Mushroom coffee is mostly regular coffee with a small amount of dried mushroom powder or extract blended in. It tastes close to regular coffee and, unless the label says otherwise, still has caffeine. Whether it is “better” depends on what you want. Coffee itself is well studied. The extra benefits of the mushrooms in a cup are not shown, so choose by taste, caffeine and price, not by promises.
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What is actually different between the two?
| Question | Regular coffee | Mushroom coffee |
|---|---|---|
| What is in the cup | Coffee | Coffee plus dried mushroom extract or powder. Cleveland Clinic says the most common mushrooms are reishi, chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps. |
| Caffeine | Yes. The amount depends on the cup. | Cleveland Clinic says it generally has less. Some blends are marketed as caffeine-free. Check the label for the actual number. |
| Taste | Familiar | Cleveland Clinic’s dietitian says it tastes pretty similar to regular coffee. A brewing guide from CoffeeMasterHub describes it as smoother and slightly earthy. |
| Health evidence | A large body of research on coffee itself | Cleveland Clinic says there is not much research on the finished drink. |
| Cost | Baseline | Cleveland Clinic (2023) says it costs about double the average coffee. |
| Main watch-outs | Jitters, poor sleep, reflux | The same caffeine effects, plus digestive upset for some people. Chaga is high in oxalates. |
Is mushroom coffee better than regular coffee?
The dietitian Cleveland Clinic interviewed is not inclined to recommend mushroom coffee. She points to the lack of research, and she says eating whole mushrooms gets you the same benefits and more, including fiber. She also says there is “really nothing wrong” with it as long as you are not adding a lot of sugar or creamer. Cleveland Clinic adds that if you don’t have digestive or kidney issues, it is probably safe to try.
Regular coffee has the stronger track record. Harvard Health’s coffee and blood pressure article (2022) says Harvard studies suggest coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of diabetes, gallstones and kidney stones. Cleveland Clinic’s separate piece on coffee’s health benefits says a moderate amount can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver disease and certain cancers. Those findings are about coffee, not coffee with mushrooms added.
Is mushroom coffee really good for you?
Sellers and wellness writers list many benefits: steadier energy, less stress, immune support, gut comfort. Georgi Grogan, co-founder of the mushroom-coffee brand Sixways, told Yahoo News that mushroom coffee gives balanced energy without the typical jitters or crashes. A LinkedIn post promoting DIRTEA says its coffee has 80% less caffeine than a regular cup. Treat both as marketing from people who sell or promote these products.
Cleveland Clinic says the hype rests on an untested assumption, namely that the benefits of mushrooms survive processing and brewing alongside coffee. Here is what ingredient-level research says, which is not the same as proof about a finished product:
- Lion’s mane: a small 2025 study of 18 adults used 3 g of a 10:1 fruiting-body extract. It found no significant overall effect on cognition or mood, with one isolated task signal (PubMed record). A coffee with a few hundred milligrams of lion’s mane powder is a different form and a much smaller amount.
- Chaga: human evidence is limited, and case reports link heavy use to kidney problems from its high oxalate content (PubMed record).
- Reishi: human findings are mixed and depend on the condition studied.
For a closer look at why a research dose and a cup of coffee differ, see Mushroom Coffee Dose Reality. For how to weigh a seller’s claims against ingredient studies, see this guide to evidence vs. marketing claims.
What is the downside of mushroom coffee?
- Cost. Cleveland Clinic says about double a regular cup.
- Unproven extras. You may be paying for benefits no one has shown in the finished drink.
- Digestive upset. Cleveland Clinic says mushrooms can sometimes cause digestive issues, especially if you have kidney issues or trouble with grains.
- Kidney stones. Cleveland Clinic says chaga is high in oxalates and is known to increase kidney stones. Ask a clinician first if you have a history of stones.
- Caffeine is still there. Less is not none, and the amount varies by product.
- Medication questions. Pilly Labs’ own legal notice lists blood thinners, blood-sugar medicines, blood pressure medicines, immunosuppressants, sedatives, chemotherapy and liver-metabolized drugs as ones to discuss with a clinician before using mushroom supplements. It also advises pregnant or nursing women, people with mushroom or mold allergies, and people with autoimmune conditions to check first.
For a fuller rundown, see Mushroom Coffee Safety.
Why do I feel weird after drinking mushroom coffee?
