Can you believe that the liquid magic potion that runs the majority of the world’s population can be improved?
Coffee has been devoured for several centuries but adding a bit of cordyceps does great for your body.
With medicinal mushrooms growing in popularity due to their health benefits, this combination is the perfect way to start your morning with a bang.
If you're thinking about adding cordyceps to your coffee routine, you're not alone. The cordyceps coffee industry has absolutely skyrocketed in the past two years.
In this article we'll take a look at what cordyceps coffee is, why people take it, and what the potential benefits are.
So grab a mug of your favorite brew and let's dive in:
What is cordyceps coffee?
Cordyceps coffee is a newer concept in the United States but has been around for quite some time. It was developed to improve the functionality and quality of coffee.
To be clear, there are two kinds of cordyceps coffee:
- A regular cup of coffee with cordyceps mushrooms added to it
- Cordyceps mushroom powder (or extract powder) that you add hot water to. Even though this is called 'cordyceps coffee' by some companies, it's really more like cordyceps tea.
Make sure you check your label so you can make sure you're buying what you think you're buying!
But you may be wondering, why do people drink cordyceps coffee?
The benefits of adding cordyceps to coffee
Thanks to medicinal mushrooms and cordyceps rising in popularity, their benefits are being studied more widely. Cordyceps is a type of fungus that is often consumed in the form of a supplement or added to foods and beverages, including coffee. Some people believe that consuming cordyceps has a range of health benefits, including improved energy levels, enhanced athletic performance, and a strengthened immune system.
Cordyceps have several potential health benefits, including:
- improved athletic performance
- increased energy
- anti-aging properties
- immune-boosting benefits
- anti-inflammatory properties
- Lower blood pressure
- And so much more
Several studies support these benefits, although the research is ongoing, particularly on humans.
However, it is important to note that these potential benefits are not well-established by scientific research and more study is needed to fully understand the effects of cordyceps on the human body.
Let's dive into some of the specific benefits of taking cordyceps with coffee in the morning:
1. Fatigue Fighting
In an animal study on mice, it was found that cordyceps induced fatigue recovery, a great benefit of consuming these mushrooms. It’s like getting that post-coffee energy boost without the coffee, and without the crash.
2. Increased Stamina
Several Chinese runners in the 1993 Beijing Olympics credited their gold medal success to cordyceps mushrooms–and began a worldwide boom in the fungi. Although it was later found out they were doping, several studies have found that these mushrooms may improve stamina and tolerance to high intensity exercise.
3. Anti-Aging
Because cordyceps have antioxidants, they have potential anti-aging benefits. Animal studies have shown that this is a possible benefit of cordyceps, but more research has to be conducted through human trials.
Combining a functional mushroom, like cordyceps, with coffee is sometimes referred to as 'functional coffee'. Functional coffee combines traditional coffee with natural bioactive compounds like cordycepin and beta-glucans.
It's worth noting that adding cordyceps to coffee or other foods does not necessarily make these foods "healthy". It is still important to consume a balanced diet and make lifestyle choices that promote overall health and well-being.
If you are interested in trying cordyceps, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before adding it to your diet. They can provide guidance on the appropriate dosage and help you understand any potential risks or interactions with medications you may be taking.
How to make cordyceps coffee
Now that we've covered some of the benefits, let's talk about the different types of cordyceps coffee in more detail.
There are several ways to add cordyceps to coffee. One option is to use cordyceps extract or powder, which can be mixed into the coffee grounds before brewing. Alternatively, you can add cordyceps supplements to your coffee after brewing. These supplements are often available in capsule form and can be opened and mixed into the coffee.
1. Cordyceps tea
Like we mentioned above, if you have cordyceps mushroom powder, or cordyceps extract powder, you can simply add hot water to it and call it 'cordyceps coffee'. But what you're really making here is cordyceps tea that's been rebranded as coffee.
Not everyone will enjoy the earthy and somewhat bitter taste of cordyceps powder steeped by itself. This is why many choose to add coffee to the mixture.
Adding coffee to cordyceps power can mask the earthy, bitter taste of the cordyceps while still giving you many of the same benefits.
2. How to add cordyceps powder to coffee
If you want to brew your cordyceps coffee at home, then all you need is your favorite coffee, powdered cordyceps, and a mug.
- Brew coffee to your liking! Fear not, adding cream, sugar, or any of your other favorite coffee additives shouldn't interfere with your cordyceps
- While your coffee is still piping hot, add your cordyceps powder. Mix!
- Let your coffee & cordyceps powder steep for at least 3-5 minutes before enjoying
Steeping the powdered, extracted, or raw cordyceps in hot water releases beneficial compounds and breaks down the outer layer of chitin, which must happen before consumption in order to get the full benefits.
3. How to add cordyceps tincture to coffee
Another way to add cordyceps to your morning brew is to add tincture instead of powdered extract. Cordyceps tinctures are usually combined with alcohol so try a few taste sips before you add multiple droppers.
The typical dosage for cordyceps tinctures is one full dropper (about 1 tsp).
Simply add to your coffee, mix, and enjoy!
Most cordyceps tinctures are already extracted and therefore, steeping is not as necessary as with powder.
We put together a list of the top tincture brands here.
