What to Know About Mushroom Coffee, Explained by a Dietitian

Everyone has their morning routines.

In addition to the usual steps of morning hygiene, people may do things like read a book chapter, do a morning fitness routine, or check the daily news.

Often, a warm beverage is a final touch to starting the day off right.

What if you could get the power of adaptogens or plant compounds that reduce stress into your morning brew to help you feel energized and support your health?

For people looking for an adaptogen-filled, low-caffeine alternative to a morning cup of joe, mushroom coffee may be a great choice.

Mushroom coffee is becoming increasingly popular in wellness circles because of its higher nutrient content and potential health benefits.

We review the benefits and drawbacks of mushroom coffee and discuss some popular options if you want to add this adaptogenic brew to your routine.

What Is Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee is a beverage made from a blend of powdered medicinal mushrooms and ground coffee.

Common mushrooms used in mushroom coffee include Chaga, turkey’s tail, lion’s mane, shiitake, reishi, King Trumpet, and cordyceps mushrooms.

Some mushroom coffee blends choose to include only a single kind of mushroom powder, but often you’ll find blends with multiple types of mushrooms.

Several medicinal mushrooms are edible, but it is inconvenient for many to use whole mushrooms in daily cooking to receive the adaptogenic benefits.

Even if mushrooms are a normal part of your regular diet, attempting to incorporate up to 5 different types of mushrooms daily into foods and teas is difficult.

Powdered medicinal mushrooms make it significantly easier to get the correct quantities needed to experience the health benefits of these mushrooms.

Most mushroom coffee blends include coffee but at lower amounts than typical coffee. Per serving, mushroom coffee usually has a caffeine content that settles between a standard brew and decaffeinated coffee.

Mushroom coffees can also include additional ingredients such as cacao, dandelion, chicory, black tea, and spices to round out its rich and earthy flavor and provide additional health benefits.

Mushroom Coffee Benefits

Certain mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and modern studies are now unlocking the science behind how medicinal mushrooms benefit our health.

Below, I detail some benefits from medicinal mushrooms commonly found in mushroom coffee.

May Enhance Exercise Performance

Medicinal mushrooms found in mushroom coffee may help exercise performance by increasing blood flow, acting as an antioxidant, and increasing oxygen delivery to the body.

A 2018 study examined the impact of medicinal mushrooms on exercise tolerance. Participants either took a mushroom powder blend (containing cordyceps, reishi, King Trumpet, shiitake, lion’s mane, and turkey tail) or a placebo for one to three weeks. (1)

Participants who took the mushroom blend had improved tolerance to high-intensity exercise by the end of the first week.

By three weeks, they also had increased VO2 max, meaning that their oxygen consumption was higher.

Another clinical study found that older adults taking a cordyceps-only mushroom powder had an increased anaerobic and ventilatory threshold. (2)

In other words, cordyceps increased the time it took for lactic acid buildup in the muscles and labored breathing during exercise to occur.

Can Support Gut Function

Mushrooms contain polysaccharides, which are sugars that act as prebiotics or food for the gut and improve gut health.

A 2020 review on the impact of mushroom polysaccharides on the gut microbiota noted that these polysaccharides not only influenced the composition of the gut microbiota but increased short-chain fatty acid production in the gut. (3)

Turkey tail contains protein-bound polysaccharides (PSP) that act as a prebiotic for healthy gut bacteria.

A 2014 study found that participants who took a PSP supplement derived from turkey tail mushrooms for 12 weeks had small but noticeable benefits to their gut microbiome composition. (4)

An animal study found that a reishi mushroom extract reduced unhealthy bacterial imbalance in mice fed a high-fat diet, helped maintain intestinal wall integrity, and helped with detoxification. (5)

May Be Beneficial for Brain Health and Mood

Medicinal mushrooms have been widely studied for their benefits for brain health and mood.

A clinical study involving perimenopausal women found that eating a cookie containing 0.5 g of lion’s mane powder daily for four weeks helped reduce survey-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. (6)

Lion’s mane may also help as a therapeutic supplement in depression by supporting neurotransmitter concentration and nerve growth to combat depression-related brain shrinkage and reducing brain inflammation. (7)

Mushroom supplements can also protect against neurodegenerative conditions and cognitive impairment.

