Mushroom coffee has become a trendy beverage popular with health-conscious influencers and other health-conscious people. So, what is mushroom coffee and what are its benefits?
Simply put, mushroom coffee is a combination of coffee and ground mushrooms. It is touted as a healthier alternative to coffee, largely because of the nutritional value of mushrooms, which have been used as medicine for thousands of years. However, the benefits of this drink are not yet fully established, so there are a few things to keep in mind before incorporating it into your lifestyle. let’s see.
What is mushroom coffee?
When you hear the term “mushroom coffee,” do you picture mushroom slices swirling in a cup of coffee? It’s not exactly an appetizing idea. Luckily, that’s not the case with mushroom coffee.
In fact, mushroom coffee looks just like a typical cup of coffee—but it’s not just made from coffee beans, but also contains dried and ground mushrooms. But what does mushroom coffee taste like? Surprisingly, most mushroom coffee blends don’t taste like mushrooms at all, which is great if you want to enjoy the potential benefits of this trendy drink but don’t want the fungal taste.
Manufacturers often use medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, lion’s mane, chaga and turkey tail when making mushroom coffee to benefit both physical and mental health. These mushrooms are rich in healthy components called adaptogens and are used in Eastern medicine to treat a variety of ailments. You may also find shiitake mushrooms in some mushroom coffee products.
There are many mushroom coffee products on the market today, including mushroom powder, coffee pods, instant coffee, ground coffee and latte blends. Some popular brands include Four Sigmatic, Clevr Blends and RYZE Mushroom Coffee.
How does mushroom coffee work?
Medicinal mushrooms contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including carotenoids and polyphenols, which may benefit your health when consumed in mushroom coffee. That’s it:
- carotenoids: These compounds are known for their antioxidant properties, which can improve immunity, eye health, and cardiovascular health.
- polyphenols: Medicinal mushrooms (especially Chaga) contain polyphenols, which also act as antioxidants. According to a 2023 review, “Mushroom polyphenols exhibit multi-faceted beneficial effects on the human body: anti-cancer, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, delaying the aging process, preventing degenerative diseases of the nervous system and cardiovascular diseases.”
- Vitamins and Minerals: Mushrooms also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your health in many ways. For example, bristle mushrooms are rich in B vitamins (including riboflavin and niacin), as well as essential minerals like zinc and potassium.
Drinking mushroom coffee allows you to enjoy the benefits these compounds have to offer (we’ll dive into the specific benefits in a moment). However, it’s worth noting that while the health benefits of mushrooms themselves have been proven, research on mushroom coffee is still limited.
For example, research shows that consuming reishi mushrooms can boost your immune system and potentially prevent or treat cancer, but it’s unclear whether you’ll get the same benefits from consuming mushroom coffee.
Potential Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
While more research is needed to back up their claims, mushroom coffee proponents say it has a variety of health benefits, including:
Improve concentration and energy levels and reduce jitters
Even though mushroom coffee contains mushrooms, it’s still coffee—and because of the caffeine, drinking it may help improve focus and concentration. However, since mushroom coffee usually consists of equal parts mushrooms and coffee, it usually has less caffeine than a standard cup of coffee, which may be helpful if you feel anxious or jittery from regular coffee. Or, if you want to reduce your caffeine intake (but still want to stay alert and focused during the day), mushroom coffee might be a good compromise.
Immune system support and antioxidant properties
Thanks to their bioactive compounds, mushrooms have immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. Specifically, research has found that turkey tail mushrooms (commonly used in mushroom coffee) contain a compound that may help boost immunity in cancer patients. However, more research is needed to determine whether mushrooms retain these benefits when dried and blended with coffee beans to make mushroom coffee.
Stress relief and potential adaptive effects
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, a stress hormone that increases your energy and helps you get through the chaos you’re experiencing. Consuming adaptogenic mushrooms, including those used in mushroom coffee, may help regulate cortisol and reduce stress.
Potential Disadvantages and Side Effects of Mushroom Coffee
At the same time, mushroom coffee may also have certain disadvantages, such as:
May be allergic to mushrooms
If you are allergic or intolerant to mushrooms, it is best to avoid mushroom coffee. However, even if you don’t have a known fungal allergy, you may have an adverse reaction to mushroom coffee because it often contains medicinal mushrooms that you may have never tried before. For example, an allergic reaction to the reishi mushroom can cause dry mouth, dizziness, rash, or headache.
drug interactions
Mixing certain medications with mushroom coffee may be risky. For example, reishi mushrooms can lower blood sugar or blood pressure. If you are taking medications for diabetes or high blood pressure, be sure to talk to your doctor before incorporating mushroom coffee into your diet.
digestive or kidney problems
For some people, drinking mushroom coffee may cause digestive discomfort caused by the coffee, mushrooms, or both. Additionally, certain types of medicinal mushrooms, including Chaga, are high in oxalates. If you have a history of kidney problems, excessive intake of oxalates may increase your risk of kidney stones.
Mushroom coffee vs regular coffee
While mushroom coffee may look like regular coffee, the two drinks have some key differences.
Caffeine content and energy levels
Since mushroom coffee is usually half coffee and half mushrooms, it naturally has less caffeine than regular coffee. Therefore, it may not provide you with as much energy as a typical morning brew of coffee.
Taste and Flavor Profile
There are many mushroom coffee products on the market, each with its own flavor profile. However, many coffees taste similar to traditional coffee, sometimes with a slightly nutty or earthy flavor.
Nutritional differences
Likewise, there are clear differences in the nutritional content of the two beverages, with mushroom coffee containing mushrooms (regular coffee does not). As we’ve discussed, adding mushrooms may offer a variety of potential health benefits, including boosting immunity and relieving stress.
Cost comparison and availability
Price is another major difference between these two coffees. Generally speaking, mushroom coffee is much more expensive, often twice as much as regular coffee. For example, a 12-ounce bag of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee costs about $20, while a bag of coffee typically costs less than $10. Additionally, mushroom coffee is not as widely available as regular coffee, making it more expensive and harder to find.
Things to consider before buying mushroom coffee
Not sure if mushroom coffee is right for you? There are some things to consider before giving it a try, including your personal health and the cost of switching to mushroom coffee.
From a health perspective, mushroom coffee should be safe for many people to drink. However, if you are currently taking medications or have an ongoing health condition, please consult your healthcare professional before adding mushroom coffee to your daily routine. You can also ask for dosage recommendations to make sure you don’t overdose.
You also need to consider your budget. If you’re tight on money, you’re better off incorporating whole mushrooms into your diet (which have clear health benefits) rather than spending money on mushroom coffee (which costs twice as much as regular coffee and has no proven health benefits benefits)).
Finally, since mushroom coffee is relatively new on the market, you may want to become more familiar with the brand that produces it. Therefore, it’s wise to research any company you’re considering purchasing from and review all ingredient lists thoroughly.
