Coffee in the morning is an essential ritual, helping kick-start both mind and body into gear. But imagine if that morning coffee were enhanced with functional mushrooms to relieve stress, boost mental clarity, and promote sleep? Reishi mushroom, known as the “mushroom of immortality,” could provide that natural health boost. Reishi is considered an adaptogenic herb which can ease frayed nerves while increasing vitality and immunity*; its beta-glucans have also been shown to positively modulate immune systems, reduce stress levels, and promote restful sleep*.

Reishi mushroom makes an excellent accompaniment for coffee, yet finding and processing it can be time consuming and cumbersome. A much easier option would be purchasing pre-packaged adaptogenic mushroom blends from companies like Four Sigmatic or FreshCap Organics in powder or extract form; these mixes can then be added directly into recipes like coffee as well as smoothies, desserts or marinades for meat and vegetables.

Danli Luo, a doctoral student in human-centered design and engineering at the University of Washington, had an idea as she watched coffee grounds build up in her espresso machine: these nutrient-rich and sterilized ground beans provide the ideal substrate for growing fungus. With her team’s combination of brown rice flour, Reishi mushroom spores, and xanthan gum (a common binder found in ice creams and salad dressings), her mix could then be printed using 3D printers: mycelial skins would hold together loose bits to form complex shapes while printing separate pieces to come together into one whole!