How To Make Mushroom Coffee? – Easy Guide | SolidGrounds
Mushroom coffee, made by blending functional mushrooms like chaga and lion’s mane with coffee beans, has surged in popularity for its touted benefits including boosted energy, cognitive function, and immunity. Guides emphasize maximizing wellness perks by choosing mushroom varieties strategically – lion’s mane for brain boosts, chaga for antioxidants, cordyceps for energy enhancement. Brewing the perfect customized cup means buying mushrooms dried, measuring powders per cup, combining with medium roast coffee beans in an airtight container, then grinding and brewing the mix in your coffee maker of choice.
Tweak mushrooms used, ratios and extras like MCT oil to taste. Sipped daily, compounds like polysaccharides and enzymes regulate blood sugar, inflammation, nerve growth and stress over time. Beyond bitterness deterring some, alternatives like mushroom matcha, medicinal mushroom tea, or mushroom cocoa utilize mushrooms’ brothy flavor in soothing, wellness-promoting drinks minus coffee. Whatever the preparation, mushroom beverages deliver simple yet potent prevention and protection.
The Rising Trend of Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee – infusing coffee beans with chopped medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane and chaga – has exploded in popularity over recent years. With reported benefits like increased energy, enhanced cognitive function, and immunity support, it’s no wonder people are putting fungi in their morning cup of joe. The 2023 functional food trends report by Whole Foods even flagged mushroom coffee as one of the top 10 rising food items to watch.
By blending the earthy, adaptogen-rich properties of mushrooms with coffee’s signature caffeine kick, you get an elevated brew uniquely equipped to start your day feeling balanced, energized and focused. Read on for a thorough guide into the world of mushroom coffee from special ingredients to customizing the perfect cup just for you.
Mushroom Varieties and Benefits
Not all fungi are created equal when it comes to coffee blends. Choosing specific mushroom types and understanding their superpowers ensures your homemade mushroom coffee mix provides targeted wellness perks.
Lion’s Mane: This shaggy nootropic mushroom contains bioactive compounds like hericenones shown in emerging research to support cognitive function, memory and nerve growth. Blending lion’s mane into coffee aims to amplify concentration alongside caffeine.
Chaga: A bark-dwelling fungus hailed for its sky-high antioxidant content, chaga imparts anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It also contains enzymes shown in 2023 clinical trials to help modulate blood sugar response from carb-heavy foods like an A.M caffeine hit.
Cordyceps: Valued in Chinese medicine for centuries as an athletic performance enhancer and libido lift, science now backs cordyceps’ energy-boosting abilities through increases physical endurance and ATP production. Think of it as a natural matcha alternative minus the grassy taste.
Reishi: This subtly bitter red mushroom contributes the adaptogen ganoderic acid credited with moderating stress response and regulating immune function. It makes a harmonious addition to balance caffeine’s stimulating effects without dulling them.
Brewing the Perfect Cup
While specialty mushroom coffee blends exist, D-I-Y allows you to control variety, ratio and flavor intensity. Start by selecting your preferred mushrooms and shop for corresponding dried powder supplements. Measure out desired quantities per cup and combine with coffee beans in a sealed container. For richer flavor complexity, opt for medium roasts like Colombian or Guatemalan.
Use a clean coffee grinder dedicated exclusively to mushrooms for finely pulverized powder. This prevents unpleasant grainy texture in your brew. Always grind beans fresh before brewing as well. Store sealed mushroom coffee mixture in a cool, dark space and use within 1-2 months for optimal freshness before flavors deteriorate.
Brew your special mushroom blend just like regular coffee via drip machine, French press or whatever your usual preparation. Customize to taste by tweaking mushroom variety, ratio and optional mix-in enhancements like MCT oil or collagen peptides. Expect an earthy, mildly mushroom-forward flavor profile complementing coffee’s inherent aroma beautifully.
The Benefits of Daily Use
While instant benefits like energy promotion are noticeable immediately, several research-backed advantages accumulate over consistent daily use thanks to compounds like antioxidants, polyphenols and polysaccharides unique to mushrooms.