Animal studies find that reishi mushrooms can protect against inflammation in the brain. They can also protect brain cells against oxidative stress and other brain injury diseases. (8, 9, 10)

Can Support a Healthy Immune Response

Common medicinal mushrooms may be beneficial for supporting immune health in a healthy population and those with cancer.

A 2015 study examined the impact of dried shiitake mushrooms on immune function in adults. (11)

After four weeks of eating shiitake mushrooms, participants had improved immune cell activation while simultaneously having a less inflammatory immune response.

This could mean that shiitake mushrooms could result in an adequate immune response with fewer negative symptoms.

Medicinal mushrooms show potential in animal and human studies to reduce tumor size and growth.

Several reviews note that medicinal mushrooms, including reishi, turkey’s tail, and cordyceps, have therapeutic properties in supporting the immune system and reducing tumor growth in cancer patients. (12, 13)

May Help Reduce Inflammation and Oxidation

Medicinal mushrooms have several anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that make them beneficial for protecting against disease.

Mushrooms contain polysaccharides like beta-glucan, beneficial fatty acids, proteins, water-soluble vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, ergothioneine (an amino acid mainly found in mushrooms), and several classes of phytonutrients.

A 2018 review on the anti-inflammatory properties of edible mushrooms noted that mushroom extracts have many therapeutic benefits to protect against inflammation and oxidation, especially for health conditions associated with inflammation. (14)

Mushrooms like reishi have strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity and can even enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the body. (15)

Can Support Metabolic Health

Medicinal mushrooms can support metabolic health by improving blood sugar control and cardiovascular risks.

Animal studies on Ganoderma genus mushrooms (including reishi) show that these mushrooms have the potential to reduce blood sugar. The terpenes present in Ganoderma mushrooms also help improve blood sugar. (16)

A 2021 review detailed the protective effects of mushrooms on cardiovascular health. Studies find that edible mushrooms can help regulate cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and reduce oxidative damage. (17)

Together, these therapeutic effects can reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular diseases like stroke and coronary artery disease.

While many of the available studies are in animals, the results are still promising.

Drawbacks of Mushroom Coffee

While mushroom coffee has many potential benefits for your health, there are legitimate reasons why mushroom coffee may not be for everyone.

Limited Available Research

The study of medicinal mushrooms is a growing field where there is still much to learn about their risks and benefits.

Most popular medicinal mushrooms primarily have cell or animal studies available on their benefits. While this may teach us what potential mushrooms have for human health, it does not mean that the results are directly translatable.

There also needs to be more clinical trials done on medicinal mushrooms to determine the optimal dose needed to see benefits.

When you look at mushroom coffees, they will have varying doses of mushrooms or completely proprietary blends.

Some brands may claim that their product is better because it has more of a particular ingredient, but quantity does not directly relate to its benefits.

There are supplement ingredients that work better in small to moderate doses instead of large doses.

Caffeine Adjustments

If you’re someone who is used to having high doses of caffeine, switching immediately to a mushroom coffee may leave you in the middle of a caffeine crash.

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms may include low energy, headache, low mood, fatigue, irritation, and poor concentration.

To reduce caffeine withdrawal symptoms, try not to go cold turkey from regular coffee. Instead, gradually decrease your caffeine intake from coffee and replace it with mushroom coffee so you can still feel energized.

However, lower caffeine may not be a bad thing for many people.

Mushroom coffee is either low in caffeine or caffeine-free, making it a perfect drink for people who are caffeine-sensitive and need to monitor their daily intake. (18)

Mushroom Allergies

Mushroom allergies and hypersensitivity to mushrooms can make mushroom coffee dangerous to some.

Potential symptoms of mushroom allergy include cough, nausea, abdominal pain, lightheadedness, throat tightness, irritation of the skin, eye, lip, or throat, difficulty breathing, and swelling. (19)

If you experience any of these symptoms while taking mushroom coffee, immediately seek medical treatment.

Mushroom Coffee Safety and Side Effects

Outside of allergies and hypersensitivities, medicinal mushrooms can cause some symptoms in people.