4. Buy commercial coffee with cordyceps already added
For a more convenient approach that’s faster, pre-mixed powdered cordyceps coffee is available. In a 2019 study, cordyceps coffee containing cordycepin and b-glucan was evaluated.
Green coffee beans were mixed with extracts from three popular medicinal mushrooms (chaga, phellinus, and cordyceps).
Of the three, cordyceps coffee didn’t taste much different, and it still smelled like coffee. It also contained cordycepin and b-glucan.
Extracts in the form of a powder were mixed with water and the coffee beans immersed for three days to absorb the nutrients.
This powdered cordyceps coffee is sometimes sold with other mushrooms such as chaga and reishi to add even more nutrients to your morning brew. The added benefits of cordyceps and chaga support your body to avoid the annoying side effects such as the jitters and dreaded crash.
Since many commercial cordyceps coffees are a blend of mushroom extract and instant coffee, it tastes primarily like coffee.
In some cases, there is a little less caffeine in cordyceps coffee compared to a normal cup, making it okay for you to reach for that second cup.As with any supplement brand it's important to research the type of mushroom used, the ratio of fruiting body to mycelium, sourcing details, and the Certificate of Analysis (COA). Not all coffee supplement brands are created equal.
We put together a comprehensive list of the best mushroom coffee brands here.
What to look for in a cordyceps coffee product
When purchasing a cordyceps coffee product, it’s important to read the label in its entirety. Because supplements are not regulated like pharmaceutical drugs, it’s much easier to accidentally purchase a product that isn’t the best quality.
The shroom boom is introducing a ton of new cordyceps coffee products. Be sure to look for something with a great reputation, a published and recent COA, transparancy about their product, and mostly or all fruiting body.
1. Great brand reputation
With so many products out there that aren’t the highest caliber, knowing which are the best brands is key.
Not all mushroom products are the same, but we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best of the best such as Ryze Mushroom Coffee, an organic brand that customers rave about.
Their customer care team responded to us personally, confirming that they use 100% fruiting bodies–which we’ll cover in a minute.
2. A COA that shows safety & beneficial compound breakdowns
A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, gives the exact details about a product’s quality and compliance to specifications. The certificate contains the analytical result that supports the active ingredients that are on the product’s label.
Bonus points of some of those COA elements appear directly on the product's label.
Basically, it’s there to attest that it’s a legitimate product with quality ingredients. Some companies will have their COA’s on their website, but not all.
Most companies conduct their own internal testing but not all of them test for beta-glucans and terpenoids.
This is an example of a label that includes beta-glucan percentage as well as the mushroom blend.
3. Transparency in the growing & harvesting process
It’s also important to know the brand’s growing and harvesting process, because not all mushrooms are equal.
If a company plays coy about the source of their mushrooms or how they harvest them, it’s likely that their mushrooms aren’t of great quality.
Transparency is important, and any ethical company will have their practices on their website.
4. Mostly fruiting body
Now, we won't spend too long talking about fungi anatomy. But here's what you need to know. Many commercial products combine the fruiting body (the visible part of the mushroom, what you're used to seeing) with the mycelium (the root-like system). We won't go too deep into the pros and cons, but you're likely to get the most functional benefit from the fruiting body, as that's where most of the research has been focused.
Mycelium-based products have been studied much less, so we do recommend products with mostly fruiting body over mycelium. You may see companies labeling themselves as "full spectrum". This means they use mycelium as well.
If you can find a great product that uses 100% fruiting body -- that's probably going to be your best bet for the most benefit.
When purchasing a product, keep an eye out for products that contain both the fruiting body and mycelium, or just the fruiting body.
That's why we love Four Sigmatic which promises to only use 100% fruiting body in their mushroom coffee products.
5. The type of cordyceps
There are several types of cordyceps, but the most widely known are cordyceps sinensis and cordyceps militaris.
Caterpillar cordyceps found in the wild are extremely expensive because they are so rare, so any product that claims to contain wild cordyceps either doesn’t actually contain it or it’s a microscopic fraction.
Today, they are cultivated in a controlled environment and carefully monitored. Cordyceps militaris is much more common because they are easier to grow.
How to make your own functional coffee at home
If you want to brew your own functional mushroom coffee at home, you’re in luck! It’s quite easy and only involves a few simple steps. All you need is a few items that you probably already have: your favorite coffee, a top quality mushroom blend, tincture or extract, and a mug.
- First, brew your coffee per the instructions on the label, or however you prefer
- When the coffee is still hot, add the correct dosage of your mushroom product and stir
- Cover the coffee and steep for 3-5 minutes
- Enjoy!
Does cordyceps coffee have a taste?
Well yes…and no. It really depends on the brand and how you prepare it. Making your own cordyceps coffee gives you greater control over the taste since you can adjust accordingly with your own extract.
Most cordyceps coffee has a subtle, more nutty flavor that isn’t distracting from the coffee flavor. Cordyceps powder and tincture may have a strong earthy taste.
And depending on your tincture, it may have a very small amount of alcohol as well!
Cordyceps coffee has risen in popularity thanks to its many nutritional benefits. Finding the right recipe or mushroom blend may take some time, but once you finish experimenting you can just at least one cup of nutritional joe a day.
For a list of our most trusted cordyceps coffee brands, check out this article.
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