Does Mushroom Coffee Have Caffeine? Side Effects & Taste

Yes, most mushroom coffee has caffeine. The Cleveland Clinic explains that it is regular coffee with mushroom extracts blended in, so the caffeine comes from the coffee. How much you get depends on the brand, the roast and the serving size, and some products are coffee-like drinks that are lower in caffeine or have none.

Disclosure: this site and Pilly Labs are under common ownership.

How much caffeine is in mushroom coffee?

There is no single number. A blend made with coffee grounds or instant coffee carries caffeine from that coffee. The Cleveland Clinic says mushroom coffee often has less caffeine than regular coffee, but that depends on the product. A Zenwise guide says many brands offer decaf versions or use lower-caffeine beans, and that most still contain real coffee and caffeine.

The mushrooms themselves are not the caffeine source in a coffee blend. If a product does not state caffeine per serving, ask the seller before you order.

What does a label look like? An example

If you are comparing coffee blends, Vitality Mushroom Coffee is one example. Pilly Labs lists it as a medium-roast ground coffee, 90% Arabica with 5% Lion’s Mane and 5% Chaga powder, in a 10 g (1 tablespoon) serving with 34 servings and 0 g sugar. The bag lists tasting notes of dark chocolate, nutty and full body. Because it is made with Arabica coffee, it contains caffeine, but the caffeine amount per serving is not stated in the details Pilly Labs has supplied, so ask support (info@pillylabs.com) for it. Pilly Labs also sells an instant Premium blend. Its own live page and label details have not yet been reconciled, so confirm that formula and its caffeine too.

Is it safe to drink every day?

The Cleveland Clinic says that as long as you do not have digestive or kidney issues, mushroom coffee is probably safe to try, and its dietitian says there is nothing wrong with it if you are not adding lots of sugar or creamer. For the caffeine part, Consumer Reports, citing the FDA, says the average person can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, about three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee. Count your mushroom coffee toward that total with every other caffeinated drink. The FDA’s caffeine guidance covers the signs of too much, and sensitivity varies by person. If you have a medical condition or are sensitive to caffeine, Consumer Reports advises checking with your doctor.

Side effects and downsides

• Caffeine effects. Consumer Reports describes a racing heart, shakiness, jitters and an upset stomach as signs to cut back. The FDA says too much caffeine can even make you feel unhappy.
• Digestive upset. The Cleveland Clinic says mushrooms can sometimes cause digestive issues, especially for people with kidney issues or trouble with grains.
• Kidney stones. The Cleveland Clinic says chaga is high in oxalates and is known to affect and increase kidney stones. Published case reports describe a possible kidney risk with heavy chaga use.
• Cost. The Cleveland Clinic says it costs about double the average coffee. Consumer Reports found a 15-serving box of one mushroom drink at $30, versus $12 or less for a pound of regular coffee.
• Taste and fit. Roon, a competitor, says a common complaint is a bitter or earthy aftertaste.

Do medications matter?

They can. Pilly Labs’ own legal page says its functional mushroom supplements may interact with certain medications and tells readers to consult a healthcare provider first if they take any of these:

• Blood thinners (it says Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps may have mild anticoagulant properties)
• Blood sugar-lowering medications
• Blood pressure medications (it says Reishi may lower blood pressure)
• Immunosuppressants
• Anti-anxiety or sedative medications
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Medications processed by the liver

The same page says to check with a provider if you are pregnant or nursing, have an autoimmune condition, a mushroom or mold allergy or a bleeding disorder, or have surgery scheduled. That list is Pilly Labs’ for its own products, so a pharmacist or clinician is the person to check against any specific coffee. Our mushroom coffee safety guide goes further. Caffeine matters here too: Consumer Reports says people with a medical condition or caffeine sensitivity should check with their doctor.

Does it raise blood pressure?

The sources here do not link mushroom coffee to higher blood pressure. The caffeine in it behaves like caffeine in any coffee, and a pounding heart is one of the signs Consumer Reports lists for too much. Pilly Labs’ page says Reishi may lower blood pressure and could add to the effect of blood pressure drugs. If blood pressure is a concern for you, your clinician can say how a given product fits.

What do doctors say, and does it work?

The Cleveland Clinic’s registered dietitian, Beth Czerwony, is not inclined to recommend mushroom coffee given the lack of research. She says the hype rests on an untested assumption that mushroom benefits survive being processed and brewed with coffee, and that you would get more from eating whole mushrooms, including fiber. If you try it anyway, she suggests one type of mushroom powder at a time while tracking symptoms. Inverse reported that no clinical studies support the claims made for specific mushroom coffee products.

Ingredient research is not product proof. A small 2025 acute study of Lion’s Mane used 3 g of a 10:1 fruiting-body extract in 18 adults and found no significant overall effect on cognition or mood, with one isolated task signal. Roon notes that most mushroom coffees contain 250 to 500 mg of mushroom extract per serving, well under the amounts used in many studies. Claims about energy, focus, immunity or belly fat are marketing, not outcomes shown for these products. Our guide to ingredient evidence versus marketing claims explains the gap.

What does it taste like? Is it like coffee?

Often yes, when it is a coffee blend. The Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian says it tastes pretty similar to regular coffee because it is coffee. Consumer Reports says coffee alternatives with mushrooms can taste nothing like coffee, so read the label for tasting notes. Mycologist Gordon Walker told Consumer Reports mushrooms taste fairly earthy, and roasting can help them caramelize.

Which mushroom coffee is the best match for you?

There is no best overall. Here is a match by the criteria that decide this question:

• You want caffeine like normal coffee: a blend made with coffee grounds, instant coffee or pods that prints caffeine per serving.
• You want less caffeine: a product that states a lower figure on its label, or a decaf version. Do not assume low.
• You want none: skip the coffee category and look for a drink with a confirmed caffeine-free label.
• You want coffee taste: a coffee-based blend over a chai or cacao drink.
• You want to see every mushroom amount: check whether the label lists each amount or a combined blend.

You can also compare against regular coffee in our mushroom vs regular coffee comparison. If caffeine has stopped working for you, read why coffee doesn’t wake you up anymore.

Before you order

• Ask the seller for caffeine in milligrams per serving, and the serving size in grams.
• Ask whether the blend lists each mushroom’s amount or only a combined total.
• Check the label for added sugar or creamer-style ingredients.
• If you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, have kidney concerns or have surgery planned, ask a clinician or pharmacist first.

By CoffeeWeekly.com Editorial Team

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.