Mushroom coffee is regular coffee with a small amount of mushroom powder or extract blended in. It tastes close to the real thing and usually still has caffeine. It is not proven to be better for you: Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian says there is no meaningful research behind the health claims, and that it costs about double. Choose it only if you like it, can afford it, and the label tells you what is actually in the bag.
Disclosure: this site and Pilly Labs are under common ownership.
How do mushroom coffee and regular coffee compare?
| Regular coffee | Mushroom coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| What is in it | Roasted coffee | Coffee blended with dried or extracted mushrooms, most often reishi, chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps, according to Cleveland Clinic |
| Taste | What you know | Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian says it tastes pretty similar to regular coffee |
| Caffeine | Stimulates the nervous system; Harvard Health notes many people get jittery or sleep badly from even one cup | Cleveland Clinic says it has less caffeine, but the amount depends on the brand, so check the label |
| Cost | Baseline | About double the average coffee, per Cleveland Clinic |
| Evidence for health benefits | Cleveland Clinic’s coffee article says a moderate amount can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver disease and certain cancers | Cleveland Clinic says the hype rests on an untested assumption that mushroom benefits survive processing and brewing |
| Common cautions | Jitters, insomnia, reflux or heartburn for some people; headaches when you stop suddenly (Harvard Health) | Digestive upset, chaga’s oxalates, mushroom allergy, medication interactions |
Is mushroom coffee better than real coffee, and is it really good for you?
Not that anyone has shown. Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian, Beth Czerwony, says mushrooms in general have real benefits, but that you would get the same ones, plus fiber, by simply eating mushrooms. She is not inclined to recommend mushroom coffee given the lack of research. She also says there is nothing wrong with it as long as you are not loading it with sugar or creamer, and that it is probably safe to try if you do not have digestive or kidney issues.
Regular coffee has the longer record. Harvard Health reports that habitual coffee drinkers saw little blood pressure change, and that its studies suggest coffee drinkers have a lower risk of diabetes, gallstones and kidney stones. Harvard’s bottom line is that if you enjoy coffee you can drink it, and if it bothers you, cut back.
What do the mushrooms in the cup actually offer?
Brand marketing often promises energy without a crash, lower stress and better immunity. A nutrition coach quoted in a Yahoo piece, who sells a caffeine-free mushroom coffee, makes those claims. Cleveland Clinic says there is no meaningful research supporting them. Here is what ingredient research says about the two mushrooms found in many coffees:
- Lion’s mane: a small 2025 PubMed-listed study gave 18 adults 3 g of a 10:1 fruiting-body extract. It found no significant overall effect on cognition or mood, with one isolated task signal. A coffee that is 5% lion’s mane powder in a 10 g scoop holds about 500 mg of powder. Powder and extract are different concentrates, so even this comparison is loose.
- Chaga: human evidence of benefit is limited, and case reports flag a possible kidney risk from heavy use because chaga is high in oxalates. Cleveland Clinic says the same about oxalates and kidney stones.
- Reishi and cordyceps: human findings are mixed and depend on the preparation, dose and outcome measured.
Ingredient research is never proof that a finished coffee works. Our dose guide shows how far a typical cup is from what studies used.
What is the downside of mushroom coffee?
- Price: roughly double regular coffee.
- Unproven benefits: you may pay extra for effects nobody has shown in a cup.
- Digestive and kidney issues: Cleveland Clinic says mushrooms can cause digestive problems, and chaga’s oxalates can raise kidney stone risk.
- Hidden amounts: some products name the mushrooms but not how much of each is in the blend.
- Allergies and medications: mushroom supplement sellers, including the maker of the example label below, list cautions for blood thinners, blood-sugar and blood pressure medicines, immunosuppressants, sedatives and chemotherapy. They also list pregnancy, nursing, autoimmune conditions, mushroom or mold allergy, and upcoming surgery. Ask a clinician if any of these apply. See our safety guide.
Why do I feel weird after drinking mushroom coffee?
I can’t diagnose it, but the usual suspects are ordinary. It may still be caffeine: Harvard Health lists jitters, insomnia, anxiety and tremors for sensitive people, plus headaches when habitual drinkers stop suddenly. It may be digestive, since Cleveland Clinic says mushrooms can upset the stomach. It could also be a reaction to one mushroom. Czerwony suggests trying one mushroom powder at a time and tracking symptoms. If symptoms are strong, or you suspect an allergy, stop and talk to a clinician. You can report a reaction to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. The FDA’s caffeine guidance is a good check on your total daily intake.
What happens if I drink mushroom coffee every day?
For most healthy people without kidney or digestive issues, Cleveland Clinic calls it probably safe to try. The two things to watch are caffeine, which depends on the product, and chaga, since the kidney case reports involve heavy use. If you take medication or have a medical condition, check with a clinician before making it a habit.
Will mushroom coffee reduce belly fat? Which coffee is best for weight loss?
Weight loss is not among the benefits Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian discusses for mushroom coffee. A brand that promises belly fat loss is making a claim you should ask it to back up. No coffee wins here. What you control is what goes in the cup, and Cleveland Clinic points to sugar and creamer as the part that changes things. A label with 0 g sugar is the criterion that matters, and it fits plain black coffee too.
What are people saying online?
Posts and comments are personal experiences, and they vary. A LinkedIn post promoting DIRTEA coffee says its 80% lower caffeine means no crash, and several commenters report better focus and no afternoon slump. Another commenter says he is wary of chaga’s oxalate build-up. Treat these as anecdotes from fans of the brand, not evidence.
How do I pick a mushroom coffee label?
The best match is the label that answers the criteria you care about with the fewest unknowns. Check these before you buy:
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Mushroom amounts | Percentages or milligrams per serving, not just a list of names |
| Mushroom form | Powder or extract, and which part of the mushroom |
| Caffeine | A stated amount per serving, since “less caffeine” claims vary by brand |
| Sugar and add-ins | Sugar per serving and any sweetener |
| Serving size | Grams per serving, so you can compare cost per cup |
Brands that sell mushroom coffee include DIRTEA, Sixways and Vital Pour, and Pilly Labs sells a mushroom coffee and cordyceps energy gummies with ingredient amounts listed on its labels. As an example of a label to read, here is Vitality Mushroom Coffee. It is ground, medium roast, with dark chocolate, nutty and full-body notes. It is listed as 90% Arabica, 5% lion’s mane and 5% chaga, with a 10 g (1 tablespoon) serving, 34 servings per 12 oz bag and 0 g sugar. That works out to about 500 mg of each mushroom per serving by the percentages. Its caffeine amount is not stated in the details I have, so confirm it before ordering. For a walkthrough, use our label worksheet.
Before you order
- Ask the seller for the caffeine amount per serving.
- Ask whether the mushrooms are powder or extract, and how much of each is in a serving.
- Check for any blend where individual amounts are not disclosed.
- If you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, have kidney problems, or have a mushroom allergy, ask a clinician first.
- Compare cost per serving against what you pay for regular coffee now.
For a broader primer, see our mushroom coffee guide.
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.
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