What is Mushroom Coffee? Health Benefits, Drawbacks, & How to Make It

Mushrooms and coffee are two things you wouldn’t think of bringing together, but mushroom coffee is actually a thing, and it continues to make waves in wellness communities.

It’s thought of as a healthier alternative to traditional coffee.

Read on as I share with you what mushroom coffee is, its supposed health benefits, and more interesting things about it.

What is Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee is a brewed combination of ground coffee and powdered medicinal mushrooms.

Using mushrooms as an herbal medicine has been practiced in different parts of the globe for many years. While it tastes very much like your regular cup of joe, the powdered mushrooms are added to infuse the drink with healthy compounds called adaptogens, which may improve the drinker’s response to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and improve your overall wellbeing.

While the origin of combining mushrooms and coffee in a single drink is unclear, Finland has a history of using Chaga mushrooms as a substitute for coffee when there was a coffee shortage in the country during World War II.

What Kind of Mushrooms Are Used for Making Mushroom Coffee?

The mushrooms used for making mushroom coffee are not the culinary variety like shiitake and portobello. Instead, it’s often made with varieties known for their medicinal properties.

Here are the most common mushrooms used to make mushroom coffee:

• Chaga
• Cordyceps
• Lion’s Mane
• Reishi
• Agaricus

Chaga

Chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and may help lower cholesterol levels, slow cancer growth, support immune function, and reduce inflammation and blood pressure. They contain beta-glucans which help balance the immune system, as well as betulinic acid and other compounds that reduce inflammation by inhibiting cytokine production.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps mushrooms may help fight inflammation, boost exercise performance, slow tumor growth, and improve immunity, kidney function and sex drive. Animal and lab studies suggest cordyceps have the potential to improve heart health, fight inflammation, cancer, diabetes and aging, although more human research is needed to confirm these effects.

Lions Mane

Lion’s mane mushrooms contain hericenones and erinacines that can stimulate brain cell growth, potentially protecting against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. It also may help treat anxiety and depression, possibly by regenerating brain cells and improving the function of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for emotional responses.

Reishi

Reishi mushrooms are adaptogens that may help the body handle stress, and they also show promise for boosting immunity and fighting cancer. Some studies, mostly in animals, suggest reishi mushrooms could decrease anxiety and depression, improve brain function, prevent fatigue, and more, but human research is lacking.

Agaricus

Agaricus blazei mushrooms contain beta-glucans that may activate immune cells like natural killer cells to help prevent tumor growth and viral infections. They are also rich in antioxidants and may help improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics, reduce high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis, and protect the liver.

How Mushroom Coffee is Made

Making mushroom coffee starts with harvesting the medicinal mushrooms that will be used in the coffee blend.

Once harvested, these mushrooms undergo a special extraction process. The mushroom’s fruiting bodies are extracted and turned into organic powder preserving the beneficial compounds.

This powdered mushroom extract is then combined with coffee grounds in a 1:1 ratio, ready for brewing. You can find mushroom coffee available as instant coffee powder, ground blends, or even coffee pods.

Some well-known brands that produce this kind of coffee include Four Sigmatic, Laird Superfood, and Organo.

Can you make mushroom coffee at home?

Yes, you can make this brew at home simply by combining equal parts of ground coffee beans and mushroom powder, which can be bought at specialty grocers and health food stores.

Commercial mushroom coffees can be expensive, so doing this very simple step can save you money.

Health Benefits of Mushroom Coffee

Mushroom coffee earned popularity due to these health benefits that the brewed beverage may offer:

1. May Help with Mental Clarity and Focus

The adaptogens found in these mushrooms have been found to aid cognitive health, improving the drinker’s response to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. It could help you maintain focus while fighting against exhaustion and your mental stressors.

As you can imagine, this complements the caffeine that comes from the coffee, which also perks you up and enhances your attention.

2. May Enhance Energy Levels

While it can bring your stress levels down, mushroom coffee can potentially lift your energy levels as well. A study on the polysaccharide in mushrooms like cordyceps showed that it could improve oxygen delivery within the body, prolonging a person’s energy, especially during exercises.

3. Good for Gut Health

Polysaccharides also have prebiotic effects which promote good bacteria in the stomach, helping maintain your gut’s good health. This could help with your digestion and reduce the risk of constipation, also aiding gut imbalance caused by stress or poor diet.

4. Immunity Improvement

Some studies also found the potential of medicinal mushrooms to boost immunity.

One study found that reishi mushrooms increased the white blood cells in colorectal cancer patients. Another study showed that it could improve the function of lymphocytes (that help fight infections and cancer) among athletes who were subjected to stressful conditions.

5. May Aid with Heart Health

Reishi may also help reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases by influencing factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. Meanwhile, cordyceps intake was found to have a positive effect on people being treated for their arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.

Mushrooms are also the top source of Ergothioneine. Higher levels of this amino acid in the blood have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease and deaths caused by such illnesses.

6. Lower Caffeine

 If you love your coffee but are concerned about taking in too much caffeine, then you can opt for this mushroom-infused coffee instead of going all out with decaf.

The caffeine in each cup is halved since powdered mushroom is used as a substitute. This helps avoid or lessen its negative side effects on people more sensitive to caffeine, such as:

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate

7. Other Benefits

Aside from the specific health benefits found in medicinal mushrooms, there are also numerous perks from consuming mushrooms in general. Of course, drinking coffee also has its advantages in terms of health, especially organic coffee.

Both mushrooms and coffee are rich sources of antioxidants. These natural compounds combat damage from free radicals, aiding in everything from reducing inflammation to possibly even slowing down aging processes.

Downsides of Drinking Mushroom Coffee

Like almost anything we put into our bodies, mushroom coffee isn’t universally perfect for everyone. It’s essential to look at potential side effects and downsides, especially if you’re taking certain medications.

Here are cases when it’s better to skip this drink:

1. Allergic Reactions

First off, if you’re someone with a known allergy to mushrooms, this brew is definitely off the table for you. Allergic reactions could range from mild discomforts like hives or stomach pain to more severe health issues.

2. Insomnia and Caffeine Side-Effects

Although it contains less caffeine than your average cup of coffee, it still can pack a punch for those sensitive to caffeine, causing side effects like insomnia and restlessness, especially if taken later in the day.

3. Blood Clotting Interference

Other people that should proceed with caution are those with certain medical conditions. For instance, Chaga mushrooms can interfere with blood clotting, therefore those taking blood thinning medications, preparing for surgery, or suffering from a bleeding disorder, should consult their doctor first.

4. Influence on Blood Sugar or Immunity

Blood sugar levels can also be influenced by some medicinal mushrooms. While lowering blood sugar levels is great in theory, it’s another story if you’re already on medication for the same effect. Adding mushroom coffee into the mix might make things a bit tricky to control.

The same goes for individuals with autoimmune diseases. Boosting an already overactive immune system could potentially lead to complications.

And of course, if you have health concerns or are taking medications that could interact with these potent fungi-powered coffees, having a chat with your doctor would be wise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are quick answers to some common questions about mushroom coffee:

Mushroom coffee is a fascinating blend of coffee brewing rituals and the modern wellness trend surrounding medicinal mushrooms. This beverage continues to gain traction for potential benefits such as sustained energy, immune support, and improved mental focus, so it’s also worth checking out for those who like coffee.

Have you tried this kind of coffee, or are you considering giving it a shot after learning about its benefits?

Share your experience with this drink in the comments below.