Mushroom Coffee: Benefits, Side Effects And Expert-Recommended Brands (2024)

Often advertised as a healthier alternative to traditional coffee, mushroom coffee is a beverage made from adaptogenic mushrooms and coffee beans. Adaptogens, which can come in the form of herbs and roots as well as mushrooms, are purported to help the body manage stress and restore a sense of balance after a stressful time. The belief is that the way your body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-gland axis interacts with the adaptogens helps achieve a restoration of balance.

Though mushroom coffee may taste similar to regular coffee, it contains less caffeine. This lessened caffeinated kick may lead to sustained energy levels, without the afternoon crash that can typically arise with regular coffee, according to Sarah Olszewski, a Syracuse-based registered dietitian and founder of Sarah Lynn Nutrition, a nutrition counseling practice.

A few of the most popular varieties of mushrooms featured in mushroom coffee include:

• Chaga
• Cordyceps
• Lion’s mane
• Turkey tail
• Reishi
• Phellinus
• Agaricus

These mushrooms are linked to a long list of benefits and may promote immunity, brain health, heart health and more. However, because there is not a breadth of human studies on these mushrooms—especially when it comes to their interactions with other medications—it’s important to speak with your doctor to make sure the type of mushroom in the mushroom coffee you’re considering is right for your personal health circ*mstances.

With so many mushroom coffee brands on the market, finding a high-quality product can be challenging. Here are a few of the top brands recommended by experts.

1. MUD\\WTR

“[The] MUD\WTR brand is one of my favorites,” says Olszewski, adding that 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. “MUD\WTR also contains other beneficial, anti-inflammatory ingredients, no fillers and a small amount of caffeine from black tea,” says Olszewski.

2. Four Sigmatic

“Four Sigmatic is a high-quality, natural mushroom coffee blend with a variety of health benefits,” says Sabat. “It is made with organic Arabica coffee [and] organic chaga and reishi mushrooms and contains no artificial ingredients,” she continues. The brand also offers blends with specific ingredients aimed at various health goals, including “Think,” “Defend” or “Chill.”

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3. Laird Superfood

Laird Superfood is another favorite mushroom coffee brand of Olszewski. She points out that it’s similar to coffee and is made from organic coffee beans, plus a variety of functional mushrooms, including lion’s mane, cordyceps and chaga. It’s also free of added sugar.

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4. Organo

“Organo is another great option, which is made from organic, shade-grown Arabica coffee beans and organic Ganoderma mushrooms,” notes Sabat. She states that this mushroom coffee is free of artificial ingredients and has a mild but earthy flavor. According to the company’s website, it’s also vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and certified halal.

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If you’re interested in cutting down on caffeine while also adding some more nutrients to your diet, experimenting with mushroom coffee may be a good option. As with any dietary change, consider talking with your doctor or a registered dietician about the possible benefits of mushroom coffee for you.

Mushroom coffee is made by combining medicinal mushrooms with coffee beans. The mushrooms are typically dried and then undergo an extraction process, which helps isolate the beneficial compounds. This is then added to regular coffee beans, resulting in a powdered blend that can be mixed with a liquid, such as milk, and enjoyed.

Some mushroom coffee blends also contain other ingredients to enhance the flavor or boost the potential health benefits. A few of the common ingredients found in popular brands include cacao, cinnamon, turmeric, sea salt or MCT oil.

Besides being a lower-caffeine substitute for regular coffee, mushroom coffee also boasts several other impressive health perks. Here are a few of the top benefits.

May Improve Brain Function

Mushroom coffee may promote mental clarity, concentration and focus, according to Mary Sabat, a registered dietitian and personal trainer in Georgia. In particular, lion’s mane may increase the production of nerve growth factor, which is a type of protein that plays a key role in the development of neurons, according to test tube studies^[2]Ryu SH, Hong SM, Khan Z, et al. Neurotrophic isoindolinones from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2021;31:127714. .

However, research in humans is limited, and more studies need to be done before a definitive link between improved brain function and lion’s mane can be noted.

May Strengthen Immunity

Improved immunity is another key benefit of mushroom coffee, according to Sabat. Interestingly, some research suggests that the immune-enhancing and disease-fighting effects of medicinal mushrooms could be due to the presence of certain compounds, including specific proteins and glucans, a type of carbohydrate.

In one in-vitro study (which means a study done in a test tube or petri dish), extracts of turkey tail mushroom increased the activity of certain immune-activating and anti-inflammatory compounds in cells^[3]Benson KF, et al. The Mycelium of the Trametes Versicolor (Turkey Tail) Mushroom and Its Fermented Substrate Each Show Potent and Complementary Immune Activating Properties in Vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19:342. . However, more high-quality studies in humans on the effects of mushroom coffee are still needed.

May Help Ease Stress

Medicinal mushrooms are often used to help reduce stress and anxiety. This may be due to their ability to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which acts as a neurotransmitter modulator and plays an important part in neuronal growth and survival, particularly those involved with cognitive and emotional function. One small study found that supplementing with lion’s mane for eight weeks not only increased levels of BDNF, but also improved symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders in individuals living with obesity^[4]Vigna L, et al. Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers?. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;7861297. .

May Support Heart Health

Certain varieties of medicinal mushrooms featured in mushroom coffee may offer benefits for heart health. For instance, one review notes that reishi mushrooms may protect against heart damage and reduce the risk of heart disease by improving cholesterol and blood pressure levels^[5]Meng J, et al. Protective Effect of Ganoderma (Lingzhi) on Cardiovascular System. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1182:181-199. . Other research has found that cordyceps have a positive effect on the treatment of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, possibly by regulating certain pathways in the cells of the heart^[6]Wang L, et al. Bidirectional Regulatory Effects of Cordyceps on Arrhythmia: Clinical Evaluations and Network Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:948173. .

Some researchers theorize that the effects of mushrooms on heart health could be due to the presence of compounds like ergothioneine, an amino acid that helps ease inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that could help promote heart health and protect against chronic disease.

Compared to regular coffee, a cup of mushroom coffee contains about half the amount of caffeine. Therefore, while it may be a good alternative to coffee for those who are limiting their caffeine intake, it can still cause side effects, especially if you’re consuming large amounts or are sensitive to caffeine.

Some of the common side effects associated with caffeine consumption include:

• Shakiness
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Dehydration
• Fast heart rate
• Dependence

Though uncommon, those with an allergy to mushrooms should also steer clear of mushroom coffee. Symptoms of a mushroom allergy may include hives, stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing and chest pain. If you experience any negative symptoms after drinking mushroom coffee, discontinue use and talk to a doctor.