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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Contents
By
Ru Chen
Key Takeaways
Mushroom coffee has surged in popularity, but a lot of people are hesitant to try a sip because they worry it’s like mushroom soup. Truth is, its flavor is wildly misunderstood. You can have mild blends taste like smooth and silky mochas, but you can also have acidic and bitter brews. Understanding how mushrooms and sweeteners impact taste can help you find a perfectly delicious cup of mushroom coffee.
This mushroom coffee guide will teach you how different factors impact the flavor of mushroom coffee, such as the mushroom type and roast level.
Mushroom coffee combines a powdered mushroom extract with a coffee base (usually Arabica beans or instant coffee).
Mushroom coffee aims to provide functional health benefits and an energy boost with fewer jitters. Ideal effects include:
Mushroom coffee incorporates mushroom varieties such as Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps. The type and quality of mushrooms in the powder determine the possible effects.
Now, let’s dive into the question of what does mushroom coffee taste like?
If you’ve seen a regular coffee flavor wheel, you’ll know that coffee can taste like anything from blueberry to maple syrup. Since mushroom coffee is more niche, you can expect the following flavor types.
Mushroom coffee is often described as earthy. It’s a savory, rich flavor that might even be described as leathery or dirt-like. A lot of regular coffee beans that are dried on earth instead of stone or wood can have an earthy taste. Mushroom coffee generally has an earthiness to it, which can be surprising at first until you get used to it.
Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane can have a nutty taste, reminiscent of hazelnut and almonds. Hazelnut lattes are very popular, so if you enjoy those, you might also enjoy Lion’s Mane coffee.
Some mushroom coffee has a woody taste, which may be due to the type of roast or mushroom chosen. This can be unsettling if you’ve never had a woody cup of coffee before, but nature-lovers often enjoy woody notes. It has a special cozy feeling to it.
If you don’t know what’s umami, it is the fifth basic flavor or taste. The five flavors are sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory (AKA umami). A lot of mushroom coffee blends are rich in umami.
Sadly, Candycap, a famous dessert mushroom that tastes like maple syrup, is not used in mushroom coffee. As such, it’s difficult to create naturally sweet mushroom coffee. If you want to minimize the bitterness or earthiness of mushroom coffee, you can use sweeteners or creamer to balance out the flavor.
Smooth coffee is usually of a darker roast level and better brew. Everything is better balanced. If the coffee isn’t blended well enough, you can get gritty or grainy coffee.
Mushroom coffee usually comes in a pre-ground and powdered form. Higher quality mushroom coffee, after blending, will result in a smoother mouthfeel.
Let’s go over what you can expect mushroom coffee to taste like based on what mushrooms are used. We’ll also discuss the potential benefits of each mushroom.
The most popular mushroom for coffee is the Lion’s Mane. It’s a white, fluffy mushroom with a mild, slightly nutty taste. Some lion’s mane mushroom coffee brands have an umami note to add depth.
Most people who drink mushroom coffee for the first time will choose a mild-tasting mushroom coffee, such as the Lionâs Mane mushroom coffee from Atlas+.
Why Lion’s Mane: It’s been shown to have beneficial effects on stress and mood.
The Chaga mushroom has a woody and earthy, if slightly bitter, flavor. It tastes a lot like dark chocolate, so if you love mochas, Chaga mushroom coffee might be for you. Some Chaga mushrooms even have a hint of vanilla bean.
Why Chaga: Rich in antioxidants. Commonly used to boost immunity and lower cholesterol.
Reishi is somewhat polarizing in terms of taste since it has a bitter medicinal edge. The sharpness adds intensity, which is why Reishi is often only used in small amounts to round out the brew.
Reishi isn’t meant to be consumed heavily every day, but can be a great source of relaxation and health benefits once in a while.
Why Reishi: Reishi can enhance the immune system and promote stress relaxation. Many people report improved sleep after consuming Reishi supplements.
Cordyceps mushrooms have a slightly savory taste. It has a clean, light umami note that is not overpowering.
Why Cordyceps: Cordyceps has been shown to improve heart health while enhancing energy levels.
These two mushrooms are both less common in coffee, though they are popular in the culinary world. They have a broth-like umami taste that adds complexity when used in mushroom coffee.
Why Turkey Tail or Maitake: They have been used in medicine due to their immunosupportive qualities and other benefits. While more studies need to be performed to see if these benefits extend to mushroom coffee, the mushrooms themselves have a long history of medicinal use.
If you aren’t enthused about the mushroom taste, rest assured that there are plenty of mushroom coffee brands that mask the shroominess very well.
Coffee can be roasted from light to dark. The roast level can mask or complement the mushroom flavors, so mushroom coffee companies choose the roast carefully depending on the mushroom extracts.
A dark roast is richer and more robust. It is more effective at masking heavy mushroom flavors, so if you prefer a more traditional coffee experience, you might want to opt for a dark roast mushroom coffee.