Side effects from reishi mushrooms include dizziness, itching, dry mouth, nausea, stomach upset, and rash. Similar symptoms have been reported for other mushroom types. (20)

Turkey tail mushrooms may cause darkening of fingernails with regular use. (21)

Due to limited human studies, scientists are still trying to determine the overall safety of medicinal mushrooms.

One concern that scientists have is the potential for mycotoxins or toxins produced by mushrooms. (22)

There is not enough evidence to determine whether taking medicinal mushrooms is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so speak with your doctor before starting if you have these conditions.

Due to mushrooms having the potential to increase blood flow, they may also increase the activity of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.

Both reishi mushrooms and cordyceps have been shown to have anti-clotting and anticoagulant effects, so they can increase the risk of excess bleeding. (23, 24)

The hypoglycemic effects of medicinal mushrooms can also increase the risk for low blood sugar, though there is limited research on what doses may potentially cause this to happen.

There may potentially be other interactions with medications or conditions, but the available research on these interactions is limited.

Speak with your doctor before taking mushroom coffee, especially if you’re taking any medications.

Popular Brands of Mushroom Coffee

Now that you’ve read about the benefits and drawbacks of mushroom coffee, it’s time to hear about some of the brands available.

Some mushroom coffee brands are marketed and formulated as functional supplements, while others are an alternative to the general coffee-drinking experience.

MUD\WTR

MUD\WTR is a certified organic mushroom coffee that claims to energize you without the negative effects of caffeine.

It has unique blends for the morning and evening that add cacao and chai blends to its powdered mushroom blend.

MUD\WTR’s website also has coconut milk and MCT-based creamer, and coconut palm sugar is available, so you can get all of your coffee products in one place.

RYZE

RYZE Mushroom Coffee is another popular brand of mushroom coffee made with organic ingredients that claim to help increase your focus, boost immunity, and provide energy.

This blend includes six medicinal mushrooms, MCT oil, and powdered coffee (providing 48 mg of caffeine per serving).

In addition to their mushroom coffee, RYZE offers an online mindfulness journal with daily prompts to help you practice mindfulness and gratitude.

Four Sigmatic

Four Sigmatic is a brand that has mushroom coffee and other plant-based functional foods.

This brand is great if you prefer a brewed coffee experience (though they have instant mushroom coffees as well)

Four Sigmatic has a wide variety of mushroom coffees formulated for different purposes, including immune support, extra adaptogen power, performance, brain health, and gut health.

If you’re not much of a coffee drinker, Four Sigmatic also has cacao mixes with mushrooms.

Teeccino

I personally have tried and liked Teeccino.

Teeccino is a brand that makes herbal, caffeine-free mushroom coffees in a variety of delicious flavors like chocolate raspberry, cordyceps Schisandra cinnamon berry, and dandelion caramel nut.

It’s made with chicory root, a coffee alternative with a unique and rich flavor. If you’ve ever had Café Du Monde coffee or certain roasts from Community Coffee, then you’ve tasted chicory.

I feel like this brand is for people who want their fancy coffee flavors without caffeine.

The Bottom Line

Overall, I believe that mushroom coffee can be a great alternative to regular coffee.

Not only is it a flavorful drink that’s lower in coffee, but there is also some promising research showing that it may be beneficial for whole-body health.

With the increasing interest in mushroom coffees and teas, I hope to see more clinical studies for the claimed benefits of mushroom drinks so that consumers know that they’re spending their money on a worthy product.

Mushroom coffees are for people looking to cut down on their caffeine intake without leaving a void in their beverage options.

They are also for people looking for an easy and tasty way to get more adaptogens into their diet to benefit their overall health.

These coffee alternatives may not be appropriate for everyone. They can be somewhat pricey, and if you’re not into spending a lot of money on beverages, then the cost of mushroom coffee may be outside of what you’re willing to pay.

Mushroom coffees also may not be appropriate for people taking medications for chronic conditions or who may be pregnant or breastfeeding.

Before you start drinking mushroom coffee, check with your doctor to see if it’s safe and appropriate for you.