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All About Mushroom Coffee: Benefits + 6 Best Brands To Buy, According To Experts
![Kristine Thomason Kristine Thomason](jpg/rupco4n.jpg)
Although I love a rich, bold, no-fuss cup of coffee, I was intrigued when I began seeing nutritionists and functional medicine doctors recommend mushroom coffee as a healthier alternative. Mushrooms have been a part of traditional medicinal practices1 for many years, and they come with some hefty health benefits (more on that below).
After testing what seems like every blend under the sun, I landed on the seven best mushroom coffee brands—and many come recommended by experts Ella Davar, R.D., CDN and Heather Moday, M.D.
Keep reading to learn which brands made the cut and how to choose the best mushroom coffee for your individual preference.
- Best flavored: Mud/wtr Rise
- Best creamer: Renude Chagaccino
- Best latte: Daily Harvest Chaga + Chocolate Latte
- Best brewed coffee dupe: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Ground Coffee With Lion's Mane
- Best caffeine free: Rasa Bold Herbal Coffee
- Best premade: Taika black coffee
- Best iced: Califia Mushroom Coffee
Benefits of mushroom coffee
While the benefits of mushrooms differ based on type—and research is still emerging—here are a few promising benefits to consider, according to Moday and Davar:
- Strong immune-enhancing properties2
- Liver function and cholesterol3 support
- A rich source of selenium, magnesium, zinc2, among other nutrients
- Cognitive support, including memory and concentration
- Longevity-supporting properties4
What's more, opting for mushroom coffee may help balance out some of the unwanted side effects of caffeine, or even help you cut back on coffee, if that's one of your goals.
The best mushroom coffee of 2024
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- Great flavor
- Affordable
- Additional beneficial ingredients
- Contains small amount of caffeine
Imagine your favorite chai latte...with the added benefit of medicinal mushrooms. That's exactly what you get with this delicious blend, which packs in organic chaga, reishi, lion's mane, and cordyceps. The founder of Mud/Wtr created this functional beverage to help reduce his coffee dependence while promoting calm and focus—so rather than coffee, it features organic black tea powder. For taste, there's also a spice blend of cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves. Davar is a fan of this brand in particular!
To drink: Blend a tablespoon of the powder with hot water or your favorite nondairy beverage.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- Can be added to any drink
- Portable
- Wasteful packaging
Forget your splash of oat milk, this creamer tastes better and does way more. Made of four simple ingredients: chaga mushrooms, cacao, cinnamon, and monk fruit, this powder turns your morning coffee into an adaptogenic latte chock full of superfoods. And the single serving pouches make it easy to bring to the office or add to a to-go coffee.
To drink: stir into coffee or drink of choice.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- Tastes like chocolate
- Sustainable packaging
- 12 grams of added sugar
I love these little ready-to-make latte pods from Daily Harvest. This option has a mix of organic cacao, chaga mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, coconut, vanilla, and a touch of natural sweetness from maple syrup. Plus, their new latte packaging is now made from 100% home compostable and recyclable material, made from plant-based renewable fiber.
To drink: Pop the latte pod out of its container, blend with 1 cup of your favorite milk, and serve hot or cold.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Ground Coffee With Lion's Mane
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- Familiar format
- Organic
- Significant caffeine content
Four Sigmatic has a number of different mushroom coffee offerings (among other great products), but our personal pick is the ground coffee with lion's mane. Why? As Moday puts it: "I am a big fan of using lion's mane in particular, because of its far-reaching effect on the brain." The combo of organic, Fair Trade, single-origin Arabica coffee beans and lion's mane (plus chaga mushrooms) is meant to help support energy levels and alertness, without a caffeine crash.
To drink: Brew this blend like you would standard ground coffee!
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- Organic
- Caffeine free
- 9700 mg of adaptogens
- Has to be brewed
This blend doesn’t stop at the usual mushroom coffee offering of lion’s main and cordyceps. It includes a blend of roots, herbs and berries to put a hunter gatherer to shame, from the ancient viking root rhodiola to the famously adaptogenic eleuthero herb and the himalayan herb shilajit. Chicory, cinnamon, and cacao top it all off for a drink that's equal parts flavorful and functional.
