If you’ve spent more than five minutes browsing the aisles of an organic grocer or scrolling through your Insta feed, you’ll notice mushrooms are having a moment—in coffee.
While mushrooms have been a mainstay in ancient Chinese medicine for 2,000 years, coffee drinkers have only recently jumped on board.
Starting off the first day of vacay with some SHROOMS ? @foursigmatic mushroom coffee, to be exact. You can find me on the beach for the rest of the day with a different kinda drink in my hand ? Sunday Funday y’all! #letsdrinkyall
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From boosting focus to fighting disease, brands claim there’s nothing mushroom coffee can’t do. But yeah, about that…
What is mushroom coffee?
Unfortunately, you can’t just grab a container of shiitakes and and plop ’em in your bean grinder.
“Mushroom coffee is regular coffee blended with medicinal mushroom extracts,” says Jessica Ivey, R.D.N. “The extract is made by spray-drying key components of the mushrooms to produce a concentrated extract.”
She cites the method of major producer Four Sigmatic, which “boasts a dual-extraction process that removes both the water-soluble and the fat-soluble active compounds from the mushrooms.” Translation: You get all of the “superfood”-like properties of the mushroom minus the fibers.
Varieties like chaga, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms are used most commonly in brews (sorry, Portobello coffee isn’t really a thing).
What are the benefits of mushroom coffee?
There are a LOT of claims surrounding mushroom coffee. Just take a look:
Who wants some mushrooms with their morning coffee??!!! ? Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries to increase energy, boost brain function, rev-up metabolism and strengthen the immune system. They’re also great for relieving stress and aiding sleep. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Elixirs are now available in 4 varieties: Reishi – Taken in continuous, small doses, has been shown to activate sleep cycles, acting almost like a safe tranquilizer for the brain. As an adaptogen, Reishi mushroom can come with stress-reducing benefits. Chaga – Contains Betulinic Acid which is known for its ability to help fight the flu and common cold and it’s melanin component promotes shiny, thick hair and glowing skin. Melanin is known to not only protecting DNA, but also to help it regenerate. Lion’s Mane – Can support cognition and memory, while also helping to increase your ability to concentrate. The NGF growth stimulated by Lion’s Mane can help maintain the function and the size of the forebrain, which is where most of our decision-making, analytical thought, and memory processes occur. Cordyceps – Increased physical performance go hand in hand with higher energy levels, and Cordyceps is known for keeping lethargy at bay. By stimulating white blood cells to respond to unwanted bacteria, Cordyceps can relax sore muscles and loosen narrowed tracheas, which may allow your lungs to operate at higher levels. They can easily be stirred into hot water, smoothies or even in baking! Boil the kettle and hook me up!!!☕️☕️☕️ ⠀ Photo credit @foursigmatic #foursigmatic #functionalmushrooms #mushrooms #mushroomcoffee #chagamushroom #lionsmanemushroom #cordycepsmushroom #reishimushroom #reishi #codyceps #lionsmane #chaga #govitamarrickville #yourhealthshop #marrickville #yourhealthshopmarrickville #innerwest #marrickvillehealth #foursigmaticstockist #shrooms #healthfoodshop #healthfoodstore #morethanvitamins
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But take that with a grain of salt—Ivey said she was unable to locate any controlled trials in humans that support any of mushroom coffee’s bold claims.
One bonus, she notes, is that because mushroom coffee is less acidic than regular coffee, those with sensitive stomachs might be able to better tolerate it. (“Although they’d have to stomach the higher price tag,” she says).
Of note: Mushroom coffee is also lower in caffeine, she says. That could be a pro or a con, depending on who you ask.
Who should avoid it?
If you’re taking any prescription drugs, talk to your health care provider before drinking mushroom coffee since some supplements can produce unexpected side effects or have potentially harmful interactions, according to Ivey.
Similarly, she said to take special caution if you are pregnant or nursing and before giving any supplement to a child.
How do you even make this stuff?
If you can’t find coffee blended with mushroom powder (or don’t want to shell out), Ivey says you can technically brew your favorite bean and add mushroom powder to it manually (some fan favorites include Om, Lost Empire Herbs and Vimergy).
Then, add your favorite milk or alternative and sweetener. Take extra care to mix the ingredients thoroughly to avoid clumps. You can also pop it in the blender for a more uniform, frothy consistency.
And no, it doesn’t just taste like hot truffle oil (phew!). It tastes nutty and earthy, almost like actual mushrooms, but if you mix it well enough you won’t taste it.
Should I really be drinking mushroom coffee—or nah?
Mushrooms will continue to be a mainstay in Ivey’s diet, but nothing replaces a traditional cup of coffee.
“I won’t be trading my usual cup of Joe for mushroom coffee, but I will continue to include culinary mushrooms in my diet regularly, in addition to a generally healthy diet and plenty of water, alongside a daily cup of coffee,” she says.
The bottom line: Mushroom coffee probably won’t do you any harm, but don’t expect it to change your life, either.
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