Mushroom coffee is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to consume medicinal mushrooms. While there are many brands to choose from, consumers should be aware that many products are simply marketing gimmicks and don´t really offer the benefits of medicinal mushrooms. This is because most products don´t contain significant quantities of bioactive compounds, and some don´t even contain mushrooms!
Sorry, But There Might Not Be Mushrooms In Your Coffee
Before moving forward, it’s important to mention that many medicinal mushroom supplements don’t actually contain mushrooms. That’s because instead of using mushroom fruiting bodies, many producers take a shortcut and simply use what is known as ¨Mycelium On Grain¨. This is the fungal mycelium of select species grown on grains like rice or wheat. While this is much cheaper to produce, it unfortunately does not contain nearly as many bioactive compounds as the fruiting bodies. If you want to learn more about this, click here.
The State Of Mushroom Coffee
Today there are more than a dozen companies offering Mushroom Coffee, each with different approaches and levels of legitimacy. A few utilize fruiting-body extracts, but most utilize mycelium-based products and are not transparent about their doses! Most products cost between $1.00 to $2.00 USD per serving.
High Quality Products Should Disclose
- That they are using 100% fruiting body extracts
- There are dosages of extracts, which should be between 500 and 2000 mg to be effective. Generally speaking, 1000 mg is recommended as a good base level for high-quality extracts.
- Lab Testing
Below is a table with information on some of the most popular Mushroom Coffees and Coffee Alternatives.
| Brand | 100% Fruiting Bodies | Lion’s Mane | Chaga | Reishi | Cordyceps | Other Supplements | Cost Per Serving | Recommended? |
| Mud/WTR Recommended? NO | No | 560 mg | 560 mg | 560 mg | 560 mg | Turmeric (420 mg), (Cinnamon 500 mg), Sea Salt (20 mg) | $1.33 – $2.00 USD | No |
| Comment: Mud/WTR is a coffee alternative made with Cocoa. They also offer other beverages. Their product is made with a mycelium-based supplement and at relatively low doses. | ||||||||
| RYZE Recommended? NO | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | King Trumpet (N/A), Shiitake (N/A), Turkey Tail (N/A), MCT Oil | $1.00 – $1.20 USD | No |
| Comment: RYZE does not disclose the quantity of extracts used, although it is a mycelium-based extract. The lack of transparency and use of mycelium-based supplements makes them not recommendable. | ||||||||
| Everyday Dose Recommended? NO | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | L-Theanine, Amino Acid Stack (4725 mg) | $1.00 – $1.20 USD | No |
| Comment: Everyday Dose is a protein enriched mushroom coffee made with fruiting body extracts of Lion’s Mane and Chaga. They do not disclose the quantity of extract used in their product. | ||||||||
| OM Mushroom Coffee Blend Recommended? NO | No | N/A | 0 mg | N/A? | N/A | Coffee Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba | $1.87 – $2.20 USD | No |
| Comment: The OM Mushroom Coffee website displays conflicting information, with some images showing supplement facts including Reishi and Turkey Tail while others don’t. The extracts used are mycelium based. They claim 2000mg of mushroom extracts per serving. | ||||||||
| La Republica Mushroom Coffee Recommended? NO | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Shiitake, Maitake, Turkey Tail | $0.57 – $0.62 USD | No |
| Comment | This is one of the most popular brands on Amazon. They use fruiting body extracts, although they do not disclose the quantity per serving (which is 2 grams total including coffee). They also have a “Hirie” addition which is a higher dose and contains 8:1 extracts. | |||||||
| Real Mushrooms Chocolate Mix Recommended? YES | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cacao, Coconut Sugar | $1.66 USD | Yes |
| Comment: Real Mushrooms is the direct-to-consumer company of the large Mushroom Extract company NAMMEX (North American Mushroom Extracts). Each serving includes 500 mg of their 5 Defenders Extract. They also offer a coffee creamer with 500 mg of their extract. | ||||||||
| Genius Brew Recommended? NO | No | 67 mg | 167 mg | 217 mg | 217 mg | Maitake (167 mg), Turkey Tail (167 mg), Turmeric (200 mg), Maca (500 mg), Dynamite (200 mg), Caffeine (35 mg) | $1.20 – $1.50 USD | No |
| Comment: This is one of the more popular brands on Amazon, which also uses mycelium-based extracts. | ||||||||
| Rainbow Dust Recommended? NO | Yes* | 1,000 mg 5:1 extract* | 1,000 mg 4:1 extract* | 0 mg | 1,000 mg 4:1 extract* | Pantothenic Acid (B5, 6 mg), Maca Root (250 mg), Caffeine (80 mg), Rhodiola (25 mg). Cacao, Stevia | $1.12 – $1.33 USD | No |
| Comment: This is a product full of red flags. To begin, the dosage seems too good to be true for the cost. Either the claims surrounding the extracts are completely fake, or they are of some unfathomable low-quality extracts. It is economically unfathomable. Second, the website seems to contain an absurd quantity of what look like false reviews. | ||||||||
| Nootropics Depot Mushroom Coffee Recommended? YES | Yes | 500 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg | 500 mg | Poria Extract (500 mg), Tigers Milk Extract (150 mg) | $1.33 USD | Yes |
| Comment: Nootropics Depot is a well trusted brand that offers very high quality products. Their mushroom coffee is no exception. With 1650 mg of high-quality extracts per serving, it’s probably the most effective mushroom coffee supplement. | ||||||||
| Mad Dandy Mushroom Coffee Recommended? NO | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1.33 USD | N/A | |
| Comment: This is a low-caffeine mushroom coffee made with both instant coffee and dandelion root. The company does not disclose the dosage of medicinal mushrooms in their products, nor the quality of the extracts. Their ingredients list Mono and Diglycerides, Dipottasium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, “Natural Flavors”, and Beef Collagen (not veg-friendly) before they list any of their extracts. | ||||||||
| Ecmeraki Mushroom Coffee Reccomended? NO | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1.33 USD | N/A | |
| Comment: This ground mushroom coffee offers no transparency regarding their dosages or quality of extracts. The extracts they sell also appear to be of myceliated grain. | ||||||||
What’s The Best Mushroom Coffee?
There are probably a handful of good brands out there offering high-quality products, but unfortunately, a vast majority of them use deceptive marketing tactics. My personal recommendation is for folks to purchase high-quality mushroom extracts in powdered form and then mix them directly with the beverage of their choice. Some brands with high quality extracts include Real Mushrooms, Purest Mushrooms, and Nootropics Depot. Use caution when choosing other brands that do not offer certificates of analysis.
Just a final reminder… fresh ground coffee is rich in antioxidants that can offer various health benefits. Instant coffee is heavily processed and does not offer these same benefits. Not that coffee is good for you, but if your looking for a healthy way to start your morning, instant coffee beverages are not the way to go!
Transparency Disclosure
Blog articles like this are meant to educate and inform our readers about the potential benefits and functions of medicinal mushrooms based on scientific research. We aim to empower individuals with knowledge so they can make informed decisions when incorporating these products into their wellness routines. It’s important to note that while medicinal mushrooms have shown promising health benefits in studies, we do not make claims that they can cure or treat specific diseases.
We strongly recommend consulting with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, including medicinal mushrooms. These products should be used as part of a holistic approach to wellness, which includes maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and other practices recommended by healthcare professionals.
Additionally, we may mention specific brands or products on our blog as affiliates. If you make a purchase through our referral links, we may earn a commission. Rest assured, we only affiliate with trusted brands that meet our rigorous standards for quality and ethical practices.
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