Best Mushroom Coffee: 5 Blends Worth the Hype (and 2 to Skip)
Mushroom coffee promises better focus and energy. We reviewed 5 popular brands to see if they deliver—or if you're better off with regular coffee.
Mushroom coffee has exploded in popularity over the last few years. The pitch sounds great: get the caffeine boost you know plus adaptogens and functional benefits from medicinal mushrooms. But does it actually work? And more importantly, does it taste good?
We examined owner reviews, product specifications, and user feedback across 5 popular mushroom coffee brands to cut through the marketing noise. Here’s what we found.
Quick Comparison
| Brand | Type | Caffeine | Price per Serving | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Sigmatic Think Coffee | Instant blend | 80mg | ~$0.90 | Focus + taste | âââââ |
| Ryze Mushroom Coffee | Instant blend | 48mg | ~$0.65 | Budget-conscious | ââââ |
| Om Mushroom Coffee Latte | Powder blend | 100mg | ~$1.10 | Creamy, easy | ââââ |
| MUD/WTR Morning Ritual | Instant mix | 35mg | ~$1.50 | Coffee alternative | ââââ |
| Laird Superfood Mushroom | Powder blend | 90mg | ~$1.25 | Whole-food vibes | âââââ |
5 Mushroom Coffee Brands Reviewed
1. Four Sigmatic Think Coffee with Lion’s Mane
Four Sigmatic’s Think Coffee is one of the original mushroom coffee blends, and owner reviews show it remains a top choice for coffee drinkers who want a functional upgrade.
What’s in it: Organic instant coffee, Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, and a coffee flavor profile that actually tastes like coffee. The Lion’s Mane is marketed for cognitive support and focus.
Taste: User feedback indicates this is the closest to real coffee among mushroom blends. The instant format dissolves cleanly in hot water, and you don’t get that earthy, chalky taste that puts people off other brands.
Caffeine: 80mg per serving—reasonable middle ground. You’ll feel the boost without the jitters some report with 100mg+ blends.
Value: Around $0.90 per serving if buying in bulk. Not the cheapest, but reviewers say the taste justifies the premium.
Best for: Coffee drinkers skeptical of mushroom blends who want a familiar taste experience with functional benefits. Based on specs and user feedback, this works well for people adding mushroom coffee to an existing routine.
2. Ryze Mushroom Coffee
Ryze has built a cult following, especially on social media. Owner reviews highlight its approachable price and convenience.
What’s in it: Arabica instant coffee blended with 4 adaptogenic mushrooms (Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, and King Trumpet). The formula skews toward “wellness” rather than pure coffee experience.
Taste: Honest user feedback here: it tastes noticeably different from regular coffee. More earthy, more like a broth than an espresso. Some people love this; coffee purists often don’t.
Caffeine: 48mg per serving—the lowest on our list. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or want a gentler morning ritual, this is the pick.
Value: Around $0.65 per serving. The most budget-friendly option, which explains much of its popularity. You get decent volume for the price.
Best for: People exploring adaptogens and willing to trade coffee authenticity for wellness focus. Based on reviews, this appeals to the “functional fitness” crowd more than coffee enthusiasts.
3. Om Mushroom Superfood Coffee Latte Blend
Om positions itself as the premium, whole-food option. Owner reviews emphasize the creamy texture and café-quality preparation.
What’s in it: Organic instant coffee, organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao, and a mushroom blend (Reishi, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane). It’s essentially a coffee latte in a packet.
Taste: This tastes most like a café drink. The coconut milk powder and cacao create a creamy, slightly sweet flavor. User feedback suggests it’s excellent as an afternoon treat or a dessert coffee.
Caffeine: 100mg per serving. On the higher end, so it provides genuine energy boost alongside the creamy experience.
Value: Around $1.10 per serving. You’re paying for convenience and the latte experience built-in.
Best for: People who normally add milk and something sweet to their coffee. No additional ingredients needed—just add hot water. This solves the “how do I actually prepare this?” problem many encounter with mushroom coffee powders.
4. MUD/WTR Morning Ritual Starter Kit
MUD/WTR positions itself as a coffee alternative, not a coffee replacement. Owner reviews often mention the ritual aspect—it’s about the experience as much as the brew.
What’s in it: The starter kit includes masala spice blend, cacao, and the core MUD/WTR mix (which contains Cordyceps, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane—but notably, no actual coffee). Instead of coffee, it uses organic Cacao and turmeric as the base.
Taste: Earthy, spiced, almost chai-like. Very different from coffee. User feedback is polarized: people love it or they don’t. No middle ground.
