredients and pack sizes.
Side by side
Format | Example | Per box | How you take it |
|---|---|---|---|
Instant tea | Diox Tea Detox | 60 sachets | Hot water, twice a day |
Instant coffee | Wiltlife Coffee | 60 sachets | Hot water or semi-skimmed milk |
Capsule | Meri Capsule | 30 capsules | One in the morning with water |
A quick way to decide
You enjoy a warm drink in the evening: tea.
Coffee is already part of your morning: coffee.
You are often out of the house or have no kettle nearby: capsules.
You like to compare ingredient lists first: open one product from each format and read them side by side.
You can browse every format in its own category: teas, coffees and capsules.
More buying guides
Frequently asked questions
Which format is the easiest to start with?
Capsules need only a glass of water. Teas and coffees need hot water and a stir.
Can I swap tea for coffee?
The products are separate, each with its own instructions, so follow the page of the product you buy.
Do the coffees replace my normal coffee?
Several are described that way, for example Slt Slim Lux Coffee Premium, which is meant to replace your usual morning cup.
How many capsules are in a box?
Many capsule boxes hold 30 capsules, which is 30 days at one a day.
Where do I see the ingredients?
On each product page, in the description.