Best Mushroom Coffee: 5 Delicious Coffees to Boost Brain Function

April 16, 2024
Updated:
April 23, 2024
Best Mushroom Coffee: 5 Delicious Coffees to Boost Brain Function
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Mushrooms are a popular natural supplement. They are bursting with flavor and packed full of active compounds that are linked with many health and wellness benefits. Functional mushrooms can help support digestive health, boost energy levels, aid recovery, regulate mood, improve sleep, promote immunity, and enhance skin health. 
Different mushroom varieties are associated with a unique set of benefits. For example, Lion’s Mane and Turkey Tail mushrooms are believed to support brain function and focus, Rishi mushrooms may promote relaxation, and Cordyceps are believed to boost metabolic rates and aid muscle recovery.
Mushroom coffee is a great way to get a daily dose of beneficial mushroom compounds. 
We’ve researched dozens of premium supplement brands to find the best mushroom coffees, to give you the best start to the day. 

What are Medicinal Mushrooms?

Medicinal mushrooms, sometimes called functional mushrooms, are edible mushrooms with therapeutic properties. There are over 700 species of edible mushrooms that have bioactive compounds that can be extracted and concentrated for use in dietary supplements, such as powders, capsules, gummies, and mushroom coffee. Popular medicinal mushroom varieties include:
  • Lion’s mane
  • Turkey tail
  • Cordyceps
  • Chaga
  • Reishi
  • Shiitake
  • Agaricus
  • Phellinus
Functional mushrooms are not the same as hallucinogens. Rather, they contain compounds such as antioxidants and adaptogens, which help inhibit oxidative damage and protect against chemical, biological, and physical stress, respectively. 
The effects of mushroom supplements — like coffee — can be felt almost immediately, but it may take up to a few weeks of regular use, before the full benefits kick in.

Best Mushroom Coffee

Mushroom coffee combines the therapeutic effects of functional fungi with the energy-boosting properties of caffeine. We’ve scoured the market to find some of the best mushroom coffees on the market right now.

Best Overall Mushroom Coffee: Bulletproof The High Achiever Enhanced Coffee

If you’re really looking to power up your mornings, we found The High Achiever Enhanced Coffee from Bulletproof to be a stand-out option. It’s specifically formulated to support cognitive function and boost energy and focus. You get powerful effects and a powerful flavor too thanks to medium-dark roast Arabica coffee beans.
The coffee is packed with a blend of three powerhouse ingredients:
  • Lion’s mane mushroom: Known to support cognition, for increased focus and concentration.
  • Coffeeberry: A natural source of caffeine that will help boost energy levels and help maintain focus throughout the day.
  • B-Vitamins:  A blend of 100% of your daily value of five B vitamins to support energy levels and healthy metabolism function. 
Bulletproof prides itself on producing high-quality, clean coffee,  sustainably sourcing its beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Furthermore, they independently test every shipment of coffee beans for toxins.
Pros:
  • Boosted with B vitamins
  • Available as coffee pods and ground coffee
  • Tested for toxins
  • Subscribe and save 30%
Cons:
  • A high content of caffeine compared to other mushroom coffees
Specs:
  • Size: 10 or 20 coffee pods, or 10oz of ground coffee
  • Strength: 250mg of mushroom powder
Buy now!

Most Convenient Mushroom Coffee: Vitacup Shroom Fuel Coffee Alternative

If you’re looking for something on the sweeter side, you’ll love Shroom Fuel Coffee Alternative from Vitacup. This drink mix is made with cocoa and cinnamon to lighten the earthy flavor of the mushrooms.
It comes in convenient, single-serving drink mix packets, so it’s quick and easy to make yourself a cup of this mushroom coffee alternative. It’s even formulated with organic Chaga and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, so you know you’re consuming only the highest quality ingredients.
Pros:
  • Money-back guarantee
  • Made with organic superfoods
  • Great tasting
  • Comes in convenient, single-serve packets
Cons:
  • Need to buy in bulk or subscribe in order to get free shipping
Specs:
  • Size: 24 packets per box
  • Strength: Less than 5 mg of caffeine per serving
Buy now!

