I’ve been a daily coffee drinker since I was 13. I’ve been devoted to my four cups a day ever since and have tried a seemingly endless variety of brews—classic drip, pumpkin spice lattes, flat whites, oat milk lattes, and even CBD-infused concoctions.
They've all had their moments, but I always return to my tried-and-true: regular drip coffee, two sugar substitutes, and a whole lotta creamer. However, I was intrigued when I heard about something I hadn't tried: mushroom coffee. Yes, you read that right—mushroom, as in fungus. Don't worry; I had questions, too.
While I initially wondered if mushroom coffee was a beverage made purely from mushrooms, I learned that many types still contain coffee (although some don't). It's usually a mix of equal parts ground coffee and powdered medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, or cordyceps.
While it's gained attention in wellness circles in recent years, the idea of using mushrooms to improve health and well-being isn't exactly new. Mushrooms have been utilized for centuries for their healing and health benefits in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Today, mushroom coffee is often touted as an alternative that can deliver benefits like improved cognition, immune support, reduced inflammation, and better stress resilience. But does it actually live up to the hype? That's what I wanted to find out.
So, I decided the best way to learn more was to give it a go. For 30 days, I swapped my regular coffee for mushroom coffee and kept track of how it affected my energy, mood, focus, and sleep. Here's how it went.
Potential Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
Before we look at my experience, let's consider some of the purported benefits of mushroom coffee. Beyond being a novel way to consume caffeine, there's some growing attention to the possible benefits these drinks might offer.
Mushroom coffee typically contains a mixture of adaptogenic mushrooms like lion's mane, chaga, cordyceps, and reishi. These mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional medicine, but more recent research is looking at their mental and physical benefits, from brain fog to burnout.
"Each mushroom has potential benefits," explains Catherine Gervacio, RND, a registered dietitian, exercise coach, and nutritional consultant at WowMD. For example, she explains that lion's mane may help boost memory and focus by supporting brain cell growth.
"When mixed with coffee, you get a smoother, more 'clear-headed' energy," she says. "Reishi, on the other hand, is for helping your body manage stress better, calming the mind, and even promoting better sleep if you drink it later in the day without adding caffeine."
Improved Cognitive Function
Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is probably the most well-researched when it comes to its potential brain-boosting benefits. Some evidence suggests that it may help support cognitive function and have neuroprotective effects.
A 2023 study found that lion's mane supplements were linked to improvements in cognitive function. It may also help reduce stress and mood disturbances in young adults.
Some animal research suggests that lion's mane supplements may help improve memory and reduce brain inflammation. However, further research is needed to learn more about its effects in humans.
Immune Support
Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) are rich in antioxidants, which can play a helpful role in supporting immunity. Antioxidants fight off unstable free radicals that can weaken the immune system and negatively affect cells. This ensures your body stays strong and ready to fight off potential threats.
One study published in 2021 backed up these benefits, showing how antioxidants (including those found in chaga mushrooms) can help support immune function.
The antioxidants found in chaga mushrooms may also help reduce inflammation in the body, which is essential for keeping the immune system working properly.
Increased Energy
Mushroom coffee proponents suggest that the shroomy brew provides more sustained energy without the jitters you might experience after drinking a regular ol' cup of coffee. Cordyceps mushrooms (Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris) are often linked to better energy and endurance. Mushroom coffee containing cordyceps is thought to offer a more balanced energy boost without the sudden jitters or energy crashes you might get from regular coffee.
While there's not much research to back up these claims beyond anecdotal reports, one 2016 study found that older adults who took cordyceps supplements showed better tolerance to high-intensity exercise.
If you want to maintain your energy but cut back on caffeine, mushroom coffee might be a helpful alternative.
"Mushroom coffee made with ground functional mushrooms—like lion’s mane, chaga, or reishi—either replaces or dilutes traditional coffee, lowering the total caffeine content or eliminating it entirely," explains Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, the founder and principal food consultant at Mendocino Food Consulting.
