Mushroom coffee is widely acclaimed as a healthy alternative to regular coffee, featuring medicinal mushroom extracts and additional benefits. It has become a popular supplemental beverage using a wide range of mushroom species.
Although the mushroom coffee trend is recent, the notion is far from original. When coffee beans were unavailable in Finland during World War II, mushrooms were used as a coffee replacement. Many Asian countries have a history of using mushrooms for their medicinal and nutritional health benefits.
Keep reading to find out how mushroom coffee is made, examples of different types of medicinal mushrooms used, and their health benefits.
How Is Mushroom Coffee Made?
Mushroom coffee is a natural powder, free from fillers and other flavorings. It is extracted from the mushrooms’ fruiting bodies. The mushrooms are dried, ground into a fine powder, and then blended into ground coffee beans using a double extraction process. It’s typically done in a 1-to-1 ratio.
Mushroom coffee can be purchased as instant coffee packets, ground coffee blends, and coffee pods. It can be made using the same techniques as regular coffee: lattes, mochas, or black coffee beverages.
Types of Mushroom Coffee
There are many types of medicinal mushrooms used to make mushroom coffee. Here are some of the most popular:
- Reishi
- Chaga
- Lion’s mane
- Cordyceps
Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
Mushrooms are high in antioxidants, B and D vitamins, and other minerals such as copper, selenium, phosphorus, and potassium. They contain substances that have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects.
Let’s look at some of the potential health benefits for the most popular types of mushrooms used to make mushroom coffee:
Reishi
Studies have found that Reishi mushrooms offer potential fatigue-fighting effects. Their anticancer benefits include boosting immune response and preventing tumor formation, growth, and spread.
Chaga
Chaga mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for over 500 years in Poland, Russia, and the Baltic states. It was mainly used to treat liver disease, tuberculosis, gastritis, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and diabetes.
Lion’s Mane
The lion’s mane mushroom is popular in Asian countries and is being heavily researched for its antibiotic, antidiabetic, cancer-fighting, and anti-fatigue effects. It’s thought to help protect the kidneys, heart, and brain and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Cordyceps
The compound cordycepin, found in cordyceps, has been researched for its potential anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects and for boosting the immune system and protecting against diabetes.
Mushroom Coffee: Coffee’s Healthier Alternative
Mushroom coffee is made by mixing an extract of mushrooms with ground coffee beans. It is prepared the same way as regular coffee, though less caffeinated and less acidic. The mushrooms typically used provide immune support and countless other medicinal and nutritional benefits.
