Are mushrooms floating around in your cup of joe giving you second thoughts? That’s understandable – contrary to what the name may imply, mushroom coffee doesn’t contain actual mushrooms; rather it is made with extracts of medicinal mushrooms such as chaga, lion’s mane, turkey tail and cordyceps; these types of adaptogens have long been used by Asian countries as wellness tools to increase energy levels while providing additional health benefits.

Though this product has generated much excitement, it’s essential that consumers fully understand its contents before making a decision to try it. Unfortunately, most brews do not list their ingredients, making it hard to ascertain exactly how much of each type of mushroom may be present and whether they may exacerbate digestion issues; some varieties (chaga) also contain high amounts of oxalates which could potentially lead to kidney stones.

Due to limited research on these products, it’s impossible to accurately gauge their health benefits; and even if they did have them, their use in beverages is unlike how whole mushrooms are employed for traditional medicine purposes.

Fungi in these blends are dried and extracted before being mixed with ground coffee beans for regular coffee, then brewed and combined with ingredients like black tea, cacao, and matcha for an end result that often boasts an earthier or nuttier flavor than its regular counterpart. Many claim these beverages provide immune support or stress reduction.

There is some evidence that certain varieties of mushrooms may help boost immunity, though research on them remains preliminary and their dosage may not provide optimal results.

But the low caffeine content in mushroom coffee may provide relief to those suffering from anxiety or acid reflux, since caffeine can trigger their symptoms and leave them jittery throughout the day. Most mushroom coffees do not exceed 80 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce serving; with low-caffeine options offering half this amount.