Mushroom Coffee vs. Regular Coffee: What To Know And When To Make The Switch

Considering swapping out your regular cup for something a little different? Here’s what you need to know.

Coffee, with its intoxicating, earthy aroma, complex, bitter flavor, and a jolt of caffeine is – for many people – the gold standard in morning beverages. But recently something called ‘mushroom coffee’ has entered the scene and suddenly everyone across social media appears to be sipping on… mushrooms?

In this post, we’ll compare mushroom coffee with regular coffee so that you can make an informed decision about which morning (or afternoon) beverage is the best one for you. Because we’re creatures of habit, aren’t we? And your morning routine is a hard thing to shake up.

First Up, Mushroom Coffee: What Is it?

We get asked this question at the farmer’s market all the time. Is it real coffee? Is it mushrooms (and mushrooms only)? Is it both?

While different brands use different terms (for clarity, we’ve opted for ‘real coffee blended with functional mushrooms’), mushroom coffee as it’s commonly known is an innovative alternative to coffee that blends functional mushrooms with regular, ground coffee beans. 

While some brands of mushroom coffee contain extracts, ours are made with ground, dehydrated mushrooms. We use a blend of functional mushrooms with known health benefits, not the culinary mushrooms you might be more familiar with.

Like the beverage itself, mushroom coffee has a rich history, and can be linked to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a holistic practice that looks at the body as a whole and its energetic dynamics. 

From Earthy to Smooth: How Does Mushroom Coffee Taste?

If you’ve ever smelled dried mushrooms, you know how pungent they can be (we’re looking at you, porcini). You might naturally assume then that mushroom coffee shares some of the same earthy (read: off-putting) qualities. And we know that’s not exactly what you had in mind to sip on first thing in the morning. 

Many people use the same modifiers to describe mushroom coffee as they would a regular cup of coffee: earthy, nutty. And for most, the mushroom flavor is nearly undetectable.

The flavor of mushroom coffee largely depends on the coffee beans in play. 

Just like how the flavor of a regular cup of coffee is dependent upon the quality of the beans, the same goes for mushroom coffee. We use beans from our beloved Two Hearted Queens microroastery in Chicago. The high-quality beans are sourced from women-owned farms and co-operatives and then air-roasted for an even, nutty flavor.

Regular Coffee: Remind Us Again Why Do We Love It So Much?

Traditional coffee comes from the coffee fruit that grows on trees in beautiful seed pods. The fruit is hulled, dried, and ground in an elaborate and nuanced process that gives the coffee(s) you know and love their unique taste. The key ingredients in coffee include caffeine, antioxidants, and other naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

As coffee lovers ourselves, we were pleased to find several studies confirming that in moderation, coffee is a pleasure you can feel confident about enjoying daily. According to Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, evidence points to coffee’s role as more helpful than harmful in health outcomes, and that for most people, moderate coffee consumption (2-5 cups a day) can be incorporated into a healthy diet.

Moderate coffee intake is linked to a lower likelihood of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver, and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. Good news all around.

The Health Benefits of Regular Coffee

In addition to caffeine, coffee also contains high levels of antioxidants. According to Healthline, coffee is one of the primary sources of antioxidants in the Western diet. (Scary for us, great for Coffee). 

Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and combat oxidative stress, which can reduce our risk of chronic disease. The antioxidants found in coffee in particular can also help protect our neurology, warding off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

It’s also worth mentioning that, in many parts of the world, coffee has become an established routine with deep cultural significance – and this is a vital part of being an interdependent species! In, say, Italy (or the home of an Italophile) to refuse a shot of espresso in the afternoon is to refuse an opportunity for connection. 

So go ahead: Have your cup and drink it, too.

The Differences Between Mushroom Coffee and Regular Coffee

We like coffee. We love coffee. (See above.) But coffee has its consequences. Caffeine spikes our metabolism and energy levels for a brief period before tapering out. 

This undeniable downside is what we call “the jitters.” That over-hyped up, buzzy feeling that a second (or if you’re caffeine sensitive, even a first) cup of coffee can give you. Caffeine can also aggravate or lead to insomnia, especially when consumed late in the day. 

Mushroom coffee and regular coffee vary in a few key ways:

Caffeine Content

Depending on the brand, some mushroom coffees vary from regular coffee in terms of their caffeine content. For blends that solely rely on mixing functional mushrooms with traditional coffee (like ours: Motherbrew, a real coffee + functional mushroom blend) the caffeine content is largely the same.

