A brown skinned man holding a latte art coffee while sitting. It is paired with a Forage hyperfoods blog of "Mushroom Coffee 101: Everything you Need to Know".

Mushroom Coffee 101: Everything You Need to Know

What if there was a way to turn your morning cup of coffee into a beverage that supports not only your energy, but also your cognitive performance and immune health? As it turns out, there is! Meet mushroom infused coffee. 


What is mushroom infused coffee? 

If you’re visualizing a cup of coffee with mushrooms floating on top—don’t worry. That’s not what this is. Mushroom coffee is a blend of ground mushrooms and coffee beans that creates a dark, smooth, nutty brew. 

Instead of using culinary mushrooms you’d find in a grocery store, mushroom coffee calls on functional mushrooms like Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, and Reishi. These specialty mushrooms go through a drying and extraction process to pull out the beneficial compounds, which then get blended with regular coffee. 

What are the benefits of mushroom infused coffee? 

On its own, coffee has been linked to many impressive health benefits. It may protect against type 2 diabetes, control Parkinson’s disease symptoms, slow the progress of dementia, safeguard the liver, and promote heart health.[*]

Blending functional mushrooms with coffee makes the health benefits of your morning cup of joe even more impressive. Functional mushrooms contain beneficial compounds, such as beta-glucans and prebiotics, that support immune and digestive health.  

Additionally, each functional mushroom species has its own unique health benefits. The most common functional mushrooms used in mushroom coffee include: 

  • Chaga: Contains several bioactive compounds with antioxidant and immune-boosting properties.[*] It also supports a healthy stress response, heart health, metabolic health, skin health, and digestion.  
  • Lion’s Mane: Stimulates the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein that promotes the growth and normal function of nerve cells. NGF is important for memory, cognitive function, and neurological support.[*]
  • Cordyceps: Improves vitality and endurance by supporting respiration, oxygen delivery, and ATP production.[*]
  • Reishi: Helps balance an overactive immune system and alleviates stress.[*][*]
  • Turkey Tail: Supports a robust immune system.[*]

How is mushroom infused coffee prepared? 

While you can buy functional mushroom powders to mix with your own coffee, an easier option is to purchase pre-mixed ground mushroom coffee from a reputable functional mushroom company. 

Simply prepare the mushroom coffee as you would a regular cup of coffee and add milk and sweetener, if desired. The flavour profile of mushroom coffee is pretty similar to that of regular coffee, with earthy notes.

Choosing quality mushroom infused coffee 

Like any other product you consume, quality is key. Choose a mushroom coffee that uses mushroom products that are organically grown, sustainably harvested, carefully extracted, and rigorously quality tested. The best mushroom coffee will also provide the benefits of functional mushrooms without sacrificing taste.

At Forage Hyperfoods, we offer mushroom coffee made from a blend of 80% Brazilian and 20% Honduran coffee beans infused with wild-harvested Canadian Chaga mushrooms. The result is a rich, robust medium-dark roast coffee that promotes immune health. To top it off, when added to coffee, Chaga reduces coffee-induced jitters thanks to its ability to help the body adapt to any form of stress. Talk about a healthy morning boost! 

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