Caffeine: 35mg per serving. The lowest by far. If you’re caffeine-sensitive or looking to reduce intake, this works. If you need a real energy boost, skip this.
Value: Around $1.50 per serving with the starter kit. The ritual ceremony aspect (it comes with a whisk and instructions) appeals to certain people; others see it as marketing.
Best for: People exploring coffee alternatives rather than coffee upgrades. If you’re open to replacing your morning coffee with something entirely different, based on reviews this creates a satisfying new routine. Not recommended if you actually want caffeine.
5. Laird Superfood Mushroom Coffee
Laird is known in health circles (the founder is Laird Hamilton, big-wave surfer). Owner reviews emphasize the “clean” ingredients and performance-focused formulation.
What’s in it: Organic instant coffee, Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, and that’s it—very minimal ingredient list. No fillers, no added sweeteners. The clarity and simplicity appeal to performance-oriented users.
Taste: Clean coffee taste with subtle earthy notes from the Lion’s Mane. Not trying to hide the mushroom; it’s honest about it. User feedback suggests it tastes like quality instant coffee with a slight herbal undertone.
Caffeine: 90mg per serving. Solid caffeine delivery without excess.
Value: Around $1.25 per serving. Mid-to-premium pricing reflects the brand positioning and ingredient quality.
Best for: Minimalists who want one simple upgrade to regular coffee without all the extra powders and adaptogens. Based on reviews and specs, this appeals to athletes and biohackers who trust Laird’s name and want transparency in ingredients.
Mushroom Coffee: Real Benefits or Marketing?
The claims about mushroom coffee center on a few key benefits:
Lion’s Mane and Focus: The most consistent claim. Owner reviews frequently mention perceived improvements in focus and afternoon clarity. Research on Lion’s Mane is preliminary but promising—it may support nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain. That said, user feedback suggests the effect is subtle, not dramatic.
Cordyceps and Energy: Marketed for stamina and endurance. User reviews show mixed results—some people feel noticeably more energized; others feel nothing beyond normal caffeine. Based on specs, Cordyceps does have research backing, but effects vary by person.
Reishi and Stress: Positioned as calming. This is where user feedback gets interesting: people either love Reishi’s mellowing effect or find it contradicts wanting caffeine. Owner reviews show it works best when you don’t need maximum energy.
The Reality: Mushroom coffee isn’t a magic pill. Owner reviews across all brands show consistent patterns: people feel slightly more sustained energy compared to regular coffee, possibly due to L-theanine and other compounds. But you’re not going to feel dramatically different. The real value, based on user feedback, is getting functional mushroom extracts in a familiar, delicious format that’s easier than taking capsules.
FAQ: Common Mushroom Coffee Questions
Does mushroom coffee taste like mushrooms? Only if you’re sensitive to earthy flavors. Owner reviews show most people don’t notice a strong mushroom taste in the better brands (especially Four Sigmatic and Laird). Cheaper blends can taste more obviously “medicinal.”
Can I mix these with regular coffee? Yes. Many reviewers combine mushroom coffee with regular coffee for more caffeine and to balance out the earthy notes. There’s no reason not to.
How long before you feel benefits? User feedback suggests 1-2 weeks of consistent use. If you don’t notice anything after a month, you probably won’t. Some people notice nothing; that’s normal.
Is it more expensive than regular coffee? Yes, roughly 2-3x the cost per serving compared to grocery store instant coffee. But it’s cheaper than specialty café drinks if you’re replacing those. Owner reviews often compare it to buying daily lattes, not making coffee at home.
Which mushroom coffee has the most caffeine? Om Mushroom Coffee Latte and Laird Superfood (both 90-100mg per serving). If you want the caffeine boost, don’t pick Ryze or MUD/WTR.
Final Recommendation
If you want to try mushroom coffee, start with Four Sigmatic Think Coffee or Laird Superfood Mushroom Coffee. Both taste closest to real coffee and have solid caffeine content. Owner reviews consistently rank these two at the top.
For budget-conscious exploration, Ryze Mushroom Coffee is the entry point. User feedback shows it’s a genuine product with real ingredients; you’re just trading some taste familiarity for price savings.
Skip the mushroom coffee gimmick entirely if you’re looking for a dramatic energy or focus boost. Caffeine works. Mushroom extracts have promise but aren’t a caffeine replacement. The best approach based on user reviews: pick one that tastes good to you and use it as a tasty delivery mechanism for functional mushrooms, not as a cure-all.
For more on coffee fundamentals, check out our guide to the best drip coffee makers and our comparison of coffee makers under $50.