Drinking reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Ganoderma coffee is a great way to incorporate the benefits of functional mushrooms into your daily routine.

Ganoderma lucidum is the scientific name of the “mushroom of immortality,” or reishi which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. This mushroom is known for its significant health benefits in alleviating fatigue, promoting restful sleep, and calming frayed nerves.

A quick search of reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) coffee yields dubious recipes involving instant coffee-mushroom blends. We call foul.

Do you know what the secret to delicious mushroom coffee is? Start with high-quality, well-brewed coffee and pure organic reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) mushroom extracts. Don’t skimp on the ingredients!

The simplest Ganoderma coffee recipe is to stir half a teaspoon of reishi mushroom extract powder into your everyday brew. Done.

One of our customers, Hillary, can vouch for it:

“Reishi is my favorite mushroom....now I finally have an efficacious way to take it, with beta-glucans intact and proven. I love to have 1/2 tsp in my a.m. coffee. I find that using a light or medium roast blends best with the reishi.”
- Hillary

That said, we want to take an even tastier approach to making your mushroom coffee at home; adding more nutrients and building up the flavor profile.

But what if you don’t like coffee or want to cut caffeine out of your diet yet still reap the health benefits of Ganoderma coffee? We’ll explore that, too.

In a nutshell, we’ll break down:

• How to brew delicious, richly flavored mushroom coffee
• How to reap the benefits of mushroom coffee minus the caffeine for those conscious about their blood sugar
• What to look for when shopping for the best mushroom supplements
• How to get the most flavor out of your coffee and mushroom supplements

In This Article

1. 1 - Mushroom Coffee: Perfect for Fall & Winter
2. 2 - Refreshing Mushroom Cold Brew Coffee
3. How to Identify the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement
4. A Ganoderma Coffee That Adapts To Your Needs

1 - Mushroom Coffee: Perfect for Fall & Winter

What’s not to love about this warm twist on Ganoderma coffee? This mushroom coffee recipe features the warm fall flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and mint, which all pack a strong antioxidant punch.

More importantly, it contains reishi mushroom extracts, which simultaneously boost mood and sharpen focus.[1]

Caffeine-Free Mushroom Coffee Ingredients

If you’re trying to cut caffeine, or you need a warm mushroom coffee to give you that mental pick-me-up, this cacao, coconut, and mushroom drink is perfect.

• 2 cups water
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Extract Powder
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder
• 2 tablespoon cacao powder
• 2 teaspoons ginger, freshly grated
• 2 teaspoons Ceylon cinnamon powder
• 1 teaspoon coconut butter
• 1 pinch of Celtic salt
• Raw honey to taste

Steps to Make It

1. Boil water and leave off the heat for 2–3 minutes.
2. In a blender, combine the hot water with cacao powder, Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder, cinnamon powder, grated ginger, coconut butter, and salt.
3. Process on high for 10–15 seconds.
4. Stir in raw honey to taste.

Expert Tips:

• High-quality reishi extract should taste earthy and bitter. The pinch of salt in this recipe brings out any sweet flavors and helps to counter the bitter notes.
• This brew is also ideal before bedtime because reishi can help relax the mind and improve your sleep quality.

Here’s what one customer experienced with reishi mushroom coffee:

“I usually take reishi in the morning as soon as I wake up. It definitely improves my mood and sense of well-being. I'm not a pleasant person to be around in the morning if I don't have my reishi.” - Gregory

Another customer shared their own recipe for a caffeine-free coffee alternative using reishi:

“I have been taking reishi as part of my adaptogenic protocol for several months- blended into my dandelion/chicory/cinnamon coffee substitute. I happen to love the vibrant taste of this mushroom powder! It feels alive and at work in my body.” - Michelle

2 - Refreshing Mushroom Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee is perfect if you have a sensitive gut. It’s less acidic and has a smoother taste than drip coffee or espresso. This lowers the risk of developing acid reflux or GERD.

If you’re tired of the over-diluted taste of iced coffee, get ready for some cold brew magic.

We’ll start with a delicious cold brew base and ramp up the health benefits with functional mushrooms to boost various body functions.

• Lion’s Mane aids in better memory and brain function.[2]
• Cordyceps improves exercise performance, the immune system, and hormone regulation.[3]
• Chaga supports healthy digestion, immune system, and inflammation response.[4]
• Reishi calms the mind, supports the immune system, and promotes better sleep.[5]

Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups water
• 4 tablespoons freshly ground, coarse coffee
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Extract Powder
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Siberian Chaga Extract Powder
• ½ teaspoon Real Mushrooms Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder
• 1 tablespoon almond or cashew butter
• 2 teaspoons ginger, freshly grated
• 2 teaspoons Ceylon cinnamon powder
• ½ cup plant milk or grass-fed dairy milk
• Vanilla stevia, coconut sugar, or honey to taste
• Cashew or coconut shreds to garnish

Steps to Make It

1. Pour room-temperature water into a jar and add your freshly ground coffee. Cover and shake well.
2. Leave the jar in the fridge for 12–24 hours to make your cold brew.
3. In a blender, combine the cold brew with the mushroom powders, nut butter, ginger, cinnamon, and milk.
4. Blend on high for 10 seconds or until the coffee reaches your preferred consistency.
5. Serve the frothy drink in a cup and adjust the sweetness to your liking. Top with coconut or cashew nut shreds.

