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Scientists, documentaries, health shops, and even social media ‘influencers’ have for a while now been promoting the power of mushrooms.

The little ‘fun-guys’ do have incredible healing potential, from the physical and mental therapeutic benefits they offer to the crucial role they play in our Earth’s ecosystem.

That 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi will tell you all about it.

Medicinal mushrooms have been used in countless cultures for thousands of years, so the benefits to modern users of the fungi are nothing new.

As a potent kind of plant medicine, “they help to support your immune system, create all-around homeostasis in your body, and help support your body with stress management,” notes Kimberly Snyder, a nutritionist, holistic wellness expert, and author via Augustman.

Naturally, okes are putting the magical stuff in their coffee now.

This might be a little bit of a chin-scratcher for those who are used to ordering their coffee from Deluxe Coffeeworks and enjoying their mushrooms only on pizza, but the caffeine alternative isn’t actually all that different from your usual brew.

Mushroom coffee is just like your usual morning cuppa, only supercharged:

“Mushroom coffee is essentially coffee with mushrooms — not just regular mushrooms, but medicinal, adaptogenic mushrooms that help with energy, focus, and stamina, so you get caffeine without the jitters which often impact your cortisol production,” explains Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., a double board-certified integrative and family medicine physician who specialises in functional and holistic medicine.

Cortisol is that pesky hormone associated with stress, FYI.

The taste is also not all that bizarre, with many describing mushroom coffee as being just a little bit more “earthy”.

In fact, when the mushroom powder is mixed with coffee beans, the flavour is closer to resembling actual coffee.

Making your own cup of mushroom coffee is as simple as mixing a mushroom coffee powder with water, or brewing the shrooms as you would with regular coffee.

This begs the question, is drinking mushrooms in the morning instead of your usual wake-up brew better?

Some of the more popular mushrooms used in coffee include reishi (immune system booster), lion’s mane (cognitive benefits), Chaga, and turkey tail, all of which have their own individual potential benefits.

This all sounds pretty positive, but more research is still needed to prove the health benefits of fungi:

“Despite all the health claims that are attributed to mushroom coffee, more peer-reviewed studies need to be conducted in order to assess and quantify its true health benefits,” explains Alice Figueroa, M.P.H., R.D.N., C.D.N., founder of Alice In Foodieland.

Then again, there’s no risk if you do choose to slurp on some shrooms:

“Although more research is needed to substantiate the health benefits of mushroom coffee, if you enjoy drinking it, then go for it,” says Figueroa. “It is generally regarded as a safe and nutritious drink, and it has a lower caffeine content than regular coffee, which may be beneficial for some.”

Besides having less caffeine, mushroom coffee can also be pricier than regular coffee.

If you’re someone who is sensitive to caffeine, this coffee alternative might be worth exploring. If you are someone who lives by the motto “MORE COFFEE MORE BETTER” then stick to the classics.

Deluxe Coffeeworks has you sorted on that front with its House Blend, boasting perfectly roasted beans from Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Brazil:

 

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Beans with those kinds of origins make for a full-bodied, bright coffee with an intense flavour, delicious aroma, and perfect finish.

The coffee grinders have also introduced other beans, including the Honduras Las Nubes coffee, the Peru Chanchamayo coffee, as well as the Ethiopia Kefa coffee.

Explore all that and more, while also bagging yourself some classic beans, on the Deluxe Coffeeworks website.

Mushrooms are cool, but when the grind is real, the grind has to be real.

Otherwise, you could easily get yourself some mushies and add them to your brew. Up to you.

[source:augustman]