Will we drink mushroom coffee instead of espresso? Bookmakers are betting that the new drink will be one of the crazes of the year that has just begun. On paper it has what it takes to be one: it promises benefits for the skin, the cardiovascular system, the intestine and more. Plus mushroom coffee is also good (at least according to some)
What is mushroom coffee
In appearance very similar to coffee, mushroom coffee sIt is obtained by combining coffee bean powder and dehydrated mushrooms of various types. The most used are mushrooms Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps, alone or mixed. They are among the varieties that have been around for some time now Traditional Chinese Medicine includes among those curative for their antioxidant power, and therefore effective against different types of disorders and pathologies, ranging from a decline in immune defenses to difficulty concentrating and asthenia, but also cholesterol and diabetes.
Because mushroom coffee is considered a cure-all
Mushroom coffee has existed for some time, but now it has returned to the fore for various reasons, evidently thanks to the widespread culture of well-being (and performance) in which nutrition has taken on a central role. A trend that has been insistently placing emphasis on those for several years “superfoods” rich in active ingredients with positive effects on health have become essential ingredients of a long list of products that have multiplied together with demand. A list where in first place – due to their ease of hiring – there are preparations for drinks, i.e. powders with a high concentration of beneficial molecules extracted from these foods. Do you know Jennifer Aniston’s collagen coffee? Mushroom coffee fits right into this trend and – despite no famous testimonials – has become equally popular first of all in the United States and thanks to social media.
Mushroom coffee on social media
At the time of writing I am around 70 thousand posts with the hashtag #mushroomcoffee on Instagram, and over 41 million views for dedicated content with the same topic on TikTok. Photos and videos showing how mushroom coffee is prepared, and in which influencers or common users praise its qualities, most of the time highlighting sachets and jars of various brands and therefore with the doubt that they are advertising.
What is mushroom coffee like and how much does it cost
Many say they prefer mushroom coffee to normal coffee due to the reduced caffeine content, which allows you to drink it several times a day without running risks without giving up the strength of a normal espresso or lungo: this is thanks to mushrooms, which among others also have energizing properties. Taste, however, doesn’t please everyone: There are also some funny videos with disgusted reactions when tasting it. Moreover, it is difficult to reach a unanimous opinion, also because mushroom coffee can have different flavors depending on the way in which it is produced, and therefore on the brand. Furthermore, it is not for everyone, and this is due to the cost: sometimes it even reaches 70 euros per kilo.
Is mushroom coffee really good for you?
If it is true that mushrooms have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, it is equally true that Western science, however, has not yet clarified its benefits. Studies are still few, mostly conducted in laboratories, and do not concern all 12 varieties that oriental doctors consider effective for treatment and prevention. Scientists certainly agree on the fact that no food alone can provide benefits, and that it is always the diet as a whole that makes the real difference. In the meantime, why not try? Like it or not, we still remain in doubt whether mushroom coffee can replace our beloved espresso.