Immunity & Anti-Inflammation Support: Regular mushroom coffee supplies key nutrients and plant chemicals that fortify immune response and tamp down systemic inflammation tied to chronic diseases.
Neuroprotective Effects: Lion’s mane and other nootropic mushroom components stimulate nerve growth factor crucial for maintaining cognitive health and function over time.
Blood Sugar & Cholesterol Regulation: Specific mushroom enzymes and plant sterols help moderate glucose absorption and promote cardiovascular wellness.
Stress Adaptation: Mushrooms buffer stress hormone production and reactive oxygen species providing greater resilience over time.
Alternative Mushroom Beverages
For those who dislike bitterness, try substituting coffee entirely with lower-acid options that allow mushroom flavor to shine. Mushroom matcha offers similar amino acid content to standard matcha with an ultra-savory, brothy twist. You can also simply infuse chopped or powdered functional mushrooms into piping hot water for a soothing, medicinal tea.
And for an indulgent dessert-like adaptation, make hot cocoa with antioxidant-rich cacao powder and creamy melted coconut milk laced with sweet reishi or cordyceps powder. However you choose to imbibe it, sipping mushrooms daily delivers simple yet powerful prevention and protective health benefits (plus some delicious flavor!).
FAQs and Answers
How to make mushroom powder for coffee?
Here are the steps for making mushroom powder to use in coffee:
Materials Needed:
- Dried mushrooms – shiitake, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, etc.
- Food dehydrator (optional)
- Blender or food processor
- If using fresh mushrooms, clean them off and slice into thin pieces. Place in food dehydrator at 115°F and dehydrate for 10-12 hours until cracker dry.
- Break up dried mushroom pieces into smaller bits. Place into a high speed blender or food processor.
- Blend or process on high speed for 2-3 minutes, stopping to stir up pieces as needed, until a fine powder is formed.
- Sift mushroom powder through a fine mesh strainer to ensure an ultra fine consistency. You want the texture as close as possible to coffee grounds. Catch and return any larger pieces to the blender to process again.
- Store mushroom powder in an airtight glass jar. Keep in a cool, dry place away from light for up to 1-2 months.
- To use: Add desired amount of mushroom powder to your ground coffee before brewing by ratio preference, typically starting with a 1:1 mushroom to coffee ratio. Adjust amounts to taste over time.
The resulting mushroom powder can be easily incorporated into your regular coffee routine whether using a drip machine, French press, Keurig or other preferred method.
How to make mushroom coffee taste better?
Here are some tips for improving the taste of homemade mushroom coffee:
- Choose milder mushrooms. Shiitake, maitake and oyster mushrooms have more subtle flavors that won’t overwhelm the coffee. Avoid intensely earthy varieties like reishi on your first try.
- Use paper filters when possible. This helps capture grainy sediment and particles for a smoother cup of ‘shroom coffee.
- Mix in a sweeter coffee variety. Adding some light or medium roast beans, or special selections like an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, can balance out bitterness.
- Cut bitterness with dairy/non-dairy additions. A splash of milk, nut milk or even butter can mellow out acidity. Sweeten to preference with brown sugar or maple syrup instead of artificial sweeteners.
- Spice it up with extra flavors. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and vanilla extract can give mushroom coffee warmth. Try cacao nibs or powder too.
- Lower the mushroom ratio. If it tastes too earthy, scale back how many powdered mushrooms you add into the brew. Customize until you enjoy the balance.
- Brew stronger than normal. Compensate for the additional volume of mushroom powder diluting things by using more coffee grounds per cup and brewing slightly stronger.
Experiment with these adjustments over several cups to develop your ideal mushroom coffee flavor. The goal is a smooth, complex blend with mushroom essence complementing – not overpowering – the coffee.
How to grow mushroom for coffee?
