Mushroom coffee (Photo by Gulsina on Shutterstock)
It sounds like something out of the 1970s - but it's not. Mushroom coffee is one of the hottest health food crazes sweeping the nation. Once an obscure beverage, it has brewed its way into the spotlight of the global beverage industry. Heralded as the harmonious marriage of ancient Eastern medicinal traditions and contemporary Western café culture, this earthy concoction has managed to captivate the palates of both health lovers and curious epicureans alike. We've curated a list of the seven best mushroom coffee varieties on the market so you can get your daily wake-up call without the jitters of coffee.
Mushroom coffee will provide you with a morning jolt since it does have caffeine, but less than regular coffee. Experts also claim it improves cognition and boosts the immune system. Coffee shops worldwide are adding this fungi-infused elixir to their menus, but you can also brew your own at home.
To clarify, while mushroom coffee is enriched with beneficial compounds, it contains no psilocybin—the compound known for psychedelic effects. Thus, it's legal, safe for daily activities like driving, and won't give you a hallucinogenic experience. Beyond coffee, mushrooms, such as the common white variety, have long graced our dishes, offering health benefits. And now, fresh research from the Endocrine Society suggests that white cap mushrooms might even play a role in slowing down prostate cancer progression—a compelling reason for every man to consider them a dietary staple.
Diving deeper into mushroom coffee, it's often enriched with varieties like Lion's Mane, Chaga, and Reishi. Yet, a fine cup isn't just about the mushrooms—it demands a premium coffee bean for the optimal blend of flavor and experience. If you're curious about venturing beyond your regular brew, EdNews has curated a list of the top seven best mushroom coffees you should sample. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share in the comments below.
The List: Best Mushroom Coffee, As Rated by Experts
1. MUD\WTR
“[The] MUD\WTR brand is one of my favorites,” Sarah Olszewski, a Syracuse-based registered dietitian tells Forbes. “It tastes great and contains multiple types of mushrooms with unique health benefits. In addition to coffee, MUD\\WTR offers several mushroom matcha and tea blends, plus ‘mushroom boosts,' which you can easily mix into your favorite beverages.”
Rolling Stone writes, “You may have seen ads for MUD\WTR on TikTok by now, but don’t swipe past too quickly: the California-based brand is making some of the best mushroom coffee alternatives around. Using a blend of lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, and reishi, MUD\WTR brings a comprehensive dose of the best mushrooms for improving mood, energy, and overall immune health. But the brand also counts Malala chai, cinnamon, turmeric, and Himalayan salt in its ingredients, meaning it really tastes great too.”
“Though it’s not your typical cup of coffee, MUD\WTR still packs a punch with its flavor,” according to Shroomer. “The caffeine content (35 milligrams) comes from black tea, which gives the drink a leafy, herbaceous note. With a variety of different flavors to choose from, like warming chai spices, cacao, musky turmeric, and matcha, Mud/Wtr has a layered taste that’s not totally unlike your favorite java, despite being devoid of coffee.” It has 562 milligrams of California-grown mushrooms per serving and is certified organic.
2. Four Sigmatic Organic Mushroom Ground Coffee
Cuisine at Home says what truly sets this brand apart from others is the use of whole mushrooms instead of just root systems. “This Fair Trade gourmet coffee boasts an impressive combination of natural mushroom powder, creating a delicious, full-bodied, and flavorful brew with no bitter aftertaste. Each cup features Lion’s Mane mushroom powder, an immune-boosting nootropic that has been used for centuries to increase focus and creativity.” The website goes on to say, “The specialty-grade single-origin coffee beans are grown in Honduras at 5,500 feet above sea level, providing a low acidity that still packs a punch of flavor.”
“Four Sigmatic is the leader of the mushroom coffee trend and even claims that Chaga mushroom coffee originated in its home country of Finland,” writes Shroomer. “They offer different lines of their coffee with specified benefits like Think, Perform, Chill, and Balance, each with a unique blend of shrooms and different grinds for making cold brews or whipping into a latte. The taste of Four Sigmatic’s various coffees is on par with some of the higher-quality roasts you’ll find in stores. The dark roast is smooth and balanced, while the medium has chocolatey, buttery notes.”
Buoy Health believes, “The combination of organic coffee, Lion's Mane, Chaga, and Rhodiola Rosea creates a unique and delicious coffee that helps with focus and immune support. The instant coffee packets make it easy to enjoy at home or on the go, and the organic and wild-harvested ingredients are a plus. We appreciate that the coffee is third-party lab tested for quality, ensuring that each serving delivers 50mg of caffeine and 250mg of functional mushrooms.”
3. RYZE Mushroom Coffee
“This coffee definitely isn’t your normal roasty, toasty coffee flavor,” says Shroomer. “Instead, things get a little more earthy – truly embracing the flavor complexities of mushrooms. Though the taste might not be for everyone, many prefer its smooth-bodied finish. Ingredients are 100% certified organic and include common medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps, lion’s mane, and reishi — but also shiitake and king trumpets as well – two varieties unique to mushroom café blends. This mushroom-packed combo may be the culprit ingredients behind RYZE’s distinct flavor.”
