Getting curious about mushroom coffee? We've got everything you need to know about this amazing coffee alternative!

Mushroom Powder Coffee Alternatives

Mushroom coffee is a healthier alternative to regular coffee, consisting of medicinal mushroom extracts which give added health benefits.

Although mushroom coffee alternatives are currently trending, the concept is not new.

Mushroom powder was used as a coffee substitute in Finland during World War II, when coffee beans weren’t available. There’s a lot of history of culinary and medicinal use of mushrooms in Asian countries, specifically for Chinese medicine, for their nutritional and health benefits.

Is Mushroom Powder Good For You?

Mushroom coffee alternatives are popular right now, and for good reason. These drinks are said to offer a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and more nutrients, antioxidants, and other health benefits. But what exactly is mushroom coffee?

Mushroom coffee can fall into coffee-mushroom blends and coffee-free mushroom blends.

The first is ground coffee blended with mushroom powder. This cuts the caffeine content down by around half while adding all the amazing benefits mushrooms bring. These products tend to taste more like traditional coffee, so they are easier to transition to - however, they do nothing to reduce the caffeine crash associated with traditional coffee.

Coffee-free mushroom coffee doesn't contain any coffee and are made with a blend of mushroom powder and tea or herbs. This mix provides little to no caffeine, more health benefits, and taste more earthy flavor. They can also be added to smaller amounts of coffee to help during the transition, allowing you to wean off the caffeine.

Mushroom coffee alternatives use medicinal mushroom extracts rather than culinary mushroom powder like shiitake and portobello. Common medicinal mushrooms used include:

• Chaga
• Turkey’s tail
• Lion’s mane
• Reishi
• Cordyceps

Mushroom Powder Coffee Reviews and Studies

The compounds extracted from medicinal mushrooms are called adaptogens, which may improve the body’s response to stress. 

Researchers have been interested in adaptogens from medicinal mushrooms since the 1970s for their potential health benefits. However, it’s important to note that most studies of the mushrooms in mushroom coffee were animal studies or done in a lab, with few reliable clinical trials on humans. This means that we can’t definitely say that the study results apply to humans. 

It’s also unclear whether there are combined positive or negative health effects of mixing mushrooms and coffee beans.

Below are some promising scientific findings for the alleged health benefits of medicinal mushrooms - let’s hope these results will be confirmed in human trials soon:

• Turkey’s tail and its fermented substrates have demonstrated some immune-boosting properties.
• Studies have shown the potential of Lion’s mane, Reishi, Turkey’s tail, Chaga, and Cordyceps to be used as supportive therapies for cancer patients.
• Chaga mushroom has shown preliminary evidence of suppressing the activity of the immune cells connected to allergic responses to some foods.
• Cordyceps are thought to increase the body's production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for energy production.
• Lion’s mane has been shown (in animal studies)  to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, aid neurogenesis, and prevent and repair nerve damage. 

Mushroom powder is packed with antioxidants, which help protect cells against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals can lead to inflammation, cancers, skin aging, and other illness.  

Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane

One of the most popular mushroom coffee ingredients is Lion’s Mane for its purported benefits on focus and energy. If you are new to mushroom coffee, Powderful is a fairly priced, versatile, and delicious alternative to coffee!

It contains 4 medicinal mushrooms, 7 adaptogens, spices, and Zinc. 

The addition of Zinc gives an added boost to immune function, skin health, and digestive health, while the adaptogens provide a feeling of calm and restful sleep. 

You can feel the boost in energy and focus from the first serving, so Powderful is the perfect way to make the switch! You can add it to water, smoothies, teas, pre-workout, yogurt, oatmeal, and cacao…and if you are struggling to give up caffeine cold turkey you can even add it to your coffee. 

Is Mushroom Powder Safe?

Medicinal mushrooms are considered safe and side effects are rare - drinking mushroom coffee is an easy way to get more natural, beneficial compounds into your diet.