Expert Tip: For a great-tasting cold brew coffee:

• Start with good quality coffee beans since the coffee notes are more pronounced with this brewing method.
• Grind your coffee fresh and coarse for maximum flavor.
• Experiment with coffee blends that have fruity flavor notes.
• Balance your coffee-to-water ratio well. The perfect ratio of coffee to water is 1:5 for ready-to-drink, though 1:8 works well for French press or weak coffee. Try not to go below 1:3, even for cold brew concentrates.

Leaving your coffee to brew overnight makes cold brewing so simple there’s no need to buy commercial, ready-made cold brews.

Our customers couldn’t agree more with the mushroom coffee combo:

“I had a stroke 4 years ago and have issues with depression. I take both chaga and lion's mane. They work great for my memory issues. I recommend taking it in the morning to get your day started.” - Jovi

How to Identify the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement

Like any drink infused with dietary supplements, the effectiveness of your Ganoderma coffee will depend on the quality of the mushroom extracts you use.

One way to ensure that you’re using the best quality ingredients is to check that your mushroom supplement manufacturer uses USDA-certified organic mushrooms, which will be free of pesticides and other chemical contaminants.

Did you know that over 70% of reishi mushroom supplements on the market contain little or no reishi mushrooms? Instead of the reishi fruiting body, these powders either source cheaper mushrooms or reishi mycelium grown on grain substrates.

Simply put, you get significantly more starch filler and significantly less immune-modulating beta-glucans in supplements made from myceliated grain.

Here’s a table comparing the ratios of alpha and beta-glucans in extracts made from mushrooms vs. myceliated grain:

So, what information should you look for?

Reishi mushroom supplements should:

• Come from organically grown mushrooms
• Be a result of the dual extraction method for maximum potency
• List measured amounts of triterpene and beta-glucans
• Clearly state the absence of starch and fillers
• Taste bitter

If you can check off all the above, you know you’re getting all the energy and immunity-boosting benefits from the triterpene, beta-glucans, and other compounds of reishi with none of the empty starch fillers or additives.

It was this lack of pure, organic mushroom products in the North American supplement market‌ that prompted the birth of Real Mushrooms.

We’re proud to provide the best mushroom supplements on the market consistently and to celebrate our customer’s health wins when they use our products.

“So often when I'm taking supplements, I feel little difference ... With reishi and Real Mushroom products, I’ve felt a difference in my energy, hormonal balance, and gut health. Very impressed!” - Carol

A Ganoderma Coffee That Adapts To Your Needs

In sum, Ganoderma mushroom coffee can give you the calm and focus to start your day off right, whether or not you actually include the caffeine. The healthy mushrooms carry their own weight and then some.

The adaptogenic properties of reishi and other mushrooms alleviate fatigue and stress while boosting body systems, including immunity, muscles, and hormones.

Being able to add your own mushroom extracts to your favorite brew means:

1. a) You can customize your coffee to be the type and quality you like,
2. b) You know exactly what kind and quality of the mushroom supplement you’re adding.

If you’re ready to start the day right with a morning boost from mushroom coffee, try Real Mushrooms Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder or our 5 Defenders Organic Mushroom Complex if you want a mix of reishi and other healthy mushrooms.

Related Articles

Learn More About Ganoderma & Its Benefits:

• Reishi Mushroom Benefits and Usage Guide
• 74% of Reishi Products are not Authentic
• Reishi Mushroom History: Cultural References & Uses
• Reishi Mushroom Tea: 4 New Benefits for Tea Drinkers
• How to I.D. the Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement
• Reishi Mushroom Powder Recipes: 5 Delicious Drinks and Snacks
• Terry Willard on Reishi as the “King” of Functional Mushrooms
• The Benefits of Red Reishi and the 5 Other Color Types

Learn More About the Benefits of Mushroom Coffee:

• 5 Long-Lasting Mushroom Coffee Benefits for Tired People
• 11 Mushroom Coffee Recipes with Health Benefits
• DIY Mushroom Coffee: 5 Reasons to Make Your Own (Plus 7 Recipes)

References

1. Pazzi, F. et al. (2020) ‘Ganoderma lucidum Effects on Mood and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia’, Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 8(4), p. E520. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040520.
2. Docherty, S., Doughty, F.L. and Smith, E.F. (2023) ‘The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study’, Nutrients, 15(22), pp. 4842–4842. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224842.
3. Lin, B. and Li, S. (2011) Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug. 2nd edn, PubMed. 2nd edn. Edited by I.F.F. Benzie and S. Wachtel-Galor. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92758/.
4. Lu, Y. et al. (2021) ‘Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application’, Polymers, 13(9), p. 1441. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091441.
5. Sissi Wachtel-Galor et al. (2011) Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi), Nih.gov. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/.