Best Tasting Mushroom Coffee: Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee

Maintaining focus and a sense of calm throughout the day can be supported by incorporating Everyday Dose’s Mushroom Coffee into your routine. This delicately roasted coffee offers a light and creamy texture, with subtle hints of chocolate, making it enjoyable either on its own or with your preferred milk or sweetener.
As well as brimming with rich and aromatic flavors, the coffee is also packed with active ingredients. Lion’s mane mushroom supports focus and nerve regeneration, chaga mushroom may help boost immunity through antioxidants, L-theanine helps enhance focus and sleep quality, and collagen protein helps maintain skin, hair, nail, bone, and joint health.
As well as 30 delicious cups of coffee, you also get a free Starter Kit which includes:
  • A rechargeable frother
  • A gunmetal dosage spoon
  • Breathwork app by Othership
  • Nutrition booklet
Everyday Dose sends each batch of Mushroom Coffee for third-party testing which verifies that it’s free of mold, allergens, and heavy metals. 
Pros:
  • Enhanced with L-theanine and collagen protein
  • Double-extracted to increase the bioavailability of extracts
  • Lab tested for potency and purity
  • Soy, dairy, and gluten-free
Cons:
  • An automatic subscription kicks in after the first purchase
Specs:
  • Size: 180g per bag which equals 30 servings
  • Strength: 2275mg of mushrooms and nootropics blend per serving
Buy now!

Best Low-Caffeine Mushroom Coffee: Beam Super Latte

The Super Latte from Beam is a low-caffeine coffee alternative designed to provide the benefits of coffee without as much caffeine. It contains a mix of natural adaptogens, nootropics, and mushroom extracts. These ingredients aim to offer sustained energy, improved focus, and stress relief. Compared to regular coffee, it boasts a third of the caffeine content, which may help reduce the likelihood of experiencing caffeine-related side effects such as jitters or midday crashes.
The coffee features a blend of four mushrooms: Cordyceps for improved performance and endurance, lion’s mane for memory and recall, turkey tail for stamina and fatigue support, and king trumpet to support cognitive function. Each cup also contains creatine, huperzine-A, and phosphatidylserine to support brain health, as well as theobromine for natural, sustained energy support.
Our favorite part is that this can be enjoyed with hot water for a light and creamy coffee, mixed with cold water and ice for a refreshing iced coffee, or even made your own by adding it to your favorite coffee blend for an added boost. 
Pros:
  • Four mushroom blend
  • Boosted with natural adaptogens and nootropics
  • Low calorie and low caffeine
  • Subscribe and save 20%
Cons:
  • One of the more expensive coffees on our list
Specs:
  • Size: 30 servings per container
  • Strength: 550mg of mushroom per serving
Buy now!

Best Mushroom Coffee for Energy: Four Sigmatic Think Organic Coffee

According to Four Sigmatic, drinking their Think Organic Mushroom Coffee daily may lead to noticeable improvements in focus, motivation, and energy levels within just 7 days. It combines a potent blend of Lion’s Mane and Chaga mushrooms with the delicious taste of organic Arabica coffee.
Organic log-grown Lion’s Mane acts as a natural nootropic, supporting memory, focus, and concentration, to help maintain overall cognitive function from morning until night. Organic wildcrafted Chaga mushroom is a source of antioxidants to help support immune function and general well-being.
The coffee is free of artificial ingredients, being natural or wild-harvested. While there are no artificial flavors, the coffee is full of taste thanks to the dark chocolate notes or dark roast Arabica beans, which can be upgraded with your favorite nut milk, cream, or knob of butter.. 
Pros:
  • 100% organic coffee
  • Tested for purity
  • Sugar and gluten-free
  • Subscribe and save up to 32%
Cons:
  • No additional active ingredients
Specs:
  • Size: Each container contains 16 servings of 21g
  • Strength: 250mg of Chaga mushroom and 250mg of Lion’s Mane per serving
Buy now!

How We Picked The Best Mushroom Coffee

To be sure we’re only recommending the best mushroom coffees, key criteria must be met:

Quality Ingredients

We only chose mushroom coffees that contain all-natural ingredients, favoring those with organically-grown mushroom extracts. Furthermore, only coffees containing evidence-based ingredients - i.e. medicinal mushrooms and other extracts that have proven therapeutic effects - made it onto our list.
The FDA does not regulate testing and Manufacturing Mushroom coffees, so it can be difficult to know whether a reputable brand is selling a mushroom coffee. So, we checked how companies manufacture their products, ensuring they are made in facilities compliant with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). These are FDA-set guidelines that ensure consistent safety, hygiene, and quality throughout the manufacturing process. 
Also, we prioritized mushroom coffees from brands that test their products in third-party labs for purity, to ensure we’re only recommending contaminant-free mushroom coffees.

Customer Reviews

If a mushroom coffee does not have real customer reviews to back up its claims, it’s best avoided. Verified customer reviews provide key insights into the effectiveness and quality of a mushroom coffee, as well as offer useful information on the flavor, consistency, and ease of use of a supplement. Our list only contains mushroom coffees with a long history of mainly positive customer reviews. 

