What is Mushroom Coffee?

By MaryKate
Doran
02/06/2026

Consumers want more from their morning coffee than caffeine alone. Discover why mushroom coffee is resonating with wellness-focused buyers.

Key Takeaways

The global mushroom coffee market size was estimated at $2.71 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $4.12 billion by 2030.
The first documented instance of mushrooms being used as a coffee substitute occurred in World War II Europe, when coffee beans were scarce and rationed.
Unsubstantiated and uncompliant claims made by some poorly formulated mushroom coffee products offer brand owners an opportunity to develop a superior product with substantiated claims.
Mushrooms commonly used in mushroom coffee include Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, and Turkey Tail.
Research shows benefits associated with using a specific blend of medicinal mushrooms.

Due to rising interest among consumers, one of the most common questions we’ve been getting lately from aspiring and relatively new dietary supplement brand owners is “What is mushroom coffee?” Mushroom coffee is a beverage that combines ground coffee beans (or coffee extract) with functional mushroom extracts such as Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Maitake.

Once we explain what mushroom coffee is, the follow-up question we often get is “What is mushroom coffee good for?” Alongside the energy and alertness associated with coffee, functional mushrooms are traditionally used to support focus, stress resilience, and immune health. Mushroom coffee may also contain half (or less) of the caffeine found in regular coffee, while still delivering a smoother lift.

The global mushroom coffee market size was estimated at $2.71 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $4.12 billion by 2030, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. ¹ Demand continues to climb as consumers seek functional beverages that balance taste, wellness positioning, and more mindful caffeine intake.

In this article, you’ll learn the origins of mushroom coffee and how it evolved into a mainstream functional beverage. You’ll also get expert formulation guidance, a breakdown of the most used mushrooms (and their key health benefits), and an overview of how an experienced supplement contract manufacturer, like Vitaquest, typically produces powdered mushroom coffee at scale.

The Origins of Mushroom Coffee

Historical Background:

Mushrooms have a long history of traditional use across many cultures, with some practices dating back more than 5,000 years. ² The concept of using mushrooms as a coffee substitute emerged in World War II Europe, when coffee beans were scarce and rationed. In Finland, people brewed chaga because its dark, steeped liquid resembled coffee and helped stretch limited supplies. ³

Modern Popularity:

The category as we know it today began gaining traction in the 2010s, when Finnish entrepreneur Tero Isokauppila launched a brand that paired medicinal mushroom extracts with coffee. ⁴ Over the past decade, this beverage format has expanded beyond Finland and niche wellness communities into mainstream retail, e-commerce, and global specialty beverage markets. ⁵

Cultural Adoption:

Several reasons have contributed to the cultural adoption of mushroom coffee, including:

Perceived health and function benefits ⁶
The idea of balanced, smooth energy ⁷
Cognitive and stress-related claims ⁸
Immune and antioxidant interest ⁹
Lifestyle/wellness trends ¹⁰
Lower acidity and tolerability ¹¹

Overall, consumers have embraced mushroom coffee for its perceived wellness benefits, smoother caffeine experience, and alignment with modern lifestyle and wellness trends. ¹²

Formulation Advice for Mushroom Coffee

There is a clear opportunity for brand owners to add this type of functional beverage to their product line, but it must be formulated correctly to avoid common pitfalls.

One of the biggest issues in the current market is the use of exaggerated, unsubstantiated marketing claims, especially on social media. For example, a popular brand has promoted claims like “No More Inflammation,” which raises multiple concerns from both a scientific and regulatory standpoint. In many cases, these products do not provide clinically relevant doses of the mushrooms listed on the label, nor do they use well-researched extract forms. As a result, the claims are difficult to support and may create unnecessary compliance risk.

The good news is that these missteps create an opportunity for brand owners who take a more evidence-based approach. By using clinically relevant doses of mushroom extracts that have been studied in human research, you can build a formula that supports credible, defensible structure/function messaging.

What Are the Key Mushrooms Typically Used in Mushroom Coffee?

When evaluating what is in mushroom coffee and what the benefits of mushroom coffee are, it helps to look beyond the coffee base and focus on the functional mushroom blend.

Most formulas combine coffee beans (or coffee extract) with mushroom extracts or powders selected for their wellness-supporting properties. Common options include Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, and Turkey Tail.

