It's not hard to find someone who drinks coffee. You can even say it's easy to find someone who loves drinking it every morning or any chance they get. Unfortunately, coffee lovers often experience the much-dreaded afternoon coffee crash.

But, what if you could transform your coffee and make it healthier whilst also ditching the afternoon crash? One way to do this is by adding functional mushrooms.

How can mushrooms make coffee healthier? Which mushrooms are best for mushroom coffee? Read on to find out.

As the name implies, medicinal mushrooms also known as adaptogenic and functional mushrooms are fungi that have been studied for their potential therapeutic benefits. Their health benefits range from boosting energy and immune health to helping improve cognitive health and more.

Among the popular mushrooms are Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Cordyceps, and Turkey Tail.

Chaga Mushrooms

Chaga is sometimes referred to as the black mushroom, and it's thanks to its high melanin content. Melanin is what determines our skin colour, but also has skin-protective properties, especially in blocking excess UV rays. This mushroom is also rich in antioxidants and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. [1]

Reishi Mushrooms

The Reishi mushroom is known to have powerful immunity and cardiovascular benefits. Its polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and polyphenols have been reported to have potential medicinal effects.

Some use Reishi as an adaptogen, or an ingredient capable of managing stress, which can help you relax and focus instead of feeling anxious. It can also help improve skin elasticity and help relieve skin irritations. [2]

Lion’s Mane

Lion's Mane contains unique compounds hericenones and erinacines. These compounds can support brain function by boosting Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). The mushroom is mostly known for its cognitive benefits helping to boost focus and memory as well as being able to help manage depression and anxiety symptoms. [3]

Maitake

The word Maitake is Japanese for “dancing mushroom,” based on a story that people used to dance when they spotted one in the wild. The Maitake mushroom contains healing properties beneficial for immune health, PCOS as well as inflammation. [4]

Cordyceps

Cordycepin, the active compound found in Cordyceps, is strongly believed to be the reason cordyceps has potential therapeutic benefits. The compound is said to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. The mushroom is mostly used to treat respiratory conditions as well as improve endurance and stamina. [5]

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail is one of the most studied and researched mushrooms. The mushroom’s active compounds such as Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) and Krestin (PSK) are what researchers believe gives this mushroom its healing properties. These compounds are known to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-strengthening benefits.

Turkey tail has also been cited to help with fatigue. [6]

The fruiting bodies and or mycelium of the mushrooms are extracted and made into a powdered form boasting active ingredients that are beneficial to our health. The powder is then mixed into ground coffee beans – usually on a 1-1 ratio.

Providing You With the Best Mushroom Coffee in the UK

Using our shroom coffee products is easy! Simply follow the directions below to benefit from the healing powers of mushroom supplements.

The shroom coffee can be prepared exactly like a regular cup of coffee – adding water, milk, etc.

Half the caffeine: By substituting a portion of coffee with mushrooms, it cuts the caffeine content of the final product in half, compared with regular coffee.
Avoid the midday crash: Mushrooms are fantastic sources of adenosine, which helps block some of the stimulatory effects caused by regular coffee like anxiety and jitters. Meaning you can enjoy all the health benefits, without the downsides of overstimulation.
No mushroom taste: Contrary to popular belief, many mushroom powders don’t have any distinct “mushroom taste.” shroom coffee will taste pretty much like your regular cup of coffee.
You only need two cups: Just two cups of our mushroom coffee, and you’ll have the full range of benefits and nutrients of mushrooms.

Buy Mushroom Coffee in the UK

We have three custom-formulated mushroom coffee blends: Focus Coffee, Boost Coffee, and Defend Coffee.

1. Focus Coffee

The focus coffee is a unique blend catered specifically to eliminate brain fog, and improve concentration and focus.
Benefit from the energizing properties of arabica coffee with the adaptogenic effects from Lion’s mane, Reishi & Rhodiola Rosea.

2. Boost Coffee

The Boost mushroom coffee blend is formulated to boost your immune health while enjoying the adaptogenic benefits of a crash-free cup of brew. Benefit from the energising properties of arabica coffee with the immune-boosting effects from Chaga, Ginseng Root, Cordyceps, & Maitake.

3. Defend Coffee

The Defend blend is a mushroom coffee blend formulated to use as an enlivened start to the day and as an adaptogenic host defense potentiator.

Benefit from the energising properties of arabica coffee with the immune-boosting effects from Turkey Tail & Chaga.

Add 1 tsp per cup and prepare as you would your regular cup of instant coffee. Two cups a day will give you a full dose of mushrooms with half the caffeine!

Who Shouldn't Drink Mushroom Coffee?

If you have a mushroom allergy, you should not use mushroom extracts. Caution is advised if using mushrooms along with blood-thinning medication.

For precautions per individual mushroom, please visit the product pages.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your coffee breaks can get a lot better and healthier with mushroom coffee. Enjoy a nutritious cup of coffee filled with antioxidants and active compounds that can help with immunity, skin health, brain health, energy, and even heart health whilst avoiding the much-dreaded afternoon caffeine crash!

Choose from three mushroom coffee blends: Boost blend for immunity, and Defend blend for a combination of immune-boosting and anti-stress benefits and Focus blend for improved focus and concentration.

If you have any questions about our products, please do not hesitate to contact us using our live chat!

References

Javed S, Mitchell K, Sidsworth D, Sellers SL, Reutens-Hernandez J, Massicotte HB, Egger KN, Lee CH, Payne GW. Inonotus obliquus attenuates histamine-induced microvascular inflammation. PLoS One. 2019 Aug 22;14(8):e0220776. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220776. PMID: 31437163; PMCID: PMC6706056.
Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, Wong KH, David RP, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Malek SN. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30. PMID: 24266378.
Manohar V, Talpur NA, Echard BW, Lieberman S, Preuss HG. Effects of a water-soluble extract of maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2002 Jan;4(1):43-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1463-1326.2002.00180.x. PMID: 11874441.
Yoon SY, Park SJ, Park YJ. The Anticancer Properties of Cordycepin and Their Underlying Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Oct 4;19(10):3027. doi: 10.3390/ijms19103027. PMID: 30287757; PMCID: PMC6212910.
Ho CS, Tung YT, Kung WM, Huang WC, Leung WK, Huang CC, Wu JH. Effect of Coriolus versicolor Mycelia Extract on Exercise Performance and Physical Fatigue in Mice. Int J Med Sci. 2017 Sep 4;14(11):1110-1117. doi: 10.7150/ijms.20547. PMID: 29104465; PMCID: PMC5666542.