5 years ago, nobody had even heard of it.
“Drinking mushrooms?”
That’s crazy talk!
Actually, that was crazy talk.
Thanks to Tim Ferris- and some other trailblazers in functional mushrooms- "biohackers" all over North America are now adding mushrooms to their daily coffee habit.
And this trend isn’t going anywhere.
In fact, more and more people everyday are discovering the incredible benefits of adaptogenic mushrooms- and finding more ways to get them into their life.
I’ll be the first to admit- single serve instant mushroom coffee is easy, and delicious.
But now, you have options.
In fact, you can make mushroom coffee anyway you like in order to match your specific needs and taste preferences.
Why Mushroom Coffee?
Medicinal mushrooms are somewhat of a new concept in North America- but that’s not the case in other parts of the world. In fact, mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, trusted to support overall health, vitality, longevity, and most importantly, immunity. Now, people looking to get an edge and feel amazing everyday are adding mushrooms to their coffee for focus, energy, clarity, and mental performance. The benefits of functional mushrooms come from water soluble molecules known as beta-d glucans, powerful little molecules which are normally locked up in the cell wall of the mushroom fruiting body. Hot water extraction pulls these compounds out of the tough mushroom cell walls, and makes them bio-available. Medicinal mushrooms really are like a team of superheros. That's because each mushroom type has a uniquely shaped beta-d glucan, and is able to interact with your system in a unique way.What Mushroom Should I add to my coffee?
It depends what you are going for! If you had to pick one thing that unites all mushrooms, it’s their ability to support your immune system. Sounds boring right? Not when you consider the fact that your immune system is your bedrock- the foundation for overall health. It plays an essential role in everything that you do, and feeling good all the time would be impossible without a properly functioning immune system. If you are looking to help support your immune system, adding a blend of mushrooms to your coffee is the best way to go. In general, here is what characterizes each mushroom:- Looking for immune support? Use Turkey Tail or a Blend.
- Looking for focus and mental clarity? Use Lion’s Mane.
- Looking to relax? Try Chaga or Reishi.
- Looking for increased energy and endurance? Try Cordyceps.
How Much Should I Add?
Most people will add 1-2 grams of mushroom extract to a single cup of coffee. Of course, if you are looking to achieve a very specific outcome, or if you are taking mushrooms to address a specific condition, it is best to reach out to your doctor or natural health care practitioner. They will be able to address the dose and species appropriate for your situation.
What To Look Out For
Ok, so adding mushrooms to my coffee… how hard could it be? The most important thing is to make sure that you are actually adding mushrooms- not grain starch, brown rice, or any other fillers. To put it simply, make sure the mushroom extracts are made from “whole mushroom fruiting bodies”. This means that the actual mushroom was grown, harvested, extracted and dried into a fine powder. Also, be sure that the extracts actually contain fungal beta-d glucans. These are easy to test for and should be listed on the back of the package. Most “grown in the USA” mushroom extracts and powders are made from something called “mycelium on grain”. Mycelium can be thought of as the “roots” of the mushroom, and grows happily on grain. It’s actually an intermediary step in the mushroom growing process. The end result of mycelium on grain is a product that is high in grain starch, contains no mushroom fruiting body, and contains very little of the beneficial compounds you are actually looking for. These products taste similar to oatmeal or brown rice- which makes sense considering they mainly consist of, well, oatmeal and brown rice. Remember, if you are looking for the benefits of mushrooms, make sure you are actually getting mushrooms!DIY Mushroom Coffee Recipes
Ready to get Mushroom Powered? Here are some easy mushroom coffee recipes.Basic Mushroom Coffee
- 10 oz fresh brewed coffee
- ½ - 1 tsp medicinal mushroom extract powder
Enhanced Mushroom Coffee
- 10 oz fresh brewed coffee
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil or MCT oil
- 1 Tbsp ghee (omit for vegan)
- ½ - 1 tsp medicinal mushroom extract powder
- ½ - 1 tsp coconut sugar or maple syrup (optional)
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- Pinch pink sea salt
Mushroom Latte
- 8 oz dairy free milk
- 2 oz fresh brewed strong coffee or
- 1 espresso shot
- 1 tsp coconut oil or MCT
- ½ tsp Thrive 6 mushroom blend
- Sweetener of choice (optional)
Mushroom Coffee Mocha
- 5 oz dairy free milk
- 5 oz brewed coffee
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil or MCT oil
- 1 tsp cacao powder
- ½ tsp Thrive 6 mushroom blend
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut sugar or maple syrup (or to taste, or other sweetener of choice)
DIY Mushroom Coffee Smoothies
Prefer something cooler on those hot summer days? Try these mushroom coffee smoothies.Mushroom Coffee Smoothie
- 1 cup coffee ice cubes
- 1 cup dairy free milk
- 6 dates
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp flax seeds
- 1 tsp Thrive 6 mushroom blend
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
Breakfast Coffee Smoothie
- ½ cup brewed coffee (cooled)
- ½ cup dairy free milk
- 1 large frozen banana
- 3 Tbsp oats
- 1 Tbsp nut or seed butter
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp cacao powder
- 1 tsp Thrive 6 mushroom blend
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