Mushroom	Active Compounds	Benefits
Lion’s Mane Mushroom	Hericenones and erinacines	Supports cognitive function (working memory, complex attention, and reaction time), mood, and happiness.
Chaga Mushroom	Polysaccharides, polyphenols and melanin	May support the modulation of immune signaling and act as an antioxidant against any free radicals.
Reishi Mushroom	Beta-glucans and triterpenes	Antioxidant support, and support for immune, cardiovascular, prostate, blood pressure, and liver health.
Cordyceps Mushroom	Nucleosides (e.g., cordycepin), polysaccharides, sterols, and D-mannitol	Support for cellular immunological function, quality of life, liver health, and possibly athletic endurance.
Maitake Mushroom	Beta-glucan	Supports healthy blood glucose levels already in a normal range, ovarian health, and may help reduce body weight.
Turkey Tail	Polysaccharides	Helps maintain cellular health in different tissues, including those of the breast, esophagus, stomach, lungs, liver, colon, and nasopharyngeal area

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What Are the Health Benefits of Mushroom Coffee?

Medicinal mushrooms have a growing body of research supporting their role in overall health and wellness. Studies suggest benefits across multiple areas, including cognitive function, mood, immune health (including antioxidant activity), cardiovascular support, prostate health, healthy blood pressure, liver health, ovarian health, and the maintenance of cellular health in different tissues.

Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

Lion’s Mane contains key compounds, including hericenones and erinacines, which have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, an important mechanism linked to brain and autonomic nervous system function.¹³

Research has shown that supplementation with this mushroom helped maintain and promote cognitive function ¹⁴ ¹⁵ and a more balanced mood. ¹⁶ In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ¹⁷, 1 gram daily of a specific Lion’s Mane extract improved various parameters on cognitive tests and improved subjective ratings of “happiness compared to peers” and “getting the most out of everything”. In short, Lion’s Mane helped improve working memory, complex attention, reaction time 2 hours post-ingestion, and perceptions of happiness.

Health Benefits of Chaga Mushrooms

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) contains polysaccharides, polyphenols, and melanin, which have demonstrated antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress in human cells in vitro. ¹⁸ Additional research suggests Chaga’s bioactive compounds may influence immune signaling and inflammatory pathways in cell and animal models, including effects on cytokines and free radicals. ¹⁹ However, there are currently no controlled human clinical trials, so brands should be cautious and conservative when positioning Chaga-related benefits. ²⁰

Health Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for more than 2,000 years and is often associated with longevity and vitality. ²¹

The Chinese name ling zhi translates as the “herb of spiritual potency” and was highly prized as an important longevity elixir. ²² In TCM, it is used for general fatigue, sleep support, and respiratory health. ²³ Reishi’s primary active constituents include polysaccharides (such as beta-glucans) and triterpenes. ²⁴ ²⁵ ²⁶

Research suggests Reishi extracts may provide antioxidant and immune-modulating effects ²⁷, along with support for cardiovascular wellness, prostate health ²⁸, healthy blood pressure levels already in a normal range ²⁹, and healthy liver function. ³⁰

Health Benefits of Cordyceps Mushrooms

Cordyceps has a long history of traditional use, with early documentation dating back roughly 1,500 years in western China. ³¹ Research suggests Cordyceps may support immune function through mechanisms such as increasing T helper cells ³², enhancing natural killer cell activity ³³ ³⁴, stimulating blood mononuclear cells ³⁵, increase levels of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1, ³⁶ and prolong the survival of lymphocytes. ³⁷ Key compounds include nucleosides (e.g., cordycepin), polysaccharides, sterols, and D-mannitol. ³⁸

Human research on Cordyceps suggests that supplementation may promote cellular immunological function, support quality of life ³⁹, support liver health ⁴⁰ ⁴¹, and possibly promote athletic endurance. ⁴²

Health Benefits of Maitake Mushrooms

Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) contain the polysaccharide beta-glucan, the D-fraction of which appears to be the most active and potent form. In TCM, it is known as the “dancing mushroom”, since legend holds that those who found it began dancing with joy. ⁴³ Traditionally used as a tonic and adaptogen, Maitake has been studied in humans for supporting healthy blood glucose levels already within a normal range. ⁴⁴ Research also suggests potential benefits for ovarian health in women ⁴⁵, as well as promote healthy body weight management. ⁴⁶

Health Benefits of Turkey Tail

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms, with longstanding use across China and Japan. ⁴⁷ It contains polysaccharide compounds that have demonstrated immunomodulating activity, including support for healthy white blood cell function, natural killer cell activity, and antibody levels. Research also suggests certain Turkey Tail compounds may help support cellular health across multiple tissue types, including those of the breast, esophagus, stomach, lungs, liver, colon, and nasopharyngeal region. ⁴⁸ ⁴⁹ ⁵⁰ ⁵¹ ⁵² ⁵³ ⁵⁴ ⁵⁵ ⁵⁶ ⁵⁷ ⁵⁸ ⁵⁹ ⁶⁰ ⁶¹ ⁶²

Health Benefits of Mushroom Combinations

It should be noted that there can be a benefit of combining mushrooms together, as might be found in a mushroom coffee formulation. There may be added value in combining multiple mushroom species within a single formulation.

