Mushroom coffee is an intriguing new beverage that blends the familiar taste of coffee with the unique health benefits of medicinal mushrooms. This innovative drink was launched just a few years ago by the Finnish company Four Sigmatic, but it’s quickly earning attention for its smooth, rich flavor and potential to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and provide sustained energy without the caffeine crash.
In this blog, we’ll explore what exactly mushroom coffee is, its various health perks compared to regular coffee, what it tastes like, and where you can get your hands on a bag to brew at home. Even if you’re a die-hard coffee fan, mushroom coffee’s ability to shield the immune system, fight inflammation, and potentially even combat cancer makes it well worth trying.
So read on to learn if this could be your new favorite morning ritual!
4 Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee may seem like some ancient coffee product. However, it isn’t. It is relatively new. It was launched by the Finnish company ‘Four Sigmatic’. The company offers a whole host of different mushroom-based drinks. However, it was their mushroom coffee that really started to take off.
So, what are the health benefits of downing a cup of mushroom coffee? Well, here are 4 of the leading benefits:
1. Less Caffeine
One of the key differences between mushroom coffee and traditional coffee is its lower caffeine content. While a standard cup of coffee contains anywhere from 95-165 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of mushroom coffee typically contains only 30-50 milligrams.
This makes it a great option for those who are sensitive to caffeine or looking to limit their caffeine intake. Despite having less caffeine, mushroom coffee still provides a natural energy boost without the jitters or crashes often associated with high caffeine consumption.
2. Boosted Vitamins and Nutrients
Mushroom coffee is not only a delicious alternative to traditional coffee, but it’s also packed with essential vitamins and nutrients.
These natural compounds such as Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, have been shown to have a range of health benefits, including improved immune function, better brain function, and increased energy levels. In addition, some studies have also shown that mushroom coffee can help regulate blood sugar levels, improve heart health, and reduce stress and anxiety.
3. Boosted Immune System
One of the many health benefits of drinking mushroom coffee is its ability to boost your immune system. The medicinal mushrooms used in mushroom coffee, such as Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps, are famous for their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
These properties help to protect your body against harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation, both of which can weaken your immune system. Additionally, some studies have shown that the beta-glucans found in medicinal mushrooms can stimulate the production of immune cells, further strengthening your immune system.
The increased antioxidants may also help to reduce the chances of some cancers. Now, further research will need to be carried out into this. However, we do know that antioxidants can reduce the risk of certain cancers already, so there is no reason to believe the same wouldn’t happen when you have mushroom coffee in your day-to-day life.
4. Reduced inflammation
One of the many health benefits of drinking mushroom coffee is its ability to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to a host of health problems, including heart disease, arthritis, and even certain types of cancer.
The medicinal mushrooms used in mushroom coffee, as we have mentioned more then a few times already, such as Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps, are also known for their potent anti-inflammatory properties.
These properties help to reduce inflammation throughout the body and protect against the damaging effects of chronic inflammation. Additionally, the antioxidants found in medicinal mushrooms help to neutralize harmful free radicals, which can contribute to inflammation.
Mushroom coffee shouldn’t be a substitute for any medication that you take. It just provides an extra helpful boost.
What Does Mushroom Coffee Taste Like?
Most people don’t even notice that they are drinking mushroom coffee. Since the bulk of mushroom coffee really is just going to be your standard instant coffee, that is where the bulk of the flavor will be.
That being said, there are some people that claim that mushroom coffee will have an earthier taste to it. Others claim that the flavor is a bit smoother than your standard cup of coffee.
I suppose that it is going to be highly dependent on the mushrooms that are used in the coffee. As we said before, Four Sigma will only use matsutake mushrooms in their coffee. However, other companies, NeuRoast being one of the most popular of them, uses mushrooms such as cordyceps and Lion’s Mane.
What I can tell you, however, is that mushroom coffee is never going to taste like mushrooms. So, if you are not a big fan of mushrooms, you should still be able to drink this. If there is a flavor change, the flavor change is going to be so subtle that you will barely notice it. It is about as much change as if you decided to drink a different brand of coffee from normal.
If you really do get into your mushroom coffee drinking, I suggest that you try out as many brands as you possibly can. There may be some flavor profiles that you prefer over others.
Final Thoughts
While the whole idea of mushroom coffee may seem somewhat odd in your mind, don’t worry, it isn’t. In fact, mushroom coffee is not that much different from normal coffee. Scratch that. Mushroom coffee is normal coffee, albeit with a couple of additives.
Mushroom coffee may be new to the market, but it is already causing quite a stir. If you already love your coffee, then you owe it to yourself to try out some mushroom coffee. At the worst, it is going to be an enjoyable new way for you to try a decent cup of coffee. At best, mushroom coffee is going to have all sorts of benefits to your health if you drink it on a regular basis.
You likely won’t be able to find mushroom coffee at your local coffee shop, at least not at the moment, but there are plenty of options from places like Amazon for those that want to brew themselves a cup in the comfort of their own home.
