The mushroom coffee trend has quickly gained momentum, with celebrities like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Taika Waititi touting its benefits: immune support, stress reduction, focus and energy boost as well as many others touted among its benefits. But is all of this just hype? To find out, we consulted registered dietitian nutritionists about what their opinion was on this growing craze.

Mushroom coffee, for those unfamiliar, is a blend of medicinal mushrooms such as chaga, cordyceps and lion’s mane with traditional coffee beans to provide a flavorful beverage experience. Some blends use no caffeine at all while others utilize lower levels for more subtle stimulation. You may even be able to find mushroom coffee mix-ins specifically intended to add mushrooms without other base beverages such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

While some aspects of this trend remain to be fully explored, our experts largely agreed that the best mushroom coffee products provide a smooth, rich, earthy flavor with subtle traces of coffee or other ingredients. Most products were not overly caffeinated, and many featured a pleasant aroma that felt both nourishing and soothing when drinking them. Some also used ingredients sourced sustainably while other options had third-party testing for third party verification.

Mushrooms have long been a part of traditional medicine, and those used in this type of coffee often boast an extensive history for treating various conditions like brain health, heart health, and immune support. Unfortunately, however, there haven’t been many broad human studies done on their effectiveness so it is best to consult your physician prior to making major dietary changes.

Four Sigmatic’s Think Ground coffee earned high marks from our experts as the ideal mushroom coffee choice, featuring an organic blend of coffee, chaga extract, lion’s mane and cordyceps that may help boost mental clarity and energy levels. Plus it’s certified organic, vegan-friendly and non-GMO – as well as sugar free!

ReNude’s Chagaccino was another top pick. Formulated to promote healthy digestion and stress relief, ReNude credits this product with “adaptogen-boosting benefits,” providing non-jittery clean energy without jitters or buzzes. Available as single serve packets that are easy to take with you wherever life takes you!

Teeccino’s Chaga Astragalus Butterscotch Cream mushroom coffee offers smoother, nutty and sweeter flavors with less of an acidic kick, and offers antioxidant support by combining wild foraged chaga and turkey tail with ashwagandha for an antioxidant boost. Plus, its caffeine levels are roughly half that of regular coffee!