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I second the diet recommendation. It makes a big difference for me when I can manage not to eat sweets and empty carbs.

I just throw down an espresso after lunch and I feel good.

I second the Yerba Mate suggestion. It jolts the mind without giving you that over-caffeinated coffee feeling.

Peppermint tea works for me as well (I must admit -- it doesn't have that true allure of a coffee though).

Do you build the same dependency on it that you do with coffee?

No... it has a different problem: you can use just a little and it'll work, but use too much and you may feel a little anxiety.