If you are swapping your usual coffee for mushroom coffee, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is: does mushroom coffee have caffeine?
The short answer is: usually, but not always.
Mushrooms such as lion’s mane, reishi and cordyceps are not themselves sources of caffeine. The caffeine in most mushroom coffees comes from the coffee included alongside the mushroom ingredients.
That means a mushroom coffee made with regular coffee will contain caffeine. A blend containing less coffee may be lower in caffeine. A decaf mushroom coffee will generally contain only a small amount, while a genuinely caffeine-free mushroom coffee alternative may contain no coffee at all.
This distinction matters because the term mushroom coffee now covers a surprisingly wide range of products - from standard coffee blended with mushroom extracts to completely coffee-free drinks and concentrated mushroom tinctures.
Here is how to tell them apart.
Does Mushroom Coffee Have Caffeine?
Yes, most traditional mushroom coffee contains caffeine because it still contains coffee.
Adding mushroom powder or mushroom extract to coffee does not remove the caffeine already present in the coffee beans.
A typical mushroom coffee formula might combine:
- Instant or ground coffee
- Lion’s mane extract
- Cordyceps extract
- Reishi extract
- Chaga extract
- Additional flavourings or plant extracts
In a product like this, the coffee is the main source of caffeine, not the mushrooms.
However, there is no single recipe for mushroom coffee. Some brands reduce the proportion of coffee in the blend, some use decaffeinated coffee, and others remove coffee entirely.
This is why two products described as “mushroom coffee” can have completely different caffeine levels.
For context, the NHS estimates that a mug of instant coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine, while a mug of filter coffee contains around 140mg, although actual amounts vary according to serving size, coffee variety and preparation method.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) states that caffeine intakes of up to 400mg per day are unlikely to cause adverse effects in adults, while people who are pregnant are advised to limit intake to 200mg per day. Individual sensitivity can, of course, vary considerably.
The Simplest Way to Think About Mushroom Coffee and Caffeine
The presence of mushrooms tells you very little about the caffeine content.
Instead, look at the base of the drink.
| Format | Typical Caffeine Level | Taste Profile | Common Ingredients | May Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular mushroom coffee | Caffeinated; amount varies | Closest to traditional coffee | Coffee + mushroom extracts or powders | People who enjoy coffee and are comfortable consuming caffeine |
| Low-caffeine mushroom coffee | Reduced, but still caffeinated | Usually coffee-like | Smaller proportion of coffee + mushroom extracts | People looking to reduce rather than eliminate caffeine |
| Decaf mushroom coffee | Very low caffeine, but not necessarily zero | Similar to decaf coffee | Decaffeinated coffee + mushroom extracts | People who want a familiar coffee experience with substantially less caffeine |
| Coffee-free mushroom/adaptogenic drink | Can be caffeine-free, but check the ingredients | Earthy, roasted, chocolatey or spiced depending on formula | Mushrooms, chicory, carob, spices, plant extracts, sometimes cacao | People avoiding coffee or looking for a different hot-drink ritual |
| Mushroom tincture / liquid extract | Usually caffeine-free unless caffeine-containing ingredients are added | Concentrated; varies considerably by mushroom and extraction base | Mushroom liquid extract, water, glycerine and/or alcohol | People who want a flexible mushroom format rather than a coffee replacement |
What Is Regular Mushroom Coffee?
At its simplest, mushroom coffee is exactly what the name suggests: coffee combined with mushroom ingredients.
The mushrooms most commonly seen in the category include:
- Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus)
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Cordyceps species
- Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Scientific reviews describe these mushrooms as containing a variety of constituents including beta-glucans, triterpenes, sterols and phenolic compounds, although composition differs significantly between species and extracts.
Researchers have also begun studying mushrooms as ingredients in coffee and other functional beverages. For example, research has examined coffee prepared with Hericium erinaceus and Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies, while recent reviews describe continued growth in mushroom-based beverage formats.
None of this makes the coffee component caffeine-free.
If the ingredients list starts with coffee, you should generally assume the drink contains caffeine unless the packaging specifically states otherwise.
Does Mushroom Coffee Contain Less Caffeine Than Normal Coffee?
Sometimes.
Many mushroom coffee products use less coffee per serving than conventional coffee, replacing part of the mixture with mushroom extracts and other ingredients.
That can result in a low caffeine mushroom coffee, but it is not guaranteed.
There is no universal caffeine content for mushroom coffee, and the word “mushroom” should not be interpreted as meaning “low caffeine”.
If reducing caffeine is important to you, look for an actual mg of caffeine per serving rather than relying on the product name.
For example:
50mg caffeine per serving gives you useful information.
“Made with functional mushrooms” does not.
What Is Low-Caffeine Mushroom Coffee?
A low caffeine mushroom coffee sits somewhere between regular caffeinated coffee and decaf.
It might achieve this by:
- Using less coffee per serving
- Combining regular and decaffeinated coffee
- Replacing part of the coffee with mushroom extracts
- Incorporating roasted chicory or other coffee alternatives
- Using a formulation deliberately designed to contain less caffeine
This format can make sense for people who enjoy the flavour and ritual of coffee but are deliberately reducing their overall caffeine intake.
The important word, however, is reducing.
Low caffeine is not the same thing as caffeine free.
Someone drinking several low-caffeine mushroom coffees over the course of a day could still consume a meaningful amount of caffeine, particularly alongside tea, chocolate, cola, energy drinks or supplements.
The FSA specifically recommends considering caffeine from different dietary sources together when assessing overall intake.
What About Decaf Mushroom Coffee?
Decaf mushroom coffee combines decaffeinated coffee with mushroom ingredients.
It is probably the closest option for someone who wants the taste and ritual of coffee while significantly reducing caffeine.
But there is an important distinction:
Decaf Does Not Necessarily Mean Zero Caffeine
Decaffeination removes most of the caffeine from coffee, not necessarily every trace.
UK rules control the use of the term “decaffeinated” for soluble coffee products, and specific compositional requirements apply.
Analytical research has also demonstrated that brewed decaffeinated coffee can contain small residual amounts of caffeine. One study testing decaffeinated coffee drinks found between 0 and 13.9mg of caffeine in 16oz servings, with variation between products.
The precise figure in your cup will depend on the product and serving size.
If you are extremely caffeine-sensitive or have been specifically advised to avoid caffeine, it is worth checking the manufacturer's declared caffeine content rather than assuming decaf means absolutely none.
Is There Such a Thing as Caffeine-Free Mushroom Coffee?
Yes - although it may be more accurate to describe many of these products as coffee alternatives rather than coffee.
A truly caffeine free mushroom coffee generally needs to remove ordinary coffee beans from the formula altogether.
Instead, manufacturers may build a roasted-tasting drink around ingredients such as:
- Chicory root
- Carob
- Roasted grains
- Mushroom extracts
- Spices
- Coconut
- Plant-based powders
- Natural flavourings
These products are designed to retain some of the experience of making a warm, rich drink while removing the coffee itself.
But read the ingredients carefully.
A coffee-free drink containing matcha, green tea, black tea, yerba mate or guarana can still contain substantial caffeine.
Cacao and cocoa can also contribute smaller quantities.
Therefore, when your priority is genuinely caffeine-free mushroom coffee, the most useful information on the packet is not simply “coffee free”. Look for a clear caffeine declaration and inspect the complete ingredients list.
Coffee-Free Adaptogenic Drinks: Are They Caffeine-Free?
Not necessarily.
The functional drinks market now includes a large number of products described as adaptogenic drinks, often combining mushrooms with herbs, roots, spices or other botanical ingredients.
“Adaptogenic” does not mean “caffeine-free”.
One formula might combine Reishi with chicory and contain no caffeine source at all.
Another could contain lion’s mane alongside matcha.
A third might contain cacao.
A fourth could include added caffeine.
So the same principle applies: judge caffeine content by the actual formulation, not by the category name.
There is another distinction worth making for UK consumers. Many wellness ingredients are widely discussed online in terms of supposed effects on energy, stress, concentration or immunity, but commercial health claims about foods and supplements in Great Britain are regulated.
Businesses cannot claim that a food treats, prevents or cures disease, and permitted nutrition and health claims are governed by the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register.
For consumers, that makes the ingredient list and product specification more useful than sweeping wellness language.
The Emerging Alternative: Mushroom Tinctures
Mushroom coffee is no longer the only way people are incorporating mushroom extracts into their daily drinks.
