Mushroom coffee is a beverage comprised of both ground coffee and mushroom extract. Often sold in instant coffee packages for quick and easy preparation, many consumers are turning to mushrooms coffee as a health aid and tout its many purported health benefits such as stress reduction and increased energy.

However, there is no scientific proof to back up mushroom coffee’s claimed effects. Some researchers have even taken aim at its popularity due to lack of rigorous testing and transparency during manufacturing processes. Yet some consumers report enjoying mushroom coffee’s energy boost without experiencing its usual crash associated with caffeine use.

Coffee fans who enjoy this type of drink typically don’t detect mushrooms; instead, coffee flavors predominate the taste profile. Some have reported that it tastes slightly earthier than regular coffee; though not everyone detects this distinction.

Most mushroom coffee brands on the market offer a range of varieties, each featuring specific fungi known for their beneficial health and medicinal properties – such as shiitake (which has long been used to support healthy metabolism in eastern medicine) or turkey tail (an antimicrobial-rich stripy mushroom believed to have antimicrobial properties according to Medical News Today). Some mushroom coffee varieties also contain cordyceps fungus used by Tibetan monks as focus-boosting supplements.

As well as these mushrooms, many leading mushroom coffee producers also incorporate organic Arabica coffee and organic MCT oil derived from coconuts into their products to provide clean energy that aids with more effective absorption of mushroom nutrients by the body.

Some mushroom coffees use chaga, an antioxidant-rich fungus renowned for its health benefits that may boost immunity and fight cancer (according to Medical News Today). Coffee producers are quickly adopting this trend by offering their own versions of mushroom coffee.

Whoever prefers making their own mushroom coffee can purchase powdered extracts online and mix them with their preferred ground coffee before storing in an airtight container away from sunlight and other forms of moisture.

Mushroom coffee has a similar shelf life as ground coffee, with most brands suggesting consumption within two or three months after opening. Refrigerating it could expose it to harmful moisture levels and cause unwanted aromas to seep through into its flavor profile.

As mushroom coffee becomes more and more popular, more stores are stocking it for sale. While some stores may only carry limited selections of mushroom coffee products, most major grocery chains now stock it, as do several specialty retailers such as Thrive Market and Amazon.