Mushroom Coffee vs. Regular: Health Benefits, Risks & More

Ahhh it’s morning. The alarm went off, but that’s okay because your favorite breakfast beverage is waiting for you downstairs. You make your bed, brush your teeth, get dressed and head to the kitchen to start your day with a…cup of mushrooms.

Indeed, many Americans are swapping out their cup of joe with a cup of mushrooms as their morning go-getter and afternoon pick-me-up. And according to Polaris Market Research, this trend is far from over. They project the global mushroom coffee industry to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2019-2032. With those kinds of numbers, it’s no wonder that many coffee shops, cafes and bakeries are adding it to their menus to draw in the new and up-and-coming.

Join us in our analysis of mushroom coffee vs. regular and discover just what is so special about the drink that is threatening to change the face of the beverage industry forever.

What Is Mushroom Coffee?

The average mushroom coffee blend is half-ground mushrooms and half-ground coffee beans. But it’s not just your typical dinner table mushroom. Cordyceps, reishi, king’s trumpet, shitake, lion’s mane, turkey tail and chaga are just a few types of mushrooms that name brands are adding to craft their popular blends. They also come in your preferred beverage brewing style. You can also buy them as powders, instant coffee or pods, just like regular coffee.

What Does Mushroom Coffee Taste Like?

For those mushroom haters of the world, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Despite what the name would lead you to believe, mushroom coffee doesn’t actually taste like mushrooms. In fact, the flavor is shockingly familiar. One might even go as far as to say it tastes, smells and otherwise behaves a lot like coffee, just minus the negative side effects plus a bunch of health benefits. However, it’s not exactly a one-to-one comparison. Many consumers report mushroom coffee to possess a somewhat earthier flavor than regular coffee.

In that way, mushroom coffee is perfect for those who hate the woody taste and spongy texture of those forest bottom feeders but still want to reap the benefits of what is clearly becoming the next trending superfood.

Pros & Cons of Mushroom Coffee

Even though mushroom coffee seems to be all the new rave, with the good comes the bad. Mushrooms indeed appear to possess a lot of promising health benefits that could help treat or manage many common, serious and, as of yet, untreatable health conditions. However, it’s important to keep in mind many of these health claims are unsupported by in-depth research with clinical human trials.

Benefits

Let’s take a look at the main types of mushrooms added to coffee and some of their believed health benefits:

• Lion’s mane –  Researchers report lion’s mane to posses an ability to reduce the risk of heart disease, blood clots and strokes while supporting the immune system. There’s also emerging research to suggest Lion’s mane may protect against neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.


• Reishi – reduces cholesterol and risk of heart disease, boosting immune function, elevating mood and helping fight against cancer.


• Cordyceps – may reduce bad cholesterol and the risk of heart disease while even helping to treat irregular heartbeats. In addition to this, there’s some evidence to support that it helps manage type 2 diabetes.

• Chaga – is some evidence that Chaga mushrooms help fight ulcers and reduce inflammation in the body. They could also potentially help mitigate the effects of other chronic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes and more.


• Turkey Tail– Like the others, turkey tail is known to help regulate the immune system, particularly urinary tract infections. It’s also been attributed to balancing bacteria for a healthy gut, improving cancer outcomes and response to treatment and fighting obesity.

Disclaimer: The health benefits of mushrooms described above are not proven claims, only supported by research that has not yet been tested on humans.

Side Effects

When analyzing mushroom coffee vs regular, it’s important to take a closer look at the health risks. It’s true mushroom coffee only contains half as much caffeine as regular coffee, but it still contains caffeine, which can contribute to some of those pesky side effects associated with caffeine intake as well as the mushrooms themselves:

• Upset stomach


• Increased heart rate


• Headaches


• Dizziness


• Allergic reaction


• Nausea


• Anxiety


• Insomnia


• Tremors


• Dehydration


• Frequent urination


• Increased blood pressure

As of right now, this mushroom coffee seems to be a “drink at your own risk” type of beverage, as it lacks the FDA’s stamp of approval. It’s also not entirely clear that the health benefit claims are true or hold up to the scientific method.

In fact, major mushroom brands purport most of these claims that are purported and, yet, they lean heavily on studies where the majority of research’s only been done in petri dishes, some on rats and none on humans.

No one knows if the mushrooms still have the same health benefits when combined with other mushroom varieties and coffee beans or if they counteract or compound the effect of certain medications. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before making changes to your diet.

Mushroom Coffee Vs. Regular

So, mushroom coffee vs. regular? That’s the question. When comparing mushroom coffee to regular, you’ll find they have many of the same theorized and proven health benefits as well as caffeine-related side effects. But is it a wash?

To start, the biggest downside to mushroom coffee to date is its lack of funded research and safety assurance. Not only are there concerns about drug interaction and the effects of long-term use, but the dosage has also not been studied.

The problem with drinking foods, which is also a concern when drinking juices and smoothies, is you’re able to consume a lot more than what you would be able to eat if it were in its original form. Taking a high dosage of certain mushrooms can also hurt human health. For example, The reishi mushroom may cause liver and kidney damage, and the chaga mushroom could be potentially dangerous to people with diabetes or bleeding disorders.

On the other hand, regular coffee is FDA-approved and tested to the point mushroom coffee could only dream of. However, mushroom coffee contains less caffeine than regular, so it’s a better alternative for sensitive populations or those with health restrictions. At the end of the day, what you drink in the morning comes down to personal preference, but keep in mind there are risks and benefits to both. No matter what you choose, it’s best to consume everything in moderation.