Mushroom Coffee: Should you be drinking it?

Well, mushroom coffee doesn’t use your usual chestnut or portobello. It harnesses the nutritional power of ‘functional mushrooms’, which offer an array of potential benefits. Is it worth adding a cup to your daily routine?

The rise of mushroom coffee

Although functional mushrooms, like Lion’s Mane and Chaga, have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, mushroom coffee blends are giving the fungi superfoods a revival.

Interestingly, mushroom coffee isn’t as new-fangled as you might think. Mushrooms have been a traditional ingredient in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, it was during the 1940s that fungi was first celebrated as a drink. During the Second World War, coffee was hard to come by. Some people tried making malt and chicory substitutes. However, in Finland, they discovered that Chaga mushrooms made a suitable alternative.

And now, decades later, the power of functional mushrooms has been rediscovered, making the most of the flavours and potential nutrients within the fungi.

Mushroom coffee vs regular coffee
Don’t worry — the beverage is a little more sophisticated than plonking a piece of fungus in a latte or stirring it in like a cuppa soup. It blends powdered dried mushroom extract with regular coffee beans, so you still get that quintessential coffee flavour. You can brew up the beans the same way you would prepare any other kind of coffee.

The mild, earthy taste of the mushrooms add an extra depth for a satisfying drinking experience. Different types of coffee beans and mushroom varieties will also impact the flavour nuances.

The main difference between mushroom coffee and regular coffee is the nutritional value. Packed with vitamins and minerals, including selenium, potassium and calcium, mushrooms can give your morning coffee a healthy boost. Turkey’s tail, reishi, and cordyceps are all popular fungi options for mushroom coffee as they are also thought to hold medicinal properties.

Mushroom coffee tends to have a lower caffeine content than regular coffee, making it a good choice if you get a bit jittery after too many espressos.

As with any kind of coffee, the growing location and roasting process of the beans can affect the drink’s quality. Our Superfood Coffee Blends use the highest quality arabica beans for rich and balanced flavours. We’re also pleased to say our sustainable coffee is Rainforest Alliance certified. It’s also 100% organic to get the most out of the blends’ antioxidant content.

Mushrooms and coffee: a perfect combo?
We’re sure that once you try a sip of mushroom coffee, you’ll realise that what may at first seem like an unusual pairing can be a harmonious combination.

We’ve chosen two mushrooms for our superfood blends: Lion’s Mane and Chaga. Each variety brings its own unique flair to our Colombian coffee.

Our Lion’s Mane Mushroom Coffee Blend embraces the antioxidants in Lion’s Mane mushrooms, which are a traditional part of Chinese medicine. A cup of Lion’s Mane is the perfect pick-me-up for when you need an energy boost for productivity.

Chaga mushrooms play a starring role in our ‘immunity’ offering. Our Chaga Mushroom Coffee Blend provides rich, fruity notes with a hint of spice. These mushrooms are thought to give you an all-around wellness boost.

How to drink mushroom coffee

Once brewed, you can use mushroom coffee for any of your favourite drinks — from strong black americano to a creamy mocha. Whether you like to use a Moka pot, espresso machine, or cafetiere, our superfood coffee blends are ready to go, making it quick and easy to enjoy a delicious and nutritious cuppa. You can use mushroom coffee in place of any other whole or ground coffee beans.

Why not change up your morning refreshment and try a revitalising mushroom coffee?