Here are some tips for growing mushrooms at home to use for mushroom coffee:
- Choose mushroom varieties that work well for coffee: Good options include lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi, shiitake, and maitake. They have meatier textures and more subtle flavors.
- Decide on an appropriate mushroom growth medium: You can use sterilized sawdust blocks, grow kits with pre-inoculated substrate, or make your own by pasteurizing straw or wood chips.
- Pick a suitable growing space: Mushrooms need adequate air flow and consistent temperatures between 60-75°F. A garage, basement, or large closet tends to work well. You can build a basic wooden box frame or purchase a mushroom grow tent.
- Inoculate using live culture syringes: Order spawn syringes of your selected mushroom variety online or from a garden store. Inject the live liquid culture carefully into holes spaced throughout your blocks or substrates.
- Maintain ideal growing conditions: Keep blocks moist (but not soaked) by regular misting. Provide ample ventilation and indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight and temperatures shifting above 80°F or below 55°F.
- Harvest mushrooms when ready: When caps have fully opened, twist to remove by hand. Trim stems and clean any debris off. Set on racks or paper towels to dry.
- Dehydrate dried mushrooms: Use a food dehydrator at 115°F for 12-15 hours until completely dry and brittle. Check for moisture pockets.
- Grind into powder & add to coffee! Store in an airtight container to retain potency. Mix into coffee beans or grounds to brew, using a 1:1 mushroom to coffee ratio. Adjust amounts to taste preferences.
What devices you need to make your own mushroom coffee?
Here are the key devices you need to make your own mushroom coffee at home:
- Food dehydrator – Used to fully dehydrate fresh mushrooms into brittle, cracker-dry pieces before grinding into powder. Models with adjustable temperature controls around 115°F work best.
- High-speed blender or food processor – Necessary for grinding the dried mushrooms into a super fine powder with a texture similar to coffee grounds. Models with strong motors and sharp blades blend mushrooms most efficiently.
- Burr coffee grinder – Essential for freshly grinding the coffee beans of your choice right before brewing your mushroom coffee mixture. Burr grinders allow adjustable grind size control. Conical or flat burrs both work.
- Airscape or airtight storage containers – Used to store the blended mushroom coffee powder while retaining maximum freshness. The opaque container prevents light exposure and the Airscape lid removes air exposure.
- Kitchen scale (optional) – Helpful for precisely measuring out mushroom powders and coffee beans by weight for consistency versus using tablespoons. Look for gram measurements.
- Coffee maker – Such as a drip machine, French press, Aeropress, or other favorite brewing equipment. Brew just as you would regular coffee once mushroom powder is mixed in.
Having the right preparation and storage tools helps streamline the process and lets you customize mushroom coffees to your individual liking at home.
How to store mushroom for coffee?
Here are the best practices for storing mushrooms for use in mushroom coffee:
- Clean and dry fresh mushrooms thoroughly before storage. Brush off any dirt or debris. Pat dry with a paper towel if needed – moisture promotes spoilage.
- Slice or chop mushrooms prior to dehydrating for quicker and more consistent drying. Arrange in a single layer on dehydrator trays without overcrowding.
- Dehydrate mushrooms using a food dehydrator at 115°F. Dry for 12-15 hours until completely brittle and crisp with no moisture pockets. Lower temperature drying preserves bioactive compounds better.
- Allow dried mushrooms to fully cool before transferring into storage containers. The shift from a warm dehydrator to room temp prevents condensation build up.
- Store dried mushrooms meant for coffee in airtight containers like mason jars. Opaque jars prevent light exposure and glass limits air exchange better than plastic.
- Add oxygen absorbers to capture trace moisture and CO2 gas release which degrade quality over time. Oxygen absorption packets prolong shelf life.
- Label storage containers clearly with the date and mushroom variety(ies) and use within 6 months. Store in a cool, dark place like the pantry or cupboard. Refrigeration can extend life to a year.
Following careful dehydration, limited air exposure and cool storage, dried mushroom potency and flavor can be preserved at peak quality for adding into fresh homemade mushroom coffee upon use.
