If the thought of hypertension, kidney stones, acid reflux, insomnia, fatigue and irritability won’t get you to rethink how much coffee you’re drinking, maybe nothing will.

But caffeine — and its potential side effects — isn’t the only problem. The acidity of coffee is known to aggravate digestive and other conditions, and let’s not forget that many sugary coffee drinks contain hundreds of extra calories.

So is it time to cut back or — God forbid — cut out coffee entirely?

If you’ve reached that point, consider these alternatives.

CHANGE YOUR BREWING METHOD

If it’s the acidity of coffee — not its caffeine content — that’s at issue, consider a somewhat unconventional brewing method in lieu of giving up coffee altogether.

Coffee lovers everywhere can let out a collective sigh of relief.

Jim Fly, who ran A to Z’s Fresh Air Fare and Pony Espresso in Downtown St. Joseph, recommends a Cold Brewed Coffee system known as the Toddy coffee maker.

“It virtually eliminates acid out of the coffee,” says Fly, who’s also a certified health counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. “You still get caffeine, but the acid is gone. And it is one of the smoothest cups of coffee that you’ll ever drink.”

Of course, you could do it “righteously,” he adds, and do a decaffeinated cold brew.

For more on this brewing method, check out www.toddycafe.com.

MODERATE CONSUMPTION

Two to four cups of coffee a day, says Sarah Wood, a registered dietitian with Heartland Wellness Connections, is the most a normal, healthy adult should drink.

“I definitely don’t dissuade people from drinking coffee,” Ms. Wood says.

But once your daily caffeine intake reaches 500 to 600 milligrams — the equivalent of six to eight cups of coffee — you’re at higher risk of experiencing related health issues.

Adolescents shouldn’t top 100 milligrams a day, and younger children don’t need any caffeine at all, Ms. Wood adds.

Still, some research shows that coffee is a reliable source of antioxidants, which have been linked to protection against heart disease and cancer.

But Dave Barcus, who with his wife owns health food market Herbs ’N’ Whey in Maryville, Mo., says the bad outweighs the good. He advises his clients against drinking coffee.

To him, the argument that coffee provides antioxidants is flimsy at best.

“Quite honestly, you can get that from a lot better sources,” he says.

GREEN TEA

One of those “better sources,” research shows, is green tea.

It’s loaded with antioxidants, giving it the potential to help prevent cancer and heart disease, and may have the added benefits of lowering bad cholesterol, burning fat and preventing diabetes, stroke and dementia. Mr. Fly adds that properties in green tea also may reduce stress and anxiety and relieve muscle tension.

As it always seems to go, there’s a catch.

“It does still have the caffeine, and the longer you brew it the more caffeine it has,” Ms. Wood says.

On average, a cup of green tea has about one-third to one-half the caffeine content of a cup of coffee. Look for decaffeinated varieties if you’re cutting caffeine consumption completely.

Mr. Fly suggests flavoring green tea with a slice of lemon or orange, as opposed to loading it with cream and sugar.

BLACK TEA AND CHAI

Black tea’s caffeine content is greater than green tea’s but still less than coffee’s. It also has a fuller flavor that many coffee drinkers will appreciate, Mr. Fly says.

“There’s some really good, strong English breakfast black teas that have a full-bodied flavor to them,” he says. “ ... Brewed hot and brewed strong, I think it’s a better coffee substitute” than most other options.

Though black tea doesn’t have all the added health benefits of green tea, it has roughly half the caffeine of coffee and is less acidic.

Latte drinkers ready to make a switch might try chai tea, a combination of black tea and spices mixed with steamed milk.

“That’s a pretty nice substitute for a latte, I would say,” Mr. Fly says.

ROOIBOS

Rooibos is an herbal tea that has no caffeine, and its health benefits might even surpass those of green tea. Research is exploring its role in cancer prevention and weight loss, and it also may help with stress and anxiety.

So, what’s the catch this time?

“It tastes like nothing else on Earth,” Mr. Fly says, referring to it as a “pleasant” but “acquired” taste.

HERBAL COFFEE

Herbal coffee isn’t really coffee at all, but a combination of herbs of grains roasted to have a similar flavor.

The upside? There’s no caffeine and little acidity. And the downside?

“It’s OK, but I have to say this: It ain’t coffee,” Mr. Fly says, adding that herbal coffee is worth a shot for those looking to avoid coffee’s caffeine and acidity but want to replace their morning cup of joe with something similar.

Brand names to look for include Teeccino and Herbal Beverage, the latter of which Mr. Barcus vouches for.

“It looks like, smells like, tastes like coffee,” he says. “ ... If you’re a real hard-core, strong coffee drinker, you’re going to notice the difference. But if it’s just the taste you’re after and not the caffeine buzz, you’ll learn to like this.”

Kevin Krauskopf can be reached at kevin.krauskopf@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @stjoelivedotcom.