Mushroom coffee is a small but growing niche .
However, lots of people are put off trying it due to concerns about taste.
But fear not.
I’ve tried most mushroom coffee brands on the market, as well as gone through hundreds of reviews, to reveal what you can expect when it comes to the taste of mushroom coffee.
And the result is better than you’d expect… (that’s coming from someone who doesn’t like the taste of mushrooms).
Mushroom coffee tastes just like instant coffee, but with a subtle earthy or slightly nutty taste.
And most people who've tried it actually like it!
What is mushroom coffee?
If you're picturing a cup of coffee with chunks of mushrooms in it, I get it. But mushroom coffee isn't quite what you might think.
This unusual drink is made from ground mushroom powder (or ground mushroom extract) and coffee beans.
Some have other healthy ingredients added, too, but coffee and mushroom extract are the main components.
Just looking at it, you’d never know there were mushrooms in there. In fact, most just look and smell like regular instant coffee.
Why mushrooms?
Mushrooms are known to have a unique taste that not everyone finds appealing.
However, beyond taste preferences, mushrooms boast impressive health benefits, serving as potent adaptogens with anti-inflammatory properties.
A number of species - like lion's mane, reishi, and tiger milk - have even shown promise in enhancing mental focus and protecting against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Others - like turkey tail, cordyceps and chaga - support the immune system, increasing the body’s resilience to stress, viruses and disease. Some even show anticancer properties in lab studies.
So here’s the idea: what if you could get loads of health benefits from your morning brew by combining it with the goodness of medicinal mushrooms but without tasting anything like them?
Sounds intriguing, right?
That's precisely why I enjoy mushroom coffee and even why I made my own unique blend.
Benefits of mushroom coffee
But beyond taste, what sets mushroom coffee apart from your regular cup of joe?
For starters, it's lower in caffeine, providing a gentle energy lift without the jitters. This intentional reduction in caffeine aims to offer sustained energy without the crash. As a coffee lover who’s sensitive to caffeine's effects, this appealed to me.
Coffee is good for you. Mushrooms are very good for. You do the math…
With low caffeine and anxiety-reducing effects from mushrooms, you can expect less jitters and a more sustained energy boost with mushroom coffee.
Many mushroom coffees contain lion’s mane mushroom, which has been shown to promote the growth of new brain cells, improve memory, and potentially enhance focus.
Many people report that consuming mushroom coffee in the morning improves their sleep at night. Can't say I’ve noticed it, but enough people have mentioned it in reviews that there must be something to it.
What does mushroom coffee taste like?
First off, not all mushroom coffees taste the same.
Much depends on the quality of coffee used, as well as the amount of mushroom extracts and other ingredients.
However, as a general rule, most mushroom coffee blends taste just like instant coffee with a subtle earthy taste.
Many are in fact surprisingly delightful.
Some people don’t like the subtle earthy taste from the mushrooms, but most don’t notice it much when combined with a decent coffee.
Mushroom coffee vs regular coffee
Taste
Regular coffee has that classic, robust flavour that many of us love. Mushroom coffee, on the other hand, often has a more earthy and slightly nutty taste, thanks to the addition of mushrooms like chaga or lion's mane.
Caffeine content
If you rely on coffee to kickstart your day, you might be wondering about the caffeine content. While regular coffee typically packs a stronger caffeine punch, mushroom coffee tends to have a more moderate amount. This can be great for those looking to cut back on caffeine or avoid the jitters.
Health benefits
Here's where mushroom coffee really shines. Regular coffee is known for its energy-boosting effects, but mushroom coffee offers a unique blend of nutrients and compounds that can support your overall well-being.
Digestibility
For some people, regular coffee can be a bit harsh on the stomach, leading to issues like acid reflux or digestive discomfort. Mushroom coffee, with its lower acidity levels, may be gentler on the digestive system and easier for some people to tolerate.
What our customers say
As a fan of mushroom coffee, I had to make my own blend.
So I spent time developing a blend that is not only potent and nourishing for the body and mind, but also tastes exceptional.
The result is this Super Nootropic Mushroom Coffee, a blend of potent nootropics and functional mushrooms, designed to make you feel amazing.
Each spoonful of our Super Nootropic Mushroom Coffee is packed with over 1000mg of unique herbal extracts, but is also made with 50% barista-style instant Arabica coffee.
To give you an idea of how it tastes, I went through our reviews and found any that mentioned the flavour.
Here they are:
“I wasn't sure what the taste would be like, but it was actually really nice. I drank this in expresso form and appreciated the subtle mushroom hints which, with the coffee, contributed to a rich and wholesome flavour.”
“Good strong coffee taste”
“I probably will be a convert to this coffee for the mellow, nutty taste (without milk is better for me)”
“wonderful stuff, light on the palate, but noticeable effects for clarity.”
“I’m having a cup of tea after my morning coffee and the flavor is smooth and refreshing.”
“Such a different taste, in a good way, it is smooth very slight bitter and sweet and love it with Oat milk. Not able to detect the mushroom flavour but this could be the nuttiness but I am sure they are doing their magic!”
“I've tried other mushroom based coffee brands before which have tasted absolutely AWFUL and have very little semblance to real coffee. But....it seems like MUSHIES has cracked it and is the real deal. The coffee is full of flavour AND good for you too!”
“as a coffee it is very palatable and makes for a lovely morning wake up.”
“Tasty coffee :)”
“This does have a lovely taste but very mild coffee flavour”
“The mushroom taste is quite strong. I need to get used to it.”
“Lovely earthy taste and not too powerful for first thing in the morning.”
“Has a good taste without being too overpowering”
“Genuinely tasty coffee, and clears the morning brain fog better than a gallon of Gold Blend ever could.”
“I normally drink coffee black and have found that I need to add a coffee bag to make it palatable to me, but I have found it gives me a positive and sustained energy, which is impressive as I am not usually a morning person.”
“As hoped for, this drink really did provide a gentle but real lift, and helped clear & clarify the mind. An unexpected bonus was that it actually tasted really good, too!”
Final thoughts
Overall, mushroom coffee opens up a whole new world of beverage options, blending health benefits with your daily caffeine fix.
But it doesn’t have to taste like mud.
So, if you're ready to embark on a flavourful and nutritious coffee journey, mushroom coffee might just be your next favourite morning brew
Learn more about Super Nootropic Mushroom Coffee here.
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