Coffee has long been part of daily routines, serving as both an identity marker and morning ritual for many people. So it was no surprise when mushroom coffee became trendy: people went crazy over its purported health benefits of immunity support, focus enhancement and stress relief – making many question whether this particular brew really worth trying or just another marketing gimmick. We enlisted some experts’ insight on this matter in order to answer that question.

Mushroom coffee is a mix of powdered medicinal mushrooms and ground coffee. Designed to be mixed or frothed up with hot or cold water, mushroom coffee should provide coffee-like beverages that tend to have lower caffeine content than traditional beverages. Some mushroom coffee varieties also feature sweeteners such as monk fruit (approved by FDA as zero calorie sweetener) or other ingredients like coconut products, tree nuts or even cinnamon for additional sweetness. As each mix can produce distinctive results depending on what ingredients it includes and their combination, care should always be taken when selecting such drinks from within its ingredient mix if allergies and sensitivities exist.

Experts I consulted indicated that mushroom coffee should be safe for most individuals, provided you don’t have any preexisting medical conditions which could be worsened by its ingredients. Due to limited research on specific mushroom species used for mushroom coffee beverages, however, they suggested consulting your physician or natural health practitioner first so they can assess your risks and select extracts with maximum health benefits for optimal consumption.

Be mindful that any health claims made about this special coffee are unverifiable and don’t expect miracle cures from its consumption. To maximize health benefits, whole mushroom consumption would likely provide more significant results than just sipping this special beverage.

If you decide to experiment, take it slowly and ensure that you consume an appropriate amount of mushrooms to achieve desired results. Furthermore, consult with your healthcare provider prior to beginning as certain medicinal mushrooms could interfere with prescribed medicines and could negatively impact health outcomes.

However, after three years of drinking mushroom coffee, it has become one of my favorite daily habits. It helps support mental clarity, boost my immunity and give me energy throughout the day without any of the negative side effects that often accompany regular coffee consumption. Here are my favorite brands if you’re interested in adding it to your morning ritual: