How To Make Mushroom Coffee: 7 Reasons Why It’s Best to DIY It
We’re always being hit with the latest trend -especially when it comes to wellness.
We’ve seen new things like ice baths and cold plunges get popular for all of their benefits. Matcha lattes have become a favorite for a stable caffeine kick, and people are raving about green powders for “detoxing”.
But now, there’s a new addition stirring up interest that you can mix into your regular morning coffee: mushrooms!
Yup, powdered mushroom extracts like cordyceps, lion’s mane, and chaga are being added to coffee now.
But, why the heck should you be adding mushrooms to your coffee in the morning...I mean how would that even taste? How would you even go about making mushroom coffee? Is it even safe???
Well, my friend, you are in the perfect place. In this article, we’ll cover all the bases you need to know about making your DIY mushroom coffee. Let’s just get into it, shall we?
What is Mushroom Coffee?
What is mushroom coffee, you ask?
Simply regular coffee blended with dried, powdered functional mushrooms like cordyceps, lion’s mane mushroom, Chaga extract, and reishi to create a smooth, rich coffee with an earthy twist. Like regular coffee, you can customize your mushroom coffee with sweeteners, milk, or creamers.
What makes it stand out is the superior health benefits it can provide as opposed to regular coffee.
Depending on the types and amounts of mushrooms, you can get different health benefits from the antioxidant and nutrient-packed fungi. When adding it to your morning cup of coffee, you’ll get a caffeine boost along with mushrooms’ potential wellness perks, the perfect combo if you ask me.
Why Make Your Own Mushroom Coffee?
It’s tempting- I know. Just find your local health cafe, place a mobile order, and go pick it up. Why bother making your own drink and a mess in the kitchen?
Well, besides your bank account crying out for help, here are a few reasons to make your own mushroom coffee:
- Save money – Making your mushroom coffee at home can cost a fraction of what pre-blended mushroom coffee sells for. You can buy affordable bulk bags of organic coffee and mushroom powder.
- Control ingredients – When you DIY, you can use high-quality organic coffee beans and mushroom powders free of pesticides, fillers, heavy metals, or preservatives. This allows you to avoid low-grade ingredients found in some pre-made blends. You can even grow your own mushrooms!
- Customize your blend – Mix and match organic mushroom varieties to create a custom mushroom coffee optimized for your health goals. Tailor the mushroom-to-coffee ratio to your ideal taste and tolerance.
- Minimize waste – Pre-packaged mushroom coffee pods or packets generate unnecessary plastic, foil, and paper waste. Making your own avoids all that extra packaging going straight to landfills.
- Freshness – Using freshly ground organic coffee beans and freshly powdered mushroom extracts provides robust flavor and preserves nutrients. This is fresher than pre-ground coffee or mushrooms sitting in packets.
- Convenience + Quality – Making a whole batch of mushroom coffee at once using organic ingredients is faster and higher quality than preparing multiple single-serve pre-made mushroom packets every morning.
- Experimentation – You can try out different varieties of mushrooms, types of coffee, and blending techniques to find your favorite custom mushroom coffee recipe.
How to Make Mushroom Coffee: Step-by-Step Instructions
The instructions below are for making DIY mushroom coffee using a French Press. Why? Because this method will allow the most absorption of the mushroom’s benefits.
However, you can make mushroom coffee with any coffee preparation method you’d like! Due to the mushroom’s earthy and sometimes bitter taste, I personally don’t recommend it with black coffee alone. Adding a splash of milk, a scoop of collagen, or honey can help reduce the strong earthy flavor of the mushrooms.
Simply make your favorite coffee as usual (Pour-over, drip coffee maker, Nespresso, Keurig, etc) then stir your dried mushroom powder into the finished brewed coffee.
You can customize your mushroom coffee into any coffee drink like espresso, Americano, pumpkin spice latte, or cappuccino – whatever your heart desires! Then, add the dried mushrooms to your brewed coffee.
