Lion's mane coffee: what it is, how it tastes and how to drink it

Lion's mane coffee is ordinary coffee blended with powdered lion's mane mushroom, often alongside other mushrooms like chaga. It brews and tastes like coffee, with a slightly earthier finish.

What's actually in it

• Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a shaggy white mushroom that grows on hardwood trees. It's eaten as food in many cuisines and sold dried as a powder.
• Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows on birch trees and has a long history as a tea in Northern Europe and Siberia.
• Coffee still does most of the work. Our Morning Coffee is 70% single-origin arabica and 30% organic lion's mane and chaga.

What it tastes like

Smooth and a little earthy, closer to a dark roast than to a mushroom. It's naturally low in acidity, which is why many people like it black or iced.

Does it have less caffeine?

Usually, yes. When part of each spoonful is mushroom instead of coffee, there's less coffee per cup than a teaspoon of plain instant. Check the label on any brand you buy.

What the research says

Lion's mane is popular in wellness circles, and researchers are studying it, but human research is still early. We drink it because it tastes good and fits a calm morning, not as medicine.

How to make it

1. Stir 1 teaspoon of Morning Coffee into 8–10 oz of hot water, or shake it with cold water and ice.
2. Add 2 scoops of Collagen Creamer for a vanilla latte.
3. Want the full version? Add Collagen Glow and Creatine. Here's the morning cup recipe.