A light roast tends to be clearer, which means it can’t mask the earthy or woody notes of mushrooms as well. If you want to try the diverse range of mushroom flavors in coffee, try a lighter roast so you can better enjoy the fascinating flavor profiles.
If you want something in between, or just aren’t sure, a medium roast is the way to go. It provides a more harmonious introduction to mushroom coffee by softening bitter edges without masking all of the intriguing notes.
Around 18% of coffee drinkers drink their coffee black. It’s hard to say how many mushroom coffee drinkers drink their brews black, but it’s easy to imagine a similarly low percentage.
Plenty of coffee drinkers swear by their favorite sweeteners and creamers. Even the milk choice for a latte can make a big flavor difference. Let’s go over the natural pairings with mushroom coffee that many people will enjoy.
Cacao is a classic flavor often associated with traditional coffee roasts. It also adds smoothness to the mushroom coffee. Cacao is best with the more bitter mushrooms, like Chaga and Reishi, making them more palatable without clashing with the natural taste.
Cinnamon has the taste of a pleasant, warm spice. It can balance out the bitterness found in some mushroom coffee. Cinnamon is particularly effective in cold weather, making mushroom coffee into a cozier brew.
Vanilla is an excellent sweetener to pair with mushroom coffee. It’s sweet and aromatic, making it wonderful for those who want to sweeten their mushroom coffee latte. It is best with a milder mushroom, like Lion’s Mane.
Chicory root is a functional food that tastes like coffee with a woody note. Research has shown that chicory root fiber may even have numerous health benefits, such as constipation relief, weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and more.
Tip for first-time triers: We recommend a flavored mushroom coffee so it tastes gentler and more familiar. A plant-based milk may also help you balance out the bold flavors. Monk fruit and honey are other popular sweeteners.
Like with wine, taking the proper steps to enjoy mushroom coffee lets you truly savor the brew. Mindfulness has been shown by researchers to be effective against psychological distress.
Here’s a step-by-step tasting guide on how to taste mushroom coffee.
Before you even take a sip, take a moment to breathe in the aroma of the mushroom coffee. Think about what descriptors you would use for what you smell.
It’s important to smell before drinking because smell plays a vital role in how deeply we can savor what we consume. Commonly used descriptors for how mushroom coffee smells are:
But don’t let our adjectives influence you! Really stay in the moment and see–or smell–for yourself.
After you’ve noted the aroma of the mushroom coffee, you can take a small sip. Let the drops of mushroom coffee coat your tongue and notice the initial impression of flavor. Is it a burst of flavor, or a subtle taste that grows stronger? Is it bitter or sweet, acidic or smooth?
You don’t need to rush. Take your time as you judge the taste. Initial impressions can change all the time. You don’t even have to decide whether you like it or not. Mushroom coffee may be an acquired taste for some.
The taste profile of the mushroom coffee may change as it stays in your mouth longer. You might find the notes of mushroom to be more obvious as they emerge from the brew. Does it taste earthy, bitter, or sweet? How does that mushroom taste interact with the taste of the coffee base? Can you discern whether the coffee complements or masks the mushroom flavor?
If you purchased a mushroom coffee with special additions, like a matcha mushroom coffee powder, you may notice other flavors too.
The aftertaste is what lingers after you’ve swallowed the mushroom coffee. This is when you can best notice whether the brew is clean and smooth or dry and bitter. If there is cinnamon or other spices added, you may notice a lasting warmth or sweetness.
A sign of good mushroom coffee is that the aftertaste shouldn’t be excessively bitter. It should linger with a pleasant, light aftertaste.
There are four main things that make a cup mushroom coffee flavor-balanced:
Harmony: Do the coffee and the mushroom blend well together?
Complexity: Are there complex flavors within the mushroom coffee, different notes surfacing as you let the flavors settle?
Smoothness: Some people really dislike harsh, acidic coffee (regardless of mushroom presence). A well balanced cup of mushroom coffee shouldn’t be overpoweringly acidic.
Mouthfeel: Most people dislike grainy or gritty mouthfeels, preferring smooth coffee. The grind size and powder fineness directly affect the mouthfeel of the mushroom coffee. Finer, higher quality extract of mushroom coffee will produce better, smoother mouthfeels.
As you drink more mushroom coffee (or regular coffee), you’ll learn more about your personal taste preferences. This will help you significantly in the world of coffee.
Mushroom coffee is an exciting adventure with many flavors to be explored. It can be complex, umami-rich, and grounding. However, it’s important to understand the basic flavor profiles of the mushroom coffee you purchase since the flavors can vary greatly.
Start your journey today by sampling one of our curated mushroom coffee blends. Choose between Lion’s Mane, Reishi, or Chaga to adjust your flavor and overall experience. Jot down notes and savor any differences until you find the perfect brew.
Ru Chen
Content Writer
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