The difference, however, is how the caffeine is absorbed into the body.

Adaptogens 

Adaptogens are natural substances found in functional mushrooms that help the body maintain balance and better adapt to stressors. Adaptogens are not found in coffee beans, but adaptogens help modulate the effects of caffeine (without the actual concentration of caffeine changing). They can also reduce a caffeine-induced stress response by normalizing chronically elevated cortisol levels.

Plus, some functional mushrooms – like lion’s mane  – have been found to boost brain function and cognitive performance. When combined with caffeine they may provide better sustained mental performance than caffeine alone – but without the crash of straight coffee.

Does Mushroom Coffee Work? Let’s Talk Benefits

Like we said, we love coffee. We’re probably drinking a cup now as we’re typing this. 

But what we love about mushroom coffee even more is the quick boost of energy from caffeine without the caffeine-related side effects. 

This is all thanks to adaptogens found in functional mushrooms. These bioactive compounds mitigate the body's stress response. They also improve our body's resiliency by guarding us against physical and mental stressors. 

But we can’t forget that other health benefits of functional mushrooms will also be felt in mushroom coffee. For instance, Lion’s Mane can offer cognitive benefits, like improved focus and clarity; while mushrooms like Reishi and Chaga provide stress and immune support. 

Is Mushroom Coffee Acidic?

Some choose not to drink coffee because of its high acidity levels. Coffee can cause digestive distress or aggravate preexisting digestion upsets, like acid reflux or heartburn.

Since mushroom coffee is usually made with regular coffee beans, it contains just as much acid as you would find in a regular cup of coffee.

However, several factors can influence the acidity level of coffee, like bean type, roast level, and brew method. A few tips:

• Look for mushroom coffees made with arabica vs. robusta beans, as robusta beans can be more acidic than arabica.
• Lighter roasts retain more of the bean's naturally occurring acids, so opt for medium or darker roasted coffee. Consider cold brew, too. This “passive” brewing technique of brewing longer and at a lower temperature extracts fewer acidic compounds from the coffee beans themselves.
• Incorporating dairy (or better yet, our favorite way to smooth out a strong cup – a spoonful of Mushroom Spice, our favorite coffee creamer alternative) can mellow out or neutralize the acidity, making the coffee easier to tolerate.

Mushroom Coffee: Is It Time To Make The Switch Yet?

If you’re experiencing caffeine sensitivity, like anxiety or insomnia, but still love its stimulating effect and the taste of a strong cuppa in the morning, mushroom coffee might be just the thing to preserve the flavor, ritual, and heady aroma you love about coffee without the downsides.

For those curious about incorporating functional mushrooms into their diet (you’ve heard about their healing properties by now) but are reluctant to give up your favorite morning routine, mushroom coffee might be the answer. Mushroom coffee allows you to incorporate the known adaptogenic benefits of functional mushrooms into your diet without upsetting your routine. 

Because, you know, your pour-over will miss you. 

Mushroom coffee is also a great temporary alternative if you’re going through a particularly stressful season of life – or looking to shift to a healthier lifestyle more broadly.

Coffee still not your thing, but still find yourself wanting to give functional mushrooms a shot?

Our caffeine-free instant mushroom lattes are a simple, delicious way to get the health benefits of functional mushrooms without the caffeine of coffee.

Making The Switch: How to Transition to Mushroom Coffee

At Madre Mushroom, we make it pretty simple to transition to mushroom coffee. 

Our flagship coffee blend, Motherbrew is made with premium ground coffee beans and crafted with the coffee connoisseur in mind (hey, you!), so you won’t have to worry about sacrificing the taste of your favorite microbrew to explore the benefits of mushrooms.

And when it comes to brewing, we like to say brew as you do. From pour-over to drip to Aeropress, if you have a favorite method, Motherbrew plays nicely with all.

Shop Motherbrew

References:

Writer, B., By, & Writer, S. (2024, November 22). Is coffee good or bad for your health? Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your-health/ 

Sen, M. (2018b, September 26). The hidden wartime origins of Mushroom Coffee. Food52. https://food52.com/blog/18958-the-hidden-wartime-origins-of-mushroom-coffee?

https://bantuchocolate.com/our-journey/adaptogens-vs-caffeine/?

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-worlds-biggest-source-of-antioxidants?

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee?

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-coffee-acidic?