How to Find the Best Mushroom Coffee for You

When shopping for mushroom coffee, here are a few things to keep in mind before you hit ‘add to cart’: 

Mushroom blend

Each species of medicinal mushroom has unique benefits, so what therapeutic effects do you want from your coffee? For example, Cordyceps can help aid post-exercise recovery, Lion’s Mane may maintain focus and energy levels, and Reishi mushroom is linked to boosting mood and stress reduction

Brewing method 

Some mushroom coffees require certain brewing methods, like a French press or drip coffee maker. So, before you buy a mushroom coffee, make sure you have the right brewing equipment.

Price 

Of course, it’s wise to stick to your budget, but we advise caution if the price of a mushroom coffee is too good to be true. A product significantly cheaper than the competition is probably made from cheaper ingredients at a lower potency. Check the ingredient list and if they’re 100% natural and organic, it’s a good indication you’re paying for quality. Also, big savings can be made by taking advantage of ‘buy more, save more’ offers and subscription deals. Potential Benefits of Mushroom Coffee

Potential Benefits of Mushroom Coffee

Scientific research indicates that compounds known as beta-glucans are responsible for the therapeutic effects of mushrooms. Studies show that beta-glucans have anti-inflammatory properties, which support cardiovascular health and immune function. 
Mushrooms are also a good source of antioxidants, which can enhance the body’s natural defenses against oxidative damage. A daily dose of antioxidants may provide varied health benefits including disease prevention, supporting mental health, reducing inflammation, and maintaining eye and brain health.
A daily cup of mushroom coffee may have many benefits to your general health and wellness:
  • Reduce stress: The active compounds in certain mushrooms have the potential to ease stress and anxiety. This is likely the result of their ability to increase the levels of an important neurotransmitter modulator which supports neural growth in areas of the brain involved with cognitive and emotional function.
  • Boost brain function: Mushroom coffee - particularly if it contains Lion’s Mane mushrooms - may boost mental clarity, focus, and concentration.
  • Maintain heart health: Studies suggest certain mushrooms can benefit cardiovascular health. For example, Rishi mushrooms may improve cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure, protecting against heart disease.
  • Support immunity: Research indicates beta-glucans found in mushrooms can enhance the activity of certain immune-activating and anti-inflammatory compounds in cells, helping to support overall immune function.
  • Additional benefits: Other benefits of mushroom coffee may include, boosted energy levels, improved memory, and better post-workout recovery.

Potential Side Effects of Mushroom Coffee 

The side effects of mushroom coffee are not well understood, however, those with problems digesting grains may experience gastrointestinal problems after consuming mushroom-based supplements. 
Typically, mushroom coffees contain less caffeine than traditional coffee, but too many cups and you may experience the potential side effects of consuming excess caffeine, which include
  • Headaches
  • Shakiness and restlessness
  • Dizziness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Dehydration
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Dependence if excessive amounts of caffeine are consumed daily
Plus, those with mushroom allergies should avoid mushroom coffees altogether. Symptoms of mushroom allergy include stomach pain, vomiting, hives chest pains, and difficulty breathing. If you experience any adverse effects after consuming mushroom coffee, stop using it immediately, and speak with your doctor.
Before you start taking any new dietary supplements, including mushroom coffee, speak to your doctor first, just in case there is a risk of interactions with the prescription medications you’re taking. Also, don’t drink mushroom coffee if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or living with a pre-existing medical condition unless permitted by your healthcare provider. 

FAQs: 

Is mushroom coffee safe?

Mushroom coffee is typically well tolerated by most people, however, some people may experience mild digestive distress, headaches, or dizziness. Mushroom extracts are not recommended for those taking certain prescription medications, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Therefore, you should speak to your doctor before you start drinking mushroom coffee.

Is mushroom coffee legal?

The mushroom extracts in mushroom coffee are not the same as those found in psychedelic mushrooms, meaning they are legal. However, if a mushroom coffee contains additional ingredients, such as CBD or THC, it may be subject to legal restrictions.

How much should I take?

There are currently no official guidelines on daily dosages of mushroom extracts. However, between 1,000mg and 2,000mg should be sufficient to experience the therapeutic effects. 

In Conclusion

Mushroom coffee offers a natural way to enhance focus, energy, and general wellness. It provides a boost in the morning without the jitters or midday dip that often comes with regular coffee. 
You don’t compromise on taste as the best mushroom coffees are made with quality coffee beans to give a rich and smooth flavor. 
Mushroom extracts are well tolerated by most people, but some people might experience mild side effects, such as headaches or digestive issues. Also, if you’re taking prescription medications or are pregnant, speak to your doctor before adding a mushroom coffee to your daily regime.
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