Another increasingly visible format is the mushroom tincture, or concentrated mushroom liquid extract.
Instead of combining mushrooms with a pre-made coffee mixture, a tincture keeps the mushroom extract separate and purely mushroom efficacy focused.
A measured serving can typically be:
- Taken directly according to the product instructions
- Mixed into water
- Added to a smoothie
- Stirred into a hot drink
- Added to your existing coffee or decaf
That creates an important difference.
A Mushroom Tincture Lets You Choose the Drink
With a mushroom coffee blend, the mushroom ingredients and coffee are already combined at a fixed ratio.
With a tincture, they are separate.
Someone who wants coffee can add the extract to coffee.
Someone reducing caffeine can use decaf.
Someone avoiding caffeine altogether can add it to a caffeine-free drink.
That makes liquid extracts an interesting alternative for people who want mushrooms without having caffeine dictated by the product format.
Do Mushroom Tinctures Contain Caffeine?
No. Our mushroom tinctures do not contain caffeine because the mushroom itself is not a caffeine source.
Research into mushroom extraction shows why different solvents are used. Water and alcohol extract different groups of compounds from fungal material, and the extraction method can substantially affect the chemical composition of the finished extract.
You may therefore see products described as:
- Water extracts
- Alcohol extracts
- Dual extracts
- Concentrated liquid extracts
- Tinctures
These terms should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Mushroom Coffee vs Mushroom Tincture
These two formats are sometimes grouped together, but the experience is quite different.
Mushroom Coffee
The coffee and mushroom components are already combined.
Advantages:
- Familiar coffee-like ritual
- Single-product preparation
- Available in regular, low-caffeine and decaf formats
Considerations:
- Caffeine level is determined by the formulation
- Mushroom quantity is fixed
- Mushrooms are quite often not extracted - which means the beneficial compounds are not present
- Some instant blends contain additional ingredients
- Genuinely caffeine-free versions may taste quite different from coffee
- Some contain considerable amounts of added sugar
Mushroom Tinctures
The mushroom extract is supplied independently as a liquid.
Advantages:
- Can be used with your existing drink
- Does not require consuming coffee
- Naturally caffeine-free
- Flexible format
- Easy to use
- You control the mushroom strain
Considerations:
- Not designed to recreate the flavour of coffee
- Tinctures contain alcohol
For anyone primarily interested in reducing caffeine, the biggest advantage of keeping the mushroom and coffee separate is simple: you retain control over the caffeine source.
Are Lion’s Mane, Reishi and Cordyceps Caffeinated?
No. These mushrooms are not what makes mushroom coffee caffeinated.
A useful way to read a mushroom drink label is to separate the ingredients into two categories.
Mushroom Ingredients
Examples include:
- Lion’s mane
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
- Chaga
These are not conventional dietary sources of caffeine.
Potential Caffeine Sources
Look instead for:
- Coffee
- Green coffee
- Tea
- Matcha
- Yerba mate
- Guarana
- Kola nut
- Cacao or cocoa
- Added caffeine
That second list is much more relevant when trying to determine how stimulating a drink might be from a caffeine perspective.
Why We Personally Avoid Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps and Reishi All in One Blend
You will often see mushroom coffees and supplements combining lion’s mane, cordyceps and reishi in a single “all-in-one” formula.
Personally, that is not how we prefer to use functional mushrooms.
It is not because these mushrooms are known to be incompatible or because they somehow “cancel each other out”. Rather, we prefer a more targeted approach because the three mushrooms are commonly chosen for quite different reasons and at different points in the day.
Broadly speaking:
- Lion’s Mane is most commonly associated with focus, cognitive performance and mental clarity, making it a mushroom people often choose during the working day. Human research into lion’s mane and cognition is still developing: reviews have found some promising results, but also emphasise that larger and better-controlled trials are needed.
- Cordyceps is typically associated with energy, exercise and stamina, which is why it is commonly found in daytime and sports-focused mushroom products. Recent reviews of human research have found some improvements in selected exercise-performance measures, but results remain inconsistent and the overall evidence base is still limited.
