People are rushing to try mushroom coffee these days. What, exactly, is mushroom coffee? Mushroom coffee blends premium Nicaraguan beans with mushroom powder so your boost lasts longer and leaves the jitters at the door. The roasts happen in New England, and his crew uses genuine fungi—whatever leftover grain fluff some rivals toss in stays off the label.
Functional mushrooms are more than garnish, Dawn Menning once remarked while adjusting the sleeve of her lab coat. Unlike the portobellos that line a pizzeria counter or even the shiitakes plucked from a fancy stir-fry, these fungi carry a set of compounds aimed squarely at wellness. They also sit on an entirely different shelf from the psilocybin-laced caps some people use to see rainbows or rethink old grudges.
Mushroom coffee stirs caffeine into the blend because roasted beans remain its primary backbone. That said, the dose rarely climbs past 60 milligrams, so a large mug sneaks in less buzz than an average cup brewed at the office. Menning estimates a typical source lands somewhere between 40 and 60 milligrams.
"The study is still not sure about saying that special mushrooms have any big effect on people," Le said. "Some studies show that mushroom bits may help make some health parts better, like your body's guard system and swelling, but it's not clear if the change is big enough in the food and drinks we drink."
Menning, though, put in a big point: "Mushrooms have lots of stuff good for stopping bad cells that may help keep the immune system strong, but most studies were on animals, with very little data from people." Menning also said, "These were done on the mushroom itself, not on mushroom coffee."
Mushroom coffee is mostly safe for many, but there are some things to think about. "Some mushroom coffees may have more fiber than we are used to, so it could make you go to the bathroom more," Le said.
"Look, most mushroom coffees out there don't taste good and are made with low-grade instant coffee and unsure mushroom parts," McInnis shared. "But ours was made by fungus experts and coffee fans. It's real coffee first, with real mushroom bits added, not just ground mushroom parts and grains. You won't taste the mushrooms, but you might feel different."
If you're interested, why not try? Just keep your hope of what mushroom coffee can and can't do for you low. "None of these claims are proven yet," Menning said. Yet, that hasn't stopped many from switching from normal coffee to this mix.
"There's been a big jump in people wanting to use mushroom items for their health," McInnis said. "With the growth in wellness, more knowledge of mushrooms as good food, and some doubt about fake supplements, people are picking more natural choices. Mushrooms have been in the spotlight for some years now, and coffee is a quick and easy way to get them."