Mushroom Coffee Guide states, “The smooth and creamy taste is delicious, making it a great addition to your morning routine. The 100% organic and recyclable packaging, as well as the California-grown mushrooms, make it a sustainable choice.”
“Their powdered products are meant to be mixed directly into hot water or milk and don’t require any brewing,” says Clean Green Simple. “Each bag of instant mushroom coffee contains more mushrooms than coffee, including cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, and king trumpet. In addition to medicinal mushrooms and Arabica coffee, you’ll also get a healthy dose of MCT oil with each serving. Not only does this oil add a deliciously creamy texture, but it comes with plenty of its own health benefits.”
4. La Republica Mushroom Coffee
All the mushrooms used in this coffee are grown naturally, making the coffee free from any harmful additives, according to the Mushroom Coffee Guide. “The coffee has a rich and chocolaty taste that is sure to please your taste buds. The coffee is packed with seven powerful superfoods that provide clean and calm energy throughout the day.”
“This organic mushroom coffee offers a rich, chocolatey flavor that will surely please any coffee lover,” writes Cuisine at Home. “It also has the added benefit of providing long-lasting energy throughout the day without any jitters or afternoon crash and burn. All ingredients are carefully sourced from distinguished mushroom farms located in pristine forests far from industrial society, and each jar is BPA-free.”
Buoy Health says, “The coffee has a delicious taste that is sure to satisfy your cravings, while the mushroom extracts provide a clean and calm energy boost that will power you throughout the day.”
5. Renude Chagaccino
Rolling Stone is wowed by the taste of this mushroom coffee. “Renude’s Chagaccino tastes as good as a mocha but delivers the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms. The drink’s ingredients are led by wild foraged chaga mushrooms, bringing immune support and non-jittery energy. Sugar-free, vegan, and keto-friendly, the drink is a clean, zero-calorie alternative to coffee. ”
If you're having a hard time breaking up with your regular coffee, Clean Green Simple says this is the perfect solution. “This powdered product is meant to be added to your favorite cup of coffee to elevate it both in terms of taste and nutritional power. Each packet of Chagaccino is packed with powdered wild forged Chaga, cocoa, cinnamon, and monk fruit extract. It’s basically a mocha makeover for your coffee with a ton of added benefits. And, in case there are any questions: yes, it tastes as good as it sounds!”
“Renude Chagaccino is the perfect choice if you want something a little sweeter,” says Coffeerto. “It’s a delicious blend of organic Arabica beans, sweetener-free creamer, chaga mushroom powder, and adaptogenic herbs like Maca. Renude Chagaccino makes an excellent drink with its naturally low sugar content and rich flavor.”
6. Laird Superfood
Sarah Olszewski, a Syracuse-based registered dietitian tells Forbes, “Laird Superfood is another favorite mushroom coffee brand.” Olszewski. She points out that it’s similar to coffee is made from organic coffee beans and is sugar-free.
Cuisine At Home boasts, “This coffee has a flavor profile that is rich and full of tasty notes of Rhodiola and coffee cherry. The ingredients give this coffee blend its unique powers: invigorating and energizing you the plant-powered way. Whether you use it in a drip, French press, or cold brew, the results will be delicious every time. It is recommended that you use one tablespoon per 12 ounces of hot water.”
According to the Greenest, “It tastes like coffee. But it just has mushrooms in it. It’s sort of like how some cereals are fortified with a million minerals and vitamins.”
7. VitaCup Shroom Fuel
“These individual packets of VitaCup’s coffee alternative make it easy to take your mushrooms on the go,” says Rolling Stone. “The drink mix is like an instant coffee, only made with Organic Chaga and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, maca root, and a hint of cacao. The coffee replacement is sweet and earthy with subtle notes of chocolate and a touch of cinnamon (it honestly takes great).”
“VitaCup Shroom Fuel contains an infusion of organic Cacao, Maca Root, mushrooms, Ceylon Cinnamon, and B Vitamins for a smooth, lightly sweet, hot cocoa-like latte,” states Cuisine At Home. “The mushrooms in the blend – Chaga and Lion’s Mane – have natural adaptogenic and nootropic properties, which help to keep one focused, alert, and calm.”
“For those looking to maintain a healthy adrenal system and support their body’s stress response, VitaCup Shroom Fuel includes Maca root,” according to the Bellevue Reporter. “Maca root has been used for centuries to combat fatigue, increase energy levels, and promote overall balance in the body. To add a touch of indulgence, the blend is infused with cacao, a rich source of antioxidants and essential minerals. Cacao helps to uplift mood and satisfy the taste buds with its natural sweetness.”
You may also be interested in:
- Healthiest Mushrooms
- Best Coffee
- Best Keurig K-Cups
- Best Fast Food Coffee
- Best Instant Coffee
- Best Coffee Beans
Sources:
- Buoy Health
- Rolling Stone
- Forbes
- Cuisine At Home
- Shroomer
- Clean Green Simple
- Mushroom Coffee Guide
- Coffeerto
- Heavy
- The Unwinder
- The Greenest
- Bellevue Reporter
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. EdNews is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
Great Article.