Mushroom-coffee may replace latte and cappuccino in 2022

During World War II, food shortages forced the Finnish to get crafty with what they ate and drank: Eggs, milk, butter, grains, sugar, and coffee all had to be rationed. 

Now the Finnish food company Four Sigmatic wants the world to rethink drinking coffee again, this time without the threat of Nazi occupation. 

“Finnish people used chaga mushroom, native to our country, as a coffee substitute during World War II,” said Tero Isokauppila, founder of Four Sigmatic. “To our knowledge, our grandparents invented the concept of using chaga as a coffee substitute.”

Four Sigmatic has spearheaded the global mushroom movement, predicted to exceed $50 billion by 2022. It’s credited for bringing medicinal mushrooms into the American consciousness along with a slew of other trendy “self-care” and “mindfulness” products.

When bold, independent products start coloring the health food aisles, I’m usually cynical. I worked in the health and nutrition space for several years and saw how copy, marketing, and pretty packaging can mold the mind of consumers like Play-Doh. But I brewed my first cup of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee last March, and have since tried many similar products including MUD\WTR, Laird Superfood ”performance” mushrooms, and Teeccino mushroom herbal tea. So far, mushrooms feel different. I’m not saying all the elixirs, drinks, and powders are worth their occasionally outrageous price points. But the health benefits are promising. 

And this movement may very well replace coffee in the next 10 years.

The health benefits

Marketing tends to muddy new health trends. Products will proudly brag about  “adaptogens,” “antioxidants,” and other buzzwords, knowing most consumers don’t really know what they mean. They’re immediately associated with generic health, despite the lack of proof.

The same challenge exists with mushrooms. There are a select few I’ve found to be consistently studied and generally considered safe and sustainable.

Lion’s mane mushroom

With a long history of medicinal use in Asia, North America, and Europe, lion’s mane is becoming one of the more well-known mushrooms. In human studies, lion’s mane extract has been shown to be better than placebos in improving mild cognitive impairment and in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Chaga mushroom

Typically ground into a fine powder and then brewed as a tea, chaga is also thought to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Chaga is high in fiber, B-complex vitamins, vitamin D, potassium, and a wide variety of other vitamins, nutrients, and minerals.

Cordyceps, maitake, reishi

All three of these mushrooms are becoming mainstream, and they’re often found in teas and supplement powders.

There have been clinical trials of reishi in immunity and Alzheimer’s disease, involving only a few dozen patients. Scientists are studying cordyceps to see whether they could potentially reduce the spread of cancerous cells. The science is still out on these mushrooms, however, and it will take more research before we can know if they can help improve cognition or alleviate illness.

How they taste

Don’t expect anything like the grilled portobellos you’re used to. In liquid form, mushrooms tend to be on the blander side with hints of soil — the taste heavily relies on additional ingredients. Four Sigmatic chaga coffee is pretty bitter and earthy. MUD\WTR adds cacao and cinnamon to mask some of the harsher tones of their products. Teeccino is one of the better options I’ve tried, mixing ingredients like fig, chicory root, rose petals, and dates for a subtly sweeter option.

What to buy

Before purchasing a mushroom supplement, be sure to read the label. Some brands will make proprietary blends with a combination of different ingredients.

Rashmi Mullur, an integrative endocrinologist at UCLA Health in Southern California, said this will produce inconsistent results. 

“Some people may feel better. Some people may not feel a difference,” she said. “It’s hard to know if it’s going to clinically result in any improvement.”

Pay attention to the type of mushrooms used and if they are in an extract (which is highly potent and more easily absorbed in the body) or in powder form.

Make sure you know how much you’re ingesting. A cup of Four Sigmatic’s ground mushroom coffee contains 250 milligrams of lion’s mane. But Peter Gold, a practitioner of naturopathic medicine, recommended a daily dosage of at least 750 milligrams as an extract or 3,000 milligrams in powder form.

And always do your research before you buy or consume mushroom supplements.

The future is fungus

Many boutique cafes have already started serving coffee alternatives like turmeric lattes and matcha, so don’t be surprised if mushroom coffee is the next wave. Alfred Coffee in Los Angeles already offers consumers a “Chagaccino” blend. Four Sigmatic’s mushroom coffee mix is the best-selling instant coffee on Amazon. The company  even has a Shroom Room, which is used as a showroom for Four Sigmatic’s mushroom products.

Though the research on modern medicinal mushrooms needs to catch up to and verify the lofty claims, the potential for market share is there.