One study ⁶³ compared seven mushroom species individually and as a combined blend to evaluate immune-related outcomes. The mushrooms included Maitake, Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps sinensis, Phellinus linteus, and Agaricus blazei. Results showed the seven-species blend increased immune cells by 97.6%, while individual species increased immune cells by 53–92.9%. This supports the concept that blended mushroom formulas may offer broader immune-support benefits than single-mushroom approaches.

How Is Mushroom Coffee Made?

Sourcing and Extracting Mushrooms

Depending on the mushroom species, ingredients may be wild-harvested from natural habitats (forests, birch trees, alpine regions, etc.) or cultivated under controlled conditions using wood logs, sterilized grain or sawdust, or liquid fermentation (mycelium culture). After harvesting, mushrooms may undergo hot water extraction to yield compounds such as polysaccharides or alcohol (ethanol) extraction to yield compounds such as triterpenes, hericenones, phenolics, and sterols.

Blending with Coffee

In most commercial formulations, instant coffee powder (often made from roasted Arabica coffee beans) is blended with whole mushroom powder or mushroom extract powders. Before blending, both powders are typically milled and sieved to achieve similar particle sizes, which helps improve flowability, bulk density, and moisture control. This reduces ingredient separation during shipping and supports more consistent dosing per scoop or sachet. Blending is commonly performed using ribbon blenders, V-blenders, or tumble blenders.

Flavor and Taste

Traditional coffee has brighter acidity (especially lighter roasts), noticeable bitterness from caffeine and roasted compounds, and aromatic notes such as fruit, chocolate, caramel, and nuts. When brewed properly, it often has a clean finish. In comparison, mushroom-infused blends tend to have less sharp acidity, smoother and rounder bitterness, and more earthy, woody, or savory undertones. Many consumers are surprised that well-formulated products typically do not taste strongly like mushrooms.

Quality Control and Safety Testing

As with any dietary supplement product, quality control testing is essential. Ingredient identity and potency testing confirm that each ingredient is the correct mushroom species and contains the intended key compounds at appropriate levels. Microbiological testing helps verify that the product does not contain unsafe levels of microorganisms such as E. coli. Heavy metal testing for lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic should also be performed. Testing is typically conducted through the quality systems of a GMP-certified contract manufacturer and may also be supported by qualified third-party laboratories.

Packaging and Storage Considerations

Mushroom coffee blends can be more sensitive than traditional coffee due to the presence of coffee components and bioactive mushroom compounds. To protect the product from oxygen, moisture, light, and heat, several supplement packaging design formats are commonly used.

For example, stand-up pouches offer a strong barrier, are lightweight, cost-effective, and resealable for consumers. Rigid canisters or jars, often made from HDPE plastic, provide strong physical protection and a premium appearance. Single-serve stick packs or sachets can offer precise dosing, strong freshness protection, and often the longest practical shelf life.

Conclusion

This article answered one of the most common questions we hear from new and aspiring supplement business owners: “What is mushroom coffee?”

We explored its historical roots and its evolution into a modern functional beverage. You also learned expert formulation best practices, the most commonly used mushrooms and their wellness-supporting benefits, and how contract manufacturers typically produce powdered mushroom coffee through sourcing, extraction, blending, testing, and packaging.

Now it’s time to choose the right manufacturing partner. While a capsule supplements manufacturer or tablet supplements manufacturer may support certain product formats, mushroom coffee is ultimately a powdered product, which means you need a proven powder supplement manufacturer with the right equipment, QA systems, and packaging capabilities. In most cases, working with experienced powder manufacturers is the smartest path to a consistent, scalable, market-ready product.

Are you ready to custom manufacture a powdered mushroom coffee supplement with Vitaquest? Call 800-526-9095 to speak with one of our knowledgeable production specialists or request a competitive nutraceutical manufacturing price quote if you’ve already finalized your project requirements!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mushroom Coffee Supplements

What does mushroom coffee taste like?

Mushroom coffee has less acidity, smoother, rounder bitterness, more earthy, woody, or savory undertones, and often a softer finish with less bite than regular coffee. If well formulated, it doesn’t taste like mushrooms or soup.

What is the point of mushroom coffee?

In addition to the general energy-promoting effects of coffee, the mushroom part of this beverage can support cognitive function, mood, immune health (including antioxidant activity), cardiovascular, prostate, healthy blood pressure levels already in a normal range, liver health, ovarian health, and maintaining cellular health in different tissues, depending upon the mushrooms used in the formulation.

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MaryKate

Doran

Product Development Scientist II

MaryKate Doran, Product Development Scientist II at Vitaquest, has spent the past four years contributing to the company’s product development team. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Montclair State University and brings a strong foundation in formulation and ingredient science. MaryKate focuses on developing innovative supplement concepts that align with both industry standards and consumer trends, supporting brand partners in creating high-quality products for the marketplace.