"For people who feel jittery, anxious, or crash hard after drinking coffee, these blends offer a way to keep the morning routine without the same stimulant load. Some versions have no coffee at all, relying solely on mushrooms to provide focus or calm."
Lower Stress and Better Sleep
Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) have been associated with calming effects and the potential to improve sleep quality. These mushrooms are often used in traditional medicine to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
One study found that different formulations containing Ganoderma lucidum extract could be used to effectively combat fatigue or improve sleep in mice. While more research is needed, their adaptogenic properties could potentially help the body better cope with stressors and contribute to more restful sleep.
Researchers also suggest it may have potential for treating metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity, by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels, as well as supporting immune function.
More Research Is Needed
It's important to remember that while these studies show promise, more human research is needed to learn more about the potential effects of mushrooms and their consumption in the form of mushroom coffee.
"The health claims tied to mushroom coffee usually come from studies on isolated mushroom extracts, not from brewed powders or blends. There's very little peer-reviewed research on how effective these products are when consumed in coffee-like drinks, especially at typical serving doses," Le says.
What we do know is mostly from lab studies or traditional use, not clinical trials in humans. That gap makes it hard to say how much benefit, if any, most people will actually get.
Your response may vary, so you should talk to your doctor before you make any significant changes to your diet or begin using supplements.
For example, I spoke to my doctor before trying mushroom coffee to determine if there were concerns about how it might affect my blood pressure and heart rate. My doctor found no specific interactions with my current medications, but he also suggested starting slow, monitoring how I felt, and tracking my blood pressure to see if any changes occurred.
Drinking Mushroom Coffee Daily
I love coffee and mushrooms, but I'm going to be honest with you: I wasn't 100% sold on the idea of pairing them together. Part of me seriously expected it to taste like I'd used cream of mushroom soup in my coffee instead of regular creamer. Fortunately, that was not the case.
Week 1
I started my new routine by making my first cup of mushroom coffee right after dropping my kids off at school on a Monday morning.
First impressions? The taste was actually really good. Not only did it not taste at all like mushrooms, but it was much smoother and creamier than my regular brewed coffee.
I found myself cutting back on my usual splash of creamer because I felt like I didn't need as much. I don't know if that was thanks to the mushroom blend or just the specific brand I was using, but it definitely made the drink feel a bit indulgent. I'll admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
I did notice that the caffeine content was lower than in my regular cup, which was expected (since it contains half the coffee). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a regular eight-ounce cup of coffee has between 80 and 160 milligrams of caffeine. The amount found in mushroom coffee can vary by brand, but ranges from around 35 to 50 milligrams per eight-ounce serving.
I've given up coffee temporarily before when I was struggling with infertility and recurrent miscarriages; those experiences were accompanied by all the classic withdrawal symptoms: irritability, headaches, fatigue, cravings, etc.
Surprisingly, while I did have some tiredness, my symptoms weren't nearly as noticeable as they were when I’d cut back on coffee in the past. Instead, my mornings during the first week were productive, although I did feel a bit more fatigued than usual by mid-afternoon.
Week 2
By the second week of my mushroom coffee experiment, my energy levels became more consistent throughout the day. Instead of my usual pattern (exhausted in the morning, energized mid-morning through lunch, and dragging my way through the midday slump), I felt focused, and my energy stayed pretty even all day long.
It also seemed like my sleep was unusually good this week. Revenge bedtime procrastination is my downfall, but I found myself falling asleep much more easily and waking up feeling a little more rested than usual. I hadn't changed anything else about my usual routine, so it's safe to assume that the mushroom coffee played at least some part.
Week 3
While I still felt like I was sleeping well and maintaining consistent energy levels, I started experiencing more headaches than usual. Had this happened earlier, I would have assumed it was a side effect of caffeine withdrawal, but I should have been well past that point by now.
