Exploring The Mushroom Coffee: Benefits, Taste And Downsides

In a busy world, only a few of us have the time to whip up a meal with mushrooms. So, how can you incorporate functional mushrooms into your diet?

The popularity of mushroom coffee is soaring, and many people are singing praises for its benefits. Social media timelines are currently populated by users drinking a warm mushroom-coffee beverage.

However, this idea is not at all novel despite being a popular coffee blend right now. When coffee beans were unavailable during World War II in Europe, mushrooms were reportedly used in their place. Furthermore, mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and Asian cuisine for their nutritional and health benefits.

But can the benefits of drinking mushroom coffee outweigh the taste? Surprisingly, the flavor of mushroom coffee is very similar to that of regular coffee. And there are many advantages.

Mushroom coffee is thought to be abundant in antioxidants. Since coffee already contains many antioxidants, switching to mushroom coffee will give you a double dose. It helps you sleep, think better, and fire your immune system.

So, is this the magic drink we have all been waiting for? Read on to learn the mushroom coffee benefits, and you'll understand the hype!

What Is Mushroom Coffee?

A healthier alternative to regular coffee, mushroom coffee is praised for its medicinal mushroom extracts and additional health advantages. But if you are picturing a cup of coffee with mushrooms floating on top, take a sigh of relief. This is not what you think it is!

This beverage is typically made by drying mushrooms, extracting the nutritional components, and mixing them with regular coffee.

The most frequently used adaptogenic mushrooms in coffee blends are:

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

Asian nations have been using mushrooms and herbs and mushrooms as a form of wellness therapy for centuries. These wellness aids are known as "adaptogens." They are believed to aid in our ability to adapt and endure pressure.

Health Benefits Of Mushroom Coffee

In addition to their lengthy and illustrious history in Eastern medicine, there is growing evidence from recent scientific studies that functional mushrooms have health-improving qualities. There are a lot of alleged advantages to combining mushrooms and coffee, regardless of how you do it. Knowing these potential advantages may influence your decision to incorporate mushroom coffee into your daily routine.

Let's take a look at the 6 mushroom coffee health benefits:

1. Mushroom coffee contains essential nutrients

A teaspoon of single-species mushroom powder, equal to 2,000 mg of the advised dosage, can add nutrition to your coffee. You can get a low-calorie source of protein, B vitamins, and minerals from powder made from dried, whole-food mushrooms that include the fruiting body or mycelium. These powders also contain a wealth of bioactive compounds that help maintain your body's homeostasis.

2. Reduces your stress

Adaptogenic mushroom species support your body's equilibrium and help to combat stressors. Reishi powder can help you relax and prepare for a good night's sleep. This is especially true if you add it to your coffee later in the day.

3. Ensures brain health

Many of us drink coffee in the morning to energize ourselves and get ready for the day. With bioactive ingredients that support the health of your brain and nerves, Lion's mane(1) coffee is a fantastic way to boost your morning routine.

With the aid of this nootropic mushroom, you can begin each day at your most imaginative and effective self. It supports healthy brain functioning, including focus, memory, and clarity. In addition, mycelium and fruiting bodies' bioactive substances stimulate neurotrophic factors that might aid in regulating a healthy mood.

4. Antioxidant support

Antioxidants found in functional mushrooms assist in preventing tissue deterioration brought on by oxidative stress and free radicals. For instance, due to its high antioxidant content, adding Chaga(2) to coffee may slow the effects of aging by scavenging free radicals.

5. Supports stable blood sugar levels

Coffee made with mushrooms offers a chance to support normal blood sugar levels. According to some research, Maitake mushrooms(3) may reduce the number of carbohydrates digested and absorbed in the intestines by competing for digestive enzymes. So, when consuming a high-carb meal, try putting Maitake powder in your coffee to help maintain your blood sugar balance.

6. Aids Inflammatory response in your body

Chronic inflammation is the root cause of many diseases and health issues throughout the body. Several kinds of mushrooms, such as Reishi, Chaga(4), and Lion's mane(5), contain anti-inflammatory substances. Therefore, you can improve your body's response to inflammation by adding mushroom powder.

Are There Downsides To Drinking Mushroom Coffee?

Even though mushroom coffee is generally considered safe, it is best to consult your doctor before trying it if you have a medical condition or are taking medication. Additionally, it is best to avoid it if you are pregnant or nursing, as the side effects of mushroom coffee have not been adequately studied in these people.

There is always a possibility of a sensitivity or allergic reaction to any food. To ensure you don't have an adverse reaction, start with a tiny amount (1/4th of the recommended serving size) if you've never tried mushroom coffee before.

How To Make Mushroom Coffee?

There are several different ways to add mushrooms to coffee. Some of the many possibilities are:

• Pre-made coffee drinks with flavorings like mushroom extract. 
• A combination of powdered mushrooms and ground coffee.
• Ground mushrooms with whole coffee beans.

The fruit bodies of the fungus are extracted and converted into an organic powder free of fillers, carriers, and other additives to make mushroom coffee.

The mushrooms are dual extracted, dried, ground into a fine powder, and combined with ground coffee beans. Typically, this is carried out in a 1:1 ratio.

Mushroom coffee is available as:

• Packs of instant coffee
• Blends of ground coffee

The same techniques used to make regular coffee can also make delicious lattes, mochas, or black coffee drinks.

What Is The Mushroom Coffee Taste?

So, what does coffee with mushrooms taste like? Depending on the type and brand, most mushroom coffee tastes similar to or almost identical to coffee, frequently with nutty undertones. The method of preparation ensures that the flavor profile of mushroom coffee contains little "umami," the rich flavor present in mushrooms.

You might want to try mushroom coffee if you don't like the flavor or texture of mushrooms but still want to benefit from them in terms of health.

FAQs Exploring The Mushroom Coffee

References

1. Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells, (1)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18758067/ 
2. Comparison of antioxidant activity and extraction techniques for commercially and laboratory prepared extracts from six mushroom species, (2)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154321000326 
3. Anti-diabetic effect of an alpha-glucan from fruit body of maitake (Grifola frondosa) on KK-Ay mice, (3)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17430642/ 
4. Inonotus obliquus extracts suppress antigen-specific IgE production through the modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokines in ovalbumin-sensitized mice, (4)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820502/ 
5. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lion's Mane Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) in a Coculture System of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and RAW264 Macrophages, (5)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26559695/