How to make mushroom coffee: easy and quick guide

What exactly is mushroom coffee?

Before we look at how to make mushroom coffee, we should explain what it is. Because, let’s be honest, it doesn’t sound particularly appealing. Don’t worry though – it isn’t like coffee-flavoured mushroom soup, or coffee with pieces of fungus floating in it! Visually, the drink looks identical to a normal cup of joe. The secret is that you brew it with medicinal fungi powder mixed into your ground coffee. This gives the beverage more of an earthy, nutty taste than pure coffee, plus a host of extra wellness benefits.

The notion of consuming functional fungi in drinks is nothing new. Practitioners of traditional medicine systems have been brewing mushroom tea for generations. And the idea of making mushroom coffee likely originated in Finland during World War II. Coffee beans were in short supply, so people got creative and made an alternative beverage using chaga mushrooms instead.

Today, it’s not just chaga – you can make your own mushroom coffee with any species of functional fungi you like. From lion’s mane to reishi, each brings their own unique strengths to the cup. These potential health benefits are the main reason it’s good to know how to make mushroom coffee. But you’ll get those same gains by buying pre-made fungi coffee too, right? So why choose DIY mushroom coffee?

Why should you brew your own mushroom coffee?

Technically, you don’t need to know how to make mushroom coffee to enjoy its benefits. These days, you can buy pre-made mixes or even order a freshly brewed cup at a cafe. However, there are a few reasons why we think it’s best to know how to prepare mushroom coffee yourself.

For starters, it’s often a cheaper option. But more than that, it gives you a bit more control over what you’re drinking. When you make your own mushroom coffee, you can choose the very finest quality functional fungi. That usually means organic powders with no artificial colourings, flavourings, or preservatives added. Plus, if you want, you could use a different species every day depending on your health needs and goals.

It’s not just the mushrooms, either. You’re also able to pick the best coffee beans and your preferred level of roast. All of which adds up to you getting a truly delicious drink with the maximum potential wellness benefits. In our opinion, that’s a pretty persuasive argument for learning how to make mushroom coffee!

The benefits of mushroom coffee

The great thing about this drink is that both coffee and functional fungi bring advantages to the cup. We’ve got a whole article on the benefits of mushroom coffee, but it’s worth giving a quick overview here. Then we’ll look at how to make mushroom coffee.

You’re probably familiar with many of the benefits of coffee. Research shows that thanks to the caffeine it contains, the drink can fight fatigue and boost energy levels.(1) Interestingly, coffee may protect brain health too, reducing the risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline.(2) Studies also suggest drinking coffee lowers the likelihood of developing depression, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and liver disease.(3)

So far, so impressive. But what extra benefits might you get from learning how to make mushroom coffee? First, functional fungi are rich in a type of fibre called beta-glucan. This potent polysaccharide helps to decrease blood sugar and cholesterol levels, plus nourishes the good bacteria in your gut.(4)

Making mushroom coffee may support immunity too, as functional fungi are able to activate certain types of immune cells.(5) They also possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to lower disease risk by fighting oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. All of which means knowing how to make mushroom coffee could support your wellbeing in a wealth of ways.