- Reishi has traditionally occupied a rather different space and is commonly used in products aimed at calm, relaxation and evening routines. It has a long history of traditional use, including in preparations associated with sleep, although robust human evidence specifically demonstrating that reishi improves sleep remains limited.
That difference in intended use is precisely why we question the logic of automatically putting all three into every mushroom blend.
One Blend for Everything Can Mean Less Control
Imagine taking the same three-mushroom coffee.
Each time, you receive exactly the same combination and exactly the same ratio of lion’s mane, cordyceps and reishi - regardless of time of day.
This is not to say that mushroom blends are less effective or less favourable. It's more about highlighting that every mushroom strain has it's own individual function, therefore it's about picking the right blend of mushrooms rather than a product trying to squeeze all mushrooms together.
For example, someone might choose:
These are ways people commonly choose to use these mushrooms rather than guaranteed health effects, but the distinction matters when thinking about how a supplement is formulated.
This is why we have created the 5 Mushroom Blend. This blend is formulated with the right amounts of individual mushrooms and the correct strains of mushrooms that highly compliment each other and work in synergy.
How to Choose a Mushroom Drink Based on Caffeine
Rather than asking whether mushroom coffee as a whole is caffeinated, ask these questions about the specific product.
1. Does It Contain Real Coffee?
If yes, it probably contains caffeine unless that coffee is decaffeinated.
2. How Much Caffeine Is There Per Serving?
An exact number is considerably more useful than descriptions such as “gentle”, “clean” or “balanced”.
3. Is It Low Caffeine or Decaf?
These are not the same.
A low-caffeine product deliberately contains less caffeine.
A decaf product uses coffee that has undergone a decaffeination process.
4. Is It Actually Coffee-Free?
If caffeine elimination is your goal, a coffee-free formulation may be more appropriate.
But continue to check for tea, matcha, mate, guarana, cacao and other possible caffeine sources.
5. Does It Contain Added Sugar?
Caffeine-free does not mean sugar-free.
Some mushroom drinks are unsweetened, while others contain sugar, syrups, coconut-based creamers or sweetened flavouring systems.
Check the nutrition panel if reducing sugar is also important to you.
6. What Form of Mushroom Ingredient Is Included?
“Mushroom” can describe powders, extracts and concentrated liquids with very different compositions.
Look for transparency around:
- Mushroom species
- Part of the mushroom used
- Powder versus extract
- Extraction method
- Amount per serving
- Concentration or extraction ratio where relevant
Which Option Contains the Least Caffeine?
If eliminating caffeine is the priority, the formats broadly progress like this:
The caveat is that the label always takes priority over the category.
A supposedly coffee-free drink containing matcha may have more caffeine than a carefully formulated decaf coffee.
Likewise, one mushroom coffee could contain considerably more coffee than another.
There is no reliable caffeine figure that applies to every product carrying the words mushroom coffee.
Can You Drink Mushroom Coffee in the Evening?
That depends primarily on how much caffeine the product contains and your individual sensitivity to caffeine.
Regular mushroom coffee may not be fundamentally different from other caffeinated coffee in this respect.
The presence of reishi, lion’s mane or another mushroom does not cancel out caffeine.
People who want a coffee-style drink later in the day may therefore prefer:
- Decaf mushroom coffee
- A clearly labelled caffeine-free mushroom drink
- A coffee-free roasted drink
- A caffeine-free mushroom tincture added to another beverage
If sleep is the reason you are reducing caffeine, checking the actual mg per serving is more useful than relying on words such as “evening”, “calm” or “adaptogenic”.
Is Decaf or Caffeine-Free Mushroom Coffee Better?
Neither format is inherently “better”. They solve slightly different problems.
Choose decaf mushroom coffee when maintaining the recognisable taste and ritual of coffee is important but you want substantially less caffeine.
Choose a caffeine-free mushroom coffee alternative when eliminating caffeine is the priority and you are comfortable with a drink that may taste less like conventional coffee.
Choose a low-caffeine mushroom coffee when you still want some caffeine but would prefer less than you normally consume.
And consider a mushroom tincture or liquid extract if you would rather choose your mushroom format independently from whatever you happen to be drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mushroom Coffee Have Caffeine?
Usually, yes. If mushroom coffee contains ordinary coffee beans or instant coffee, it contains caffeine. The mushroom ingredients themselves are not the principal caffeine source.
