You know those times where the algorithm gods lead you exactly where you want to go? Like when you need a new swimsuit and after a brief google search, you’ve basically got a team of personal shoppers serving you options in your feed on a silver platter. I know some of you are cringing at this thinking “does she even CARE about privacy??”, and you’ve got a point. But there are times when ‘accepting cookies’ gets me where I need to be..

Like last week. After an eye-opening dry January (including cutting coffee), I was on a hunt for an alternative to the caffeine anxiety and jitters that have been clouding my days. A little Google search to stimulate the algorithm and BOOM, I was scrolling through Instagram while simultaneously sifting through curated suggestions for productivity drinks, energy and hydration packets, and coffee alternatives. The one that really caught my attention was a coffee concentrate (yay low waste!) that claimed to improve cognition, mood, and focus, while simultaneously banishing the anxiety and jitters. Say whaaaaat?

What exactly is a coffee concentrate?

The reason coffee concentrate excites me is because it’s about as close as you’re going to get to espresso at home without a decent machine. Taya’s, specifically, is brewed cold and concentrated enough that you only need 1-2 tablespoons per drink. This means that you can come much closer to barista quality drinks at home, more easily achieving a concentrated and creamy latte without the extra water from brewed coffee to dilute it.

Not only that, but within seconds you can be sipping on a hot OR iced coffee made to your liking. Prefer it strong with cream? Or black over ice? Easy. No grinder, filter, or tabletop brewer needed!

As I dug deeper into Taya’s concentrate, I was also pleased to find that they use 100% organic, single-origin arabica beans. If you don’t know much about coffee, what this means is *they care*. While some coffee companies source a hodgepodge of low-quality beans to create a flavor profile resembling burnt beans (because that’s exactly what it is), Taya gives their beans much more effort. They partner with coffee farms in Colombia and Nicaragua that are certified fair trade and organic and use only the highest quality arabica beans they can find.

Not just coffee

While they do have an option that is *just* coffee, what I was most interested in was their Focus Blend. Infused with L-Theanine and Lion’s Mane Mushroom, the Focus Blend harnesses the power of adaptogenic nootropics to fuel your brain. If you’re not familiar with nootropics, they’re essentially super-powered supplements (found naturally in things like mushrooms and green tea) that can be added to foods to improve their benefits. They help your brain work better by increasing cognition and focus, and by enhancing memory, motivation, and creativity. Add that to your morning coffee and you’ve got the liquid fuel to crush your goals and still have time to cook dinner.

To be honest it’s only been a few mornings of drinking Taya since it arrived this week, but it’s been long enough to confidently tell you a few things. 1- The taste is outstanding. While I’m typically a black coffee drinker, something about Taya just feels gourmet, so I’ve been enjoying it daily with oat milk, ice, and a touch of honey. I’m not sure why I’d ever spend money on drive-through coffee again when I can make drinks like this at home. 2- These nootropics are no joke. To finish my morning coffee without feeling the dreaded jitters and anxiety I typically experience was a revelation. Not to mention the added surge of focus and seriously improved mood that came with it. 3- The price point is unmatched. When it comes to quality coffee there’s no sugar coating the price, but you can get Taya for as little as 60 cents per cup which is an absolute dream compared to my typical $5.40 latte.

A purchase to feel good about

It’s obvious that America’s coffee obsession has been contributing to landfills for years. Whether you’re brewing at home or getting your fix from cafes and drive-throughs, everything from cups, sleeves, straws, filters, and pods have been continuously filling the bins. But not with Taya. They’re determined to reduce their carbon footprint with sustainable sourcing, glass bottles, and recycled packaging. They realize how negatively coffee farmers in particular are impacted by unsustainable practices as temperatures rise and farmable land decreases. I’m happy to know I’m supporting a company that’s eager to do their part.

So if you need a switch up in your morning routine, could use a bonus nootropic boost, or if you’re just searching to be more low-waste conscious, our friends at Taya were nice enough to share a code for X% off your next purchase. Just use REALLYGOODREVIEW at checkout.