How to Make Mushroom Coffee at Home (Lion's Mane, Cordyceps & Reishi)

Mushroom coffee is ordinary coffee with a functional mushroom extract stirred in. You can buy it ready-mixed, or make your own with an extract you trust. Making it yourself means you choose the mushroom, you know exactly how much is in your cup, and you keep the coffee you already like.

This guide covers which mushroom to add, how much, how to make it taste good, and what to check before you buy an extract.

What is mushroom coffee?

Mushroom coffee is coffee blended with an extract of a functional mushroom, most often lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi or chaga. It doesn't taste like cooking mushrooms. A good extract adds a mild, earthy note that most people stop noticing after a few cups.

Ready-made mushroom coffees usually combine instant coffee with mushroom powder. The amount of mushroom varies a lot between brands, and some don't state it per serving. That's the main reason people start making their own.

Why make your own?

• You choose the mushroom. One product for weekday mornings, another for the evening.
• You know the amount. One level teaspoon of Health Lovers powder is 2g of extract.
• You keep your coffee. Your usual beans, pods or instant all work.
• It costs less than you'd think. A 30-serving jar is £25.95, about 87p a serving.

Which mushroom for which cup?

If you're new to functional mushrooms and don't know where to start, the SuperBlend is the simplest choice: lion's mane, cordyceps and reishi together, 667mg of each per teaspoon.

How to make mushroom coffee

1. Brew your coffee as usual.
2. Add one level teaspoon (2g) of mushroom extract powder to the cup.
3. Stir well, or use a handheld milk frother for 10 seconds. The frother disperses it best.
4. Add milk, plant milk or sweetener to taste.

Iced mushroom coffee: dissolve the powder in a splash of hot water first, then add cold brew or chilled espresso, milk and ice.

Mushroom matcha: whisk the powder in with your matcha before adding hot water or milk.

The extract has already been through a hot-water extraction, so stirring it into freshly brewed coffee is fine.

How much should you add?

One 2g serving a day: one level teaspoon of powder, or two capsules if you'd rather swallow them alongside your coffee. Stick to the serving on the label, and if you use more than one product, count both.

Most people take it daily for two to four weeks before judging whether it suits them. More on that in how long mushroom supplements take to work.

Does mushroom coffee have less caffeine?

The mushrooms themselves contain no caffeine; the caffeine comes from the coffee. Ready-mixed mushroom coffees often use less coffee per serving, which is why some people find them gentler. When you make your own, the caffeine is whatever is in your usual cup.

For a lower-caffeine version, use half-caf or decaf. The European Food Safety Authority considers up to 400mg of caffeine a day safe for most adults, and up to 200mg a day during pregnancy.

If you're weighing a mushroom against coffee rather than adding it, see cordyceps vs coffee and lion's mane vs coffee.

What to look for in a mushroom extract for coffee

The coffee is the easy part; the extract decides what you're actually getting. Check for:

• Fruiting body only. Products made from mycelium grown on grain can be bulked out by the grain.
• A stated extract ratio. Ours is 16:1.
• The amount per serving. If a label doesn't say, you can't compare.
• Beta-glucan content. Ours is 35%+.
• Third-party testing. Ours is tested by Eurofins.
• Organic certification. Ours is BDA UK and EU organic.

Ready-made or homemade?

Is mushroom coffee safe?

Lion's mane, cordyceps and reishi are generally well tolerated in published studies. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication, have a medical condition, or have surgery coming up. For lion's mane specifically, read our guide to lion's mane side effects and dosage.

FAQs

Does mushroom coffee taste of mushrooms? Not really. Lion's mane is the mildest, cordyceps is slightly savoury, and reishi is the most bitter, which is why it suits a milky latte or hot chocolate.

Can I use instant or ground coffee? Either works. With instant, mix the powder in with the coffee granules before adding water.

Can I add it to decaf? Yes. Many people put reishi in an evening decaf.

Can I use capsules instead? Yes. Take two capsules with your coffee; it's the same extract and the same 2g serving.

Can I add it to tea or matcha? Yes, the powder works in any hot or cold drink.

Try it in tomorrow's coffee

Start with the 3 Mushroom SuperBlend powder: organic lion's mane, cordyceps and reishi fruiting-body extract in one teaspoon. Dual extracted at 16:1, 2g per serving, Eurofins tested, £25.95 for 30 servings.

Health Lovers products are food supplements. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.