To drink: brew it like coffee. A french press is ideal, but all that's required is hot water and a strainer.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- No prep required
- Extra adaptogens
- Pricey
Using a patented blend of five adaptogenic ingredients—theanine, ashwagandha, lion's mane, cordyceps, and reishi—Taika aims to offer an easy-to-grab morning beverage with more benefits than traditional coffee. Plus, I can attest the canned coffee is pretty delicious, too.
To drink: Grab and sip!
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- No prep required
- Ingredients are just coffee and mushrooms
- Significant caffeine content
Califia may be known for its wide variety of non dairy milk, but they also have a lovely selection of packaged coffee. I'm a fan of this mushroom cold brew coffee they added to the lineup this year, with cordyceps and lion's mane extract.
To drink: Pour and sip!
Comparing the best mushroom coffee:
Product | Cost | Mushrooms included | Has caffeine | Sugars |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mud/wtr Rise | $50 for 30 servings | cordyceps/lion's mane /reishi/chaga | Yes | 0g |
Renude Chagaccino | $30 for 10 | chaga | No | 0g |
Daily Harvest Chaga + Chocolate Latte | $3 per serving | chaga | No | 12g |
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Ground Coffee With Lion's Mane | From $15 per bag | lion's mane | Yes | 0g |
Rasa Bold Herbal Coffee | $50 | cordyceps / lion's mane | No | 0g |
Taika Black Coffee | $5 per can | cordyceps / lion's mane / reishi | Yes | 0g |
Califia Mushroom Coffee | ||||
$32 for 6 pack | cordyceps / lion's mane | Yes | 0g |
How to choose.
- Consider the caffeine: Some of these products contain cold brew coffee or coffee beans. If you're looking for a completely caffeine-free pick, be sure to read the full ingredient list, as even some ingredients (like cacao) contain small amounts of caffeine.
- Note the sugar: While most of the products on this list don't contain refined added sugars or artificial ingredients, some options on the market do—so we recommend eyeing the label before buying any premade mushroom coffee.
- Review for other dietary restrictions: Whether you're vegan, gluten-free, or follow a keto diet, there may be ingredients in some of these products that don't quite jive with your lifestyle. Again, reading the ingredient list fully can help ensure you're choosing a pick that fits your diet.
- Choose your preferred brew: Are you a pour-over pro or more grab-and-go? Whether you're happy to brew your own 'shroom coffee or would rather have it pre-made and ready to drink, it's key to choose the product that best fits your routine.
Expert tip
What is mushroom coffee?
Let's back up for a second: Mushroom coffee is a mounting trend in the modern health food world—however, it certainly isn't a novel beverage. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicinal practices and functional medicine approaches for centuries, says Ella Davar, R.D., CDN.
More recently, according to information from Four Sigmatic, mushrooms were used as a coffee substitute in Finland (where their founders are from), during World War II when coffee beans weren't available.
Now, there are more and more packaged mushroom coffee products hitting the shelves, in a variety of forms. Some contain a balanced blend of beans and mushrooms, and others include additional functional components. A few opt for tea or other energizing ingredients, in lieu of actual coffee or espresso. The common denominator? They all contain some form of ground medicinal mushrooms or extracts to contribute a host of potential health benefits.
FAQ:
Is mushroom coffee good for you?
Research surrounding mushrooms suggests that they offer a range of potential health benefits, including cognitive support, boosted immunity, and a healthy source of selenium, magnesium, and zinc.* If you’re hoping to treat a specific condition, always speak with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your routine.
Who should avoid reishi?
Pregnant people and those with low blood pressure should avoid reishi. If you’re on prescription medicine, particularly blood thinners, speak with your doctor before incorporating reishi into your diet.
What are the disadvantages of mushroom coffee?
Potential side effects of mushroom coffee, particularly products with caffeine, include headaches, upset stomach, and the jitters.
The takeaway.
Mushroom coffee is a beverage made from adaptogenic mushrooms, either in powdered form or via an extract. Sometimes the drink contains cold brew or ground coffee, while other times this beverage can simply feature mushrooms and other functional ingredients. This can be a great option if you're looking to get more benefits out of your morning cup of coffee or even cut back on caffeine. Just be sure to speak to your health care provider if you're on any medications or have an existing health condition, before giving these earthy beverages a try.
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