Now, here is how to make mushroom coffee with a French Press:
The Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Blend ground coffee beans or whole beans with a grinder.
- Filtered water
- Spoon
- Scale/ Measuring tools
- French Press/ Desired coffee coffee maker
- Your mushroom powder of choice
- Optional: Add-ons (vanilla extract, spices, honey, etc.)
Step 1 – Measure your ingredients
Start by measuring out 2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee beans for each cup of mushroom coffee you want to make. Next, measure out 1-2 teaspoons of mushroom powder or extract for each cup, following the dosage guidelines on the package if using store-bought. If using homemade mushroom powder, start with 1 teaspoon per cup.
Step 2 – Preheat the French Press
Before brewing the coffee, preheat your French press by filling it with hot water. Allow it to sit for 1 minute, then discard the water. This helps heat the press so your coffee brews optimally.
Step 3 – Add Coffee Beans and Mushroom Powder
Once preheated, add the coarsely ground coffee beans and measured mushroom powder directly into the empty French press.
Step 4 – Pour in Hot Water
Pour approximately 1 cup (250g) of hot water for each serving of mushroom coffee into the French press over the coffee-mushroom mixture. For best results, use filtered water if you have it.
Step 5 – Gently Stir the Mixture
Use a spoon to gently stir the coffee grounds and mushroom powder together in the French press to combine them properly.
Step 6 – Let the Mushroom Coffee Brew
Place the plunger into the French press,, but do not press down yet. Let the mushroom coffee brew for 4-6 minutes, depending on your preferred strength. Although longer or shorter isn’t recommended.
This range is ideal for the coffee’s “extraction”- basically what the water takes from the coffee.
Step 7 – Press the Plunger Halfway Down
After brewing, slowly and steadily press the French press plunger halfway down (I can’t stress this enough). Be careful not to plunge all the way to the bottom.
Step 8 – Pour and Enjoy Your Mushroom Coffee
Finally, pour your freshly brewed mushroom coffee into your favorite mug or cup. Savor your leveled-up cup of coffee enriched with the health benefits of mushrooms!
Key Considerations For Successfully Making Your Own Mushroom Coffee at Home
- Where are you getting your mushrooms? First, pay attention to your mushroom source. You want mushrooms grown in clean, fresh soil to maximize nutrients. Avoid reused soil or mushrooms with high heavy metal levels. Purchase from reputable growers you trust.
- Add Some Flavor!! Okay, coffee itself is already bitter (coming from a black coffee lover). I recommend adding extras to your mushroom coffee. Especially for Chaga and Reishi, they have a pretty earthy taste. Consider adding natural sweeteners or spices to balance the earthy mushroom taste. Vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg are tasty options. A bit of honey or maple syrup can also mellow bitterness.
- Quality Ingredients Then we go back to the basics. Though drink preferences vary, premium components lead to better flavor and health benefits in your cup of mushroom coffee.
What are The Health Benefits of Mushroom Coffee?
What exactly are the perks of adding functional mushrooms like cordyceps, lion’s mane, and chaga to your regular cup of joe?
The benefits of medicinal mushrooms are both physical and psychological.
For starters, mushroom coffee provides your body with essential antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immune-supporting compounds- think Vitamin D, B vitamins, Potassium, and more). These superfood shrooms contain vitamins, minerals, gut-healthy prebiotics, and antioxidants that can help counter caffeine spikes and optimize their nutritional value.
Sipping mushroom coffee is an easy way to get the benefits of adaptogenic mushrooms without having to consume them in a more um… Unpleasant way. You can customize your mushroom blend to target specific health goals too – energy, brain power, immunity, heart health, you name it.
Mushroom coffee may also give you longer-lasting energy and prevent the typical caffeine crash. By making your own mushroom coffee rather than buying pre-blended mixes, you control the quality and freshness of ingredients.
So brew yourself a cup of DIY mushroom coffee, pair it with a good healthy breakfast, and reap the amazing benefits as well as taste!