Because I have a history of high blood pressure, the headaches were concerning. However, I didn't see any spikes in my blood pressure readings–in fact, they were somewhat lower throughout this month-long experiment than usual. Whether that can be attributed to the use of mushroom coffee or reduced caffeine intake is not clear, however.
Some research does suggest that mushrooms may have antihypertensive effects.
The headaches weren't terrible—just nagging and persistent. I brushed it off at first since I am prone to headaches. I told myself it might be something else, like not drinking enough water or staring at my computer screen for too long.
By the second day, I was starting to wonder if the mushroom coffee was having some unwanted effects. I continued to have periodic headaches off and on this week, and while I can't say for sure that the two were related, it was enough to give me pause.
That said, I felt good overall. The headaches were the only real downside.
Week 4
By week four, the headaches were largely gone. I'm not sure if it was just my body adjusting or something else, but it was a welcome relief.
At this point, mushroom coffee had just become a regular part of my daily routine–one I really looked forward to each morning. The great taste, non-jittery energy boost, and mental clarity were all major wins in my book.
What made it so easy and enjoyable was that I didn't feel like I was giving anything up. When I've quit coffee in the past, I either tried to live without it or replaced it with a less-enjoyable caffeine-free alternative. (I love a good cup of black or Earl Grey tea, but I'm sorry; most herbal teas just don't do it for me.)
While the headaches are an issue I'll keep an eye on, the overall experience was more positive (and delicious) than I expected.
Should You Try Mushroom Coffee?
That depends. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake while still enjoying the taste and ritual of having a cup of coffee, mushroom coffee is a great option. If you do decide to try it, you may need to experiment with a few different brands and blends to find the one that's right for you.
Many brands offer variations that focus on specific benefits depending on the type of mushrooms used, including some for immunity, mental focus, and digestion, among others.
It's always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before trying any new supplement or changing your diet, especially when it comes to something like mushroom coffee, which blends functional mushrooms with a source of caffeine.
You might find that mushroom coffee works well for you, but it's not a magic solution. Don't expect instant results. If you've never tried adaptogenic mushrooms before, consider starting with a half serving and give yourself time to adjust. Pay attention to any side effects you might experience, even mild ones.
To get a clearer picture of whether it is working for you, consider keeping track of your mood, energy, sleep, and cognition during the first few weeks. Tracking your experience makes it easier to notice subtle changes that you might otherwise overlook.
There are definitely perks to giving it a try, but there may also be risks and side effects to watch for. As with any supplement, your individual experience may vary. It's fine to be curious, but use caution.
Potential Risks
"Although rare, some people could be allergic to mushrooms, so it's smart to start with a small amount to see how your body reacts," Gervacio cautions. You should also avoid drinking it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, since data on its use by these groups is limited.
Gervacio also notes that digestive issues are one potential side effect people should watch for. "People who have a sensitive gut may experience a little stomach discomfort when they first start drinking mushroom coffee," she says.
Mushrooms may also interact with certain medications, especially blood thinners like warfarin.
If you are taking any prescription medications, check with your doctor first and be sure to mention the specific mushrooms included in the blend you are going to try.
Because mushrooms can have immune system-boosting effects, you should also avoid mushroom coffee if you take an immunosuppressant.
People who are on medication should always talk to their healthcare provider about whether mushroom coffee is safe and will not interact with their medicines.
Takeaways
After my experiment, I did return to drinking my regular brewed full-strength coffee each morning, but I’ve also decided to swap my afternoon pick-me-up for mushroom coffee instead. It’s been a great way to reduce my caffeine consumption later in the day, which has made it much easier to fall asleep each night.
Ultimately, it's worth a try if you are trying to limit your caffeine intake and want to potentially gain some of the adaptogenic benefits of medicinal mushrooms.
I Tried Lion's Mane for a Month—Here’s What It Did for My Mental Health