I can’t diagnose it, but there are a few common candidates. Caffeine is the first. Harvard Health says many people are sensitive to even one cup, which can mean jitteriness or disturbed sleep. If you are not used to coffee, it can also raise your blood pressure temporarily. Harvard lists insomnia, anxiety and tremors as possible effects for some people.
The mushrooms are the second candidate. Cleveland Clinic says they can cause digestive issues in some people. If you started a new blend, that is a plausible suspect. The dietitian’s suggestion is to try one type of mushroom powder at a time and track your symptoms. If symptoms are strong, persist, or you take medication, talk to a clinician. You can also report a reaction to a supplement to the FDA at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or 1-800-FDA-1088, as Pilly Labs’ legal page notes.
The FDA has a consumer update on how much caffeine is too much.
What happens if I drink mushroom coffee every day?
For most people without kidney or digestive problems, Cleveland Clinic says trying it is probably safe. Beyond that, the question depends on the product and on you. Daily use means daily caffeine, so the label’s caffeine amount matters. It also means daily exposure to whatever mushrooms are in the blend, and chaga’s oxalate content is the point to raise with a clinician if you have kidney concerns. Harvard also notes that habitual coffee drinkers develop a mild dependence, so stopping suddenly can bring temporary headaches. That applies to any caffeinated coffee.
Will mushroom coffee reduce belly fat or help weight loss?
No evidence here shows that mushroom coffee targets belly fat or causes weight loss. Cleveland Clinic says there is no meaningful research supporting the health claims mushroom coffee sellers make. What you add to the cup matters more: the dietitian’s caution is about sugar and creamer. Check the sugar line on the label. No coffee, mushroom or otherwise, can be called “best” for belly fat. If weight is your goal, a clinician or dietitian is the right person to ask.
How does mushroom coffee taste, and how do you make it?
Expect something close to regular coffee. Cleveland Clinic says it tastes pretty similar because it is coffee with extracts blended in. CoffeeMasterHub says ground versions brew like regular coffee in a French press, drip machine or pour-over for about 3 to 4 minutes. For instant powders it suggests about 1 teaspoon per 200 to 250 ml of water at 90 to 96°C, and it warns that boiling water can taste bitter. If the flavor is different at first, it suggests milk or a little sweetener. A label that states the roast and tasting notes can help you judge the likely flavor.
Does RYZE, or any specific brand, actually work?
The evidence here cannot tell you whether a particular brand works, and ingredient research is not proof that a finished product does. What you can compare is the label. Brands such as DIRTEA, Sixways and Clarity Brew sell mushroom coffee, and as one example label to read, Vitality Mushroom Coffee from Pilly Labs is a ground medium-roast blend with its percentages stated. Use the same checks on RYZE or any other brand:
| Check | Why it matters | Pilly Labs Vitality Mushroom Coffee, as listed |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee share | Tells you how much of the product is coffee | 90% Arabica |
| Each mushroom and its amount | A blend that names species but not amounts cannot be compared to any study | 5% Lion’s Mane and 5% Chaga powders, which works out to about 500 mg each per 10 g serving |
| Powder or extract | Studies often use concentrated extracts | Listed as powders |
| Sugar | Affects the weight-loss and calorie picture | 0 g |
| Serving and count | Lets you work out cost per cup | 1 tbsp (10 g), 34 servings, 12 oz bag |
| Caffeine per serving | The main difference from regular coffee | Not confirmed in my record. Check the bottle or ask support at info@pillylabs.com. |
If you want help reading a label, see the Mushroom Coffee Label Worksheet. For what the ingredients are and what they do, see Mushroom Coffee Ingredients.
Which one fits you?
These are criteria, not rankings.
- You want to cut caffeine: a mushroom blend may help, but only if the label shows a lower caffeine amount. Some products are marketed as caffeine-free.
- You want proven health benefits: regular coffee has the larger research base. Whole mushrooms in food are Cleveland Clinic’s suggestion for the mushroom part.
- You want the lowest cost: regular coffee.
- You have kidney stones, digestive problems, take medication, are pregnant or nursing: ask a clinician before trying it.
Before you order
- Find the caffeine per serving on the label, or ask the seller.
- Look for each mushroom and its amount. If only a combined total is listed, you cannot compare it to any study.
- Check sugar and any added creamer or sweetener.
- Ask the seller about the refund window before you buy. Pilly Labs’ refund policy gives 30 days from delivery to contact support.
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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