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My morning coffee – a cortado with a dash of oat milk in a bougie mug, if you're asking – is a sacred part of my everyday routine. The earthy smell, the comfort of a warm cup in my hand and the frothy bit on top bring me an inordinate amount of joy. This is often followed by a creamy cappuccino at my desk come 11am and perhaps even a 3pm Americano when I feel myself flagging.
Yet, despite my love affair with coffee, it doesn’t always love me back. I struggle with anxiety, and too many cups can leave my heart pounding and my hands shaking. Plus, after the instant high, when the caffeine wears off, I feel even more tired than before. It’s not ideal.
So, when I came across DIRTEA's mushroom coffee – which supposedly provides the energy-boosting benefits of caffeine, without any of the heart-racing side effects – I had to try it. I decided to cut out my usual coffee and switch to fungi-infused brews for a whole month to see if it could help improve my energy levels, productivity and overall mood.
Read on to find out how I got on, plus everything you need to know about functional coffee. Spoiler alert: the results surprised me...
What is mushroom coffee?
Not au fait with TikTok trends like mushroom coffee? We asked registered nutritional therapist Cara Shaw to break it down. “Mushroom coffee is a beverage that combines traditional coffee with adaptogenic mushrooms like chaga, cordyceps and lion’s mane,” she explains.
“The combination means it can potentially offer health benefits such as immune support, improved sleep quality and even enhanced mental clarity,” she adds. “It has become extremely popular among health-conscious consumers looking to enhance their wellbeing.”
What is in DIRTEA’s mushroom coffee?
For my experiment, I decided to use DIRTEA’s mushroom coffee. That’s because it’s one of the original functional blends and remains one of the most popular options on the market. Celebrity fans include Charlotte Tilbury, Ellie Goulding and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Clarissa Berry, DIRTEA’s in-house nutritionist, tells me it contains 100% arabica beans along with 1000mg lion’s mane, chaga and tremella mushrooms.
She explains that lion’s mane is known for its cognitive-enhancing properties, helping to boost mental performance, memory and focus. “Both caffeine and lion’s mane are classed as nootropics, so taking them together compounds their benefits,” she says.
Chaga mushrooms, Berry claims, are said to support digestion and have naturally energising properties, while tremella mushrooms – which have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine – contain compounds that may improve skin elasticity, tone and appearance.
“The blend also features adaptogens like ashwagandha and maca for additional adrenal, digestion and hormonal support,” Berry says. “It contains up to 80% less caffeine per serving to provide a sustained energy boost without crashes or jitters.”
What does the science say?
According to Shaw, there's limited research into mushroom coffee blends, but there have been several studies into the benefits of individual functional mushrooms.
For instance, in one 2017 study, lion’s mane was found to have strong anti-inflammatory properties, while a report by the Journal of Medicinal Food cited anti-anxiety and antidepressant-like effects.
Research shows tremella, which is loaded with polysaccharides, can promote cell growth and strengthen the skin barrier, while another study found it could help reduce the effects of ageing on the skin due to sun damage.
However, Shaw offers an important reminder: “While the research we have so far is on the right track, larger, more extensive human trials are needed to validate these health-boosting claims.”
Who shouldn’t drink mushroom coffee?
Mushroom coffees are generally considered safe for most people, but Shaw points out that those with an allergy or intolerance to mushrooms should steer clear.
If you’re pregnant, taking medication, or have underlying health issues, she says it’s important to consult your doctor before consuming functional mushrooms.
“As with any health product, it might have a different effect on you than it does on someone else,” she adds. “If mushroom coffee works for you, then keep on drinking it, and if it doesn’t, give it a pass.”
How I tested
I unplugged my Nespresso machine and stocked up on a bag of DIRTEA mushroom coffee to see me through the month. I decided to swerve regular coffee entirely, instead boiling the kettle and fixing myself a DIRTEA brew first thing in the morning, and whenever I needed a pick-me-up.
Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute also put it through its paces, tasting it in the lab and sending it out to our discerning panel to get their thoughts on flavour, drinkability and whether they experienced any benefits. It scored an impressive 87/100 overall, with testers noting improvements in their productivity and raving about the taste.
Check out our Tried and Tested mushroom coffee round-up.
My DIRTEA mushroom coffee review
| Adaptogens | Lion’s mane, chaga and tremella mushrooms, ashwagandha, maca |
|---|---|
| Caffeine content | 50mg |
Flavour and consistency
I’d tried mushroom coffee a few times before and wasn’t a fan – it smelt funky and had an unpleasant earthy aftertaste – so I was rather apprehensive about my new morning ritual. Thankfully, I needn’t have worried. Mixed with boiling water, a dash of oat milk and some stevia, it almost tasted like my regular brew. It certainly didn’t have a fungi flavour, and it was much nicer than most instant coffees I’ve tried.
Some mushroom coffees require hefty mixing to prevent clumps, but there was no such problem with DIRTEA. It dissolved in water easily and there were no unpleasant lumps floating around. The consistency was spot on too – it wasn’t too thick or watery. Result.
Anxiety levels
I don’t think I realised how much caffeine was exacerbating my anxiety until I started to cut down on it. One cup of DIRTEA’s mushroom coffee contains just 50mg of caffeine – which is significantly less than my barista-made cappuccino with 277mg of caffeine and my occasional Americano with 182mg of caffeine. Even my morning cortado has almost double the caffeine, with 90g per serving!
I felt less on edge and jittery during the experiment, and experienced fewer physical symptoms throughout the day, such as palpitations and fluttery feelings in my chest. I was surprised by just how much better and more balanced I felt after reducing my caffeine intake.
Energy levels
I also noticed a difference in my energy levels – I felt as though they remained steadier throughout the day, and I didn’t get any major crashes come 4pm like usual. As a result, I felt more productive and able to concentrate on my tasks, instead of groggy and tired. Granted, this could have been a placebo, but I certainly felt better, so it’s a win for me.
Sleep
I found I was able to fall asleep faster during my month of curbing caffeine and my sleep was less restless. This is hardly surprising – studies show that caffeine can be a major sleep disruptor. This is because it has a half-life of around five to six hours, so if you have a flat white at 4pm, half of the caffeine is still in your system at 10pm. Yikes!
The final verdict
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but it’s happened; I'm a mushroom coffee convert. It’s been a few weeks since completing my 30-day challenge and I’m still going strong. I’m loving the taste and how I feel in myself. In fact, I’ve already ordered another pouch of DIRTEA to keep me going!
Now, this certainly doesn’t mean I’ll never drink regular coffee again and this isn’t me telling you to ditch your daily latte in favour of fungi-filled brews, either. Research into mushroom coffee is still emerging and many of the benefits I noted were simply down to reducing my daily caffeine intake. I also can’t say whether I experienced extra health benefits like reduced inflammation or better immunity.
Mushroom coffee can be pricey, too – a bag of DIRTEA will set you back £34, which is a lot more than a jar of Nescafé.
Still, I think it’s an excellent choice for those, like me, who love the ritual of drinking coffee, but are looking to cut down their caffeine consumption, whether that’s due to anxiety, poor sleep or other health reasons.
DIRTEA’s mushroom coffee is available to buy from DIRTEA, Amazon and LookFantastic.
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Priyankaa is our sleep and wellness expert, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Kim Hawley is our health and fitness product tester. Her career in fitness has spanned over 30 years. Prior to joining the Good Housekeeping Institute, she worked as a personal trainer, writer and fitness instructor for some of London’s most prestigious health clubs, including The Harbour Club, David Lloyd and The Chelsea Club. Passionate about women’s health and fitness, especially in pre/post menopause, she is also a Level 4 PT and holds a professional nutritional qualification. Kim is responsible for rigorously testing everything from cross trainers to smart watches.