Types of Mushrooms Used in Mushroom Coffee
There are many different types of mushrooms on the market. Depending on the ones used and the dosages you could benefit in different ways. These are some of the most commonly used mushrooms for coffee and their specific health benefits:
Lion’s Mane:
Lions mane mushroom is known for its neurological effects and cognitive health benefits. Meaning it can help prevent things like dementia and memory loss. Although there are many testimonials, more research is still needed to back this fully.
Chaga:
Chaga mushroom has many benefits. These mushrooms contain antioxidants that can help lower cholesterol (meaning less risk for heart disease, clogged arteries, etc). They have also been shown to stabilize insulin levels and say bye to these mid-day energy slumps and power naps.
Reishi:
Reishi mushrooms have been shown to help reduce anxiety and depression. A 2011 study had participants consume reishi mushroom extracts daily for 4 weeks. By the end of the treatment, these patients reported notable decreases in anxiety and depression levels along with an improved overall quality of life. The powerful compounds found in reishi like triterpenoids and polysaccharides are thought to contribute to these mood-lifting effects.
Turkey Tail:
Turkey Tail, like the other mushrooms, still needs some more research. They have shown positive impacts on the immune system of animals, but we still need more evidence for humans. Either way, they contain many antioxidants and minerals that are good for overall health.
Maitake:
Maitake has incredibly high levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D has been shown to improve immunity and mental health and even be a helpful aid to cancer prevention. Maitake can shift your blood sugar levels, so it’s important to consult a doctor, especially if you are a diabetic.
Wrapping Up
Look, I know mushroom coffee sounds weird. But trust me, once you get over the mental hump and take a sip, your body will thank you!
It’s easy to make a batch at home, too. Throw in some quality beans, and organic powders, and get creative in finding your perfect blend. You can customize your cup and make it as healthy as you want.
Give mushroom coffee a shot. I’m telling you, it’ll change up your regular morning routine and become your new fave. You won’t know just how awesome it is until you brew a cup. I can’t promise you will initially love the taste (especially while you are still testing recipes), but the health perks make it worth it- we’re talking natural energy, sustained energy levels, immunity boosts, anti-inflammatory power, you name it.
So what are you waiting for? Ditch the boring old coffee and level up to mushroom coffee.
Mushroom Coffee: FAQ
- Can I grow the mushrooms myself?
Yes, you can grow mushrooms yourself! There are mushroom growing kits available that make it easy for you to cultivate your mushrooms at home. It’s a fun and rewarding process that allows you to have a fresh supply of mushrooms for your coffee. - Is mushroom coffee use safe?
Mushroom coffee is generally safe when using pure, quality extracts in moderation. Start with low doses. Consult a doctor first, especially if pregnant, on medications, or have medical conditions to discuss any possible interactions. Monitor your response. - How does mushroom coffee taste?
Mushroom coffee has a unique taste that’s often described as earthy and slightly bitter. The flavor of mushrooms blends well with the rich and bold taste of coffee, creating a distinct and enjoyable drinking experience. - How do I store mushroom extract powder?
Mushrooms are commonly stored in a cool and dry environment. Make sure to use an airtight container to prevent the powder from getting humid or stale. - Can I use mushroom powder with instant coffee?
Yes, you can use mushroom powder with instant coffee. Mix the mushroom powder with your instant coffee and prepare it like you normally would. - How much mushroom powder should I add to my coffee?
The mushroom powder you add to your coffee will depend on your preference. Start with a small amount and gradually increase it until you find the right balance of mushroom flavor. Make sure you know where the mushrooms are coming from and the appropriate measurements for that specific mushroom.
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About the Author
Sophia’s on a mission to help people get the right information and achieve all of their goals through a holistic approach. She believes education is key to making better decisions and accomplishing what you set out to do. When she’s not writing or traveling, you can find her chatting over coffee or taking pics of gorgeous sunsets—her camera roll can attest. Learn more at Sophiv.com.
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