Vegan Alternatives to Coffee: Comparing MTE® & MUD\WTR®

6 Minute Read

Table of Contents

Intro

Are MUD\WTR® & MTE® Good Replacements for Coffee?

Coffee is undoubtedly the world’s favorite drink, but it’s not without its caveats, which is why many of us are looking for ways to cut down or completely replace coffee with something healthier. But there are a ton of products claiming they’ll get you the energy boost you need in a healthy way – which ones are telling the truth?

We formulated MTE® to be just that: a solution to relying on big doses of caffeine to maintain energy levels. And another product we love for a close-to-coffee replacement that doesn’t use caffeine as its main energy source is MUD\WTR®. Both products truly offer natural, sustainable energy without the costs caffeine comes with – and they’ve got the receipts to prove it.

Let’s look at how these two products are changing the way we view the term “healthy energy drink”:

How it Works

MTE® vs MUD\WTR®: Where’s the Energy Boost Come From?

When you drink a coffee, it’s the caffeine that gives you the energy rush. Sugar, too, if you’ve got other stuff mixed in there. Caffeine is a nervous system activator. It tells your body to produce a bunch of wake-up chemicals, including the main stress chemical, while also blocking the chemicals that signal "I'm tired". Coffee typically peaks after 1-2 hours and effects run out at 4-5. However, it stays in your system for a while after, which is why it can disrupt your sleep.

MUD\WTR® and MTE®, on the other hand, harness the power of natural plant-derived compounds with adaptogenic qualities to provide a sustained, calm energy boost that comes with long-term support for a host of other health factors besides simply feeling less tired.

Adaptogens are a class of plants, algaes and mushrooms whose bioactivity helps the body adapt to stress. Chronic stress takes a toll on the brain and body, not to mention causes perpetual tiredness, low mood and difficulty focusing. Adaptogens interact with different neurochemicals in the brain involved in mood, motivation and reward to help your body get back into balance. Less stress + homeostasis = more energy + feeling great without caffeine. On top of that, MTE® and MUD\WTR® include a few ingredients with nootropic capabilities that promote clarity and concentration.

Benefits

What’s Good? Less Coffee Leads to More Benefits

Okay, so, what are we getting with coffee? Obviously there’s some good stuff about it – a few billion people would say so, at least:

Increased energy and alertness
Increased attention and reaction time
Improved mood
Reduced risk of neurological disorders (long-term use)

However, known drawbacks to coffee include:

Sleep disturbances
Jitters and anxiety
Headaches
Tolerance and dependence (long-term use)

How are MTE® and MUD\WTR® different? MTE’s® touted benefits include:

Sustained energy
Mood support
Focus/cognition
Stress support
Nightly recovery
Immune function
Anti-inflammatory

Claimed benefits of MUD\WTR® include:

Sustained energy
Focus
Immunity
Nutrition
Anti-oxidant

What’s great about both MUD\WTR® and MTE® is that, opposed to coffee, they do not cause tolerance, dependence or addition; they don’t cause jitters or a crash; and they don’t rely on stress hormones to provide the energy boost.

Ingredients

MUD\WTR® & MTE®: Adaptogens & Nootropics Replace Caffeine Bombs

What are these mysterious bioactive plants we keep talking about? And how are they going to replace that caffeine kick you can count on with coffee? The main difference here in the question of MTE® vs MUD\WTR® is the types of adaptogens we each use. MTE® has opted for herbs, while MUD\WTR® has opted for mushrooms.

Key adaptogenic mushrooms in MUD\WTR® include:

Lion’s Mane: supports focus, mood, immunity, brain health
Chaga: supports stress response, cell health, anti-inflammatory
Reishi: reduces stress, fatigue, reactivity
Cordyceps: reduces fatigue, improves physical performance

Key adaptogenic plants in MTE® include:

Ashwagandha: supports energy, mood, motivation, stress resilience
Eleuthero: promotes energy, stamina, nerve health, immunity
Holy Basil: supports calm mood, energy, immunity
Maca: promotes energy, mood, endurance, memory

And then there are the supportive ingredients that improve focus, attention and concentration through nootropic bioactivity. MUD\WTR® includes masala chai, a tea-derived ingredient that offers the zoned-in feeling of caffeine without the jitters, crash or addition. MTE® includes nootropics like green tea, theacrine and GABA, which work together to help you really hone in and concentrate, but with a calm, almost tranquil state of mind.

Starting to sound like a couple of pretty good replacements for coffee and energy drinks, right?

Pricing

Comparing the Cost of MTE® vs MUD\WTR®

Both MTE® and MUD\WTR® are meant as a daily habit, which is another reason they can serve as a true substitute for your morning coffee – you’re switching out an iffy habit with a healthy one! And when you consider the $4 you spend on that Americano on the way to work, they’re both also much more economical:

MUD\WTR®: $1.67/serving, $1.33/serving with subscription
MTE®: $2.33/serving, $1.98/serving with subscription

Packaging

What’s in the Bag? MTE® vs MUD\WTR® Packaging

MTE® and MUD\WTR® come in clean, attractive packaging with the key ingredients and benefits right on the container. Just like their recipes, their marketing is transparent. MTE® comes in 30-serving bags of green energy powder that’s ready to mix. MUD\WTR® comes in 30-serving tins of brown plant-based powder that’s also ready to mix! Both just as easy and convenient (if not more) than brewing or buying your daily coffee.

Other Highlights

Last Fast Facts on MUD\WTR & MTE

One thing we love about MUD\WTR® is, for those that really enjoy that dark coffee taste, MUD\WTR® has you covered. With dark, aromatic spices and cacao, this coffee substitute offers a similar flavor profile to coffee. On the other hand, for those who like to wake up to a fresh, fruity taste, MTE’s® greens powder supplement has a lychee-passionfruit vibe that’s sure to wake up your taste buds along with the rest of you!

And both MTE® and MUD\WTR® are plant-based, super-clean and accessible to many limited diets: