At the forefront of health trends today is mushroom coffee – and its rise to celebrity status. From Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Taika Waititi all the way through to Taika Waititi himself have extolled its virtues as an energy booster and immune supporter as well as for aiding digestion and weight loss. Yet is mushroom coffee just another trendy food trend or is there real merit behind its claims? We decided to consult registered dietitian nutritionists about this new superfood trend to gain their perspective.

Mushroom coffee is an alternative way to consume medicinal mushrooms such as lion’s mane, chaga and cordyceps with coffee (usually organic and fair trade) while adding other healthy extras such as maca, ashwagandha or Siberian ginseng for an increased sense of wellbeing and lower caffeine content than an average cup of regular coffee would contain. With less caffeine per serving and typically half as much in terms of overall caffeine intake compared with its rival beverage – mushroom coffee offers an ideal solution for those sensitive or looking to reduce caffeine ingestion or simply trying to cut back.

Most brands provide both ground and instant options that can be brewed using your preferred coffee maker or added to tea, soups or smoothies. Powdered products tend to taste the most similar to standard coffee with only an earthy note that some may find off-putting; many also contain prebiotics, probiotics and collagen which make an excellent addition to a healthy diet.

While research on mushroom coffee remains limited, its benefits are said to include improving immunity and digestive function, supporting mental clarity and stress relief, helping with workout recovery and even improving sleep quality. But individual results may vary.

The best mushroom coffees may not be suitable for everyone, so always read and check the ingredients list of any product before selecting it. Your health goals, budget and taste preferences will all determine your perfect product choice; for those new to taking mushrooms as medicine it’s always wiser starting off slowly with smaller doses of adaptogens before gradually increasing your dose over time.