Does Mushroom Coffee Have Less Caffeine Than Regular Coffee?
Some products do because they use less coffee per serving, but this is not universal. Check the declared caffeine content rather than assuming all mushroom coffee is low caffeine.
What Is Low Caffeine Mushroom Coffee?
Low-caffeine mushroom coffee is typically formulated with less caffeinated coffee, a mixture of regular and decaf coffee, or coffee combined with larger proportions of other ingredients. It still contains caffeine.
Is Mushroom Coffee Naturally Caffeine-Free?
No. The phrase mushroom coffee tells you that mushrooms are included, not that caffeine is absent. If ordinary coffee is also present, the drink will normally contain caffeine.
Is Decaf Mushroom Coffee Completely Caffeine-Free?
Not necessarily. Decaffeinated coffee can retain small residual amounts of caffeine. If complete caffeine avoidance is important, check the manufacturer's specification.
Does Lion’s Mane Have Caffeine?
Lion’s mane mushroom is not a natural source of caffeine. A lion’s mane coffee may contain caffeine because of the coffee or another caffeinated ingredient used alongside it.
Does Reishi Contain Caffeine?
Reishi itself is not a conventional caffeine source. A reishi drink can nevertheless contain caffeine if coffee, tea or another caffeinated ingredient has been added.
Does Cordyceps Contain Caffeine?
Cordyceps itself is not responsible for the caffeine in a cordyceps coffee. Check the other ingredients in the formulation.
Are Mushroom Tinctures Caffeine-Free?
Plain mushroom liquid extracts will generally not require caffeine, but formulations vary. Check the complete ingredients list, particularly in multi-ingredient products.
Is Coffee-Free the Same as Caffeine-Free?
No. A coffee-free drink could still contain caffeine from matcha, tea, yerba mate, guarana, cacao or added caffeine.
Is Caffeine-Free Mushroom Coffee Also Sugar-Free?
Not automatically. Caffeine and sugar are separate ingredients. Check both the ingredients list and nutrition information.
The Bottom Line: Does Mushroom Coffee Have Caffeine?
Mushroom coffee is highly likely to contain caffeine.
However it depends entirely on the ingredients alongside the mushrooms.
If ordinary coffee is present, expect caffeine.
If the product uses less coffee, it may be a low caffeine mushroom coffee.
If it uses decaffeinated beans, it can provide the familiar coffee experience with very little caffeine — although decaf mushroom coffee is not necessarily completely caffeine-free.
And if there is no coffee or other caffeine-containing ingredient at all, you are moving into genuinely caffeine-free mushroom coffee alternatives, coffee-free adaptogenic drinks and mushroom tinctures.
The simplest rule is therefore also the most useful:
That way, you can choose between regular, low-caffeine, decaf and caffeine-free options according to what you actually want from your daily drink.
References
- Food Standards Agency (2024). FSA and FSS issue guidance on caffeine in food supplements. The FSA advises that caffeine intake of up to 400mg per day is unlikely to cause adverse effects in adults and recommends a 200mg daily limit during pregnancy.
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy. Includes indicative caffeine levels for common drinks, including approximately 100mg for instant coffee.
- GOV.UK. Food standards: labelling and composition. Explains UK rules covering soluble coffee and use of the term “decaffeinated”.
- McCusker, R.R., Fuehrlein, B., Goldberger, B.A., Gold, M.S. and Cone, E.J. (2006). Caffeine content of decaffeinated coffee. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Testing demonstrated that decaffeinated coffee may retain small quantities of caffeine.
- Łysakowska, P., Sobota, A. and Wirkijowska, A. (2023). Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review. Molecules, 28(14), 5393.
- Coffee with Cordyceps militaris and Hericium erinaceus Fruiting Bodies as a Source of Essential Bioactive Substances (2024). Research examining mushroom material incorporated into different coffee preparations.
- Yang et al. (2025). Innovative applications of medicinal mushrooms in functional foods and nutraceuticals: a focus on health-boosting beverages. Review discussing mushroom-based beverages and developing functional-food applications.
- Frontiers in Natural Products (2026). Bioactive constituents of Hericium erinaceus: extraction strategies, health benefits and food applications. Reviews water, ethanol and other extraction approaