It’s the latest trendy take on your regular cup of joe. Mushroom coffee is everywhere. It’s usually sold in powder form, and when mixed with water, it creates an earthy and umami rich coffee-like drink.
Loved by wellness influencers and stocked on the shelves of health food stores, mushroom coffee has quickly gone from a niche curiosity to a mainstream staple. In fact, consumer interest in mushroom drinks has increased by 52% year over year (3). Mushroom coffee brands claim that their product provides improved mental and physical performance, higher immunity, and better sleep (4).
But are these health claims grounded in science or just smart marketing? Let’s take a closer look at what’s really in your mug.
What’s in Mushroom Coffee?
Mushroom coffee typically contains a powdered blend of mushrooms and coffee. Instead of culinary mushrooms, it uses functional mushrooms (also called medicinal mushrooms) such as:
- Lion’s mane
- Chaga
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
- Turkey tail
MyFitnessPal dietitian Lauren Cuda says that different mushrooms offer different benefits—for example, lion’s mane may be good for focus (6), reishi for boosting the immune system (8), and cordyceps for to boost stamina (9). “No one type is definitively better,” she says.
Be aware that most scientific evidence for these supposed benefits comes from research on pure mushroom extracts (sometimes taken as supplements), not mushroom coffee blends. To date, there haven’t been major rigorous clinical trials to assess the health impacts of mushroom coffee in humans.
Mushroom coffee may have less caffeine than regular coffee depending on the brand (10, 11), so if you like the taste, it could be a great way to enjoy a warm brew without the caffeine jitters.
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Culinary vs. Functional Mushrooms
While everyday culinary mushrooms (like portobello, button, and shiitake) are eaten for their taste and texture, functional mushrooms (like those in mushroom coffee) are consumed for their potential health benefits.
Mushrooms are naturally low in calories, but rich in nutrients such as:
According to Cuda, functional mushrooms tend to be tough, woody, or bitter—which is why they are usually processed into extract forms like supplements or mushroom coffee.
“Eating culinary mushrooms is a great way to support overall nutrition, but if your goal is to incorporate functional mushrooms, a supplement or mushroom coffee may be a more practical option,” Cuda says. It all depends on your health preferences.
About the Expert
Lauren Cuda, RD is a Food Data Curator at MyFitnessPal. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Missouri State University and her master’s degree in Nutrition Diagnostics from Cox College. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in pediatric nutrition, malnutrition, and nutrition support.
Pros and Cons of Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom Coffee Benefits
The lower caffeine content in mushroom coffee may cause fewer side effects than normal coffee if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Possible benefits of mushrooms may include(7) (8):
- Immune support
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved focus
- Enhanced stamina
Mushroom Coffee Drawbacks
However, most benefits of functional mushrooms are based on animal studies or isolated mushroom extracts—not on brewed mushroom coffee. It’s unknown whether or not these benefits apply to humans.
According to Cuda, mushroom coffee may interact with medications such as immunosuppressants, blood pressure drugs, blood thinners, and medications for diabetes (7, 8, 9). “Always check with your healthcare provider,” she says.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does mushroom coffee taste different from regular coffee?
Mushroom coffee tastes similar to regular coffee, often with a mild earthy or nutty undertone. Quality and flavor generally depend on the brand.
Does mushroom coffee have a lower nutrient content than whole functional mushrooms?
Although it’s hard to quantify, Cuda says that mushroom coffee likely has less nutritional value due to processing and smaller amounts used.
How does mushroom coffee compare to other coffee alternatives, like matcha and yerba mate?
Mushroom coffee typically contains less caffeine than matcha or yerba mate, which could make it a good option if you are looking to decrease your caffeine intake.
The Bottom Line
If you’re interested in consuming functional mushrooms, mushroom coffee may be a good option to potentially reap the possible benefits of functional mushrooms while getting an energy boost.
Keep in mind that there is very little research backing up the benefits of mushroom coffee. If you want to consume the caffeine of coffee and the nutrients of mushrooms, regular old coffee and culinary mushrooms might be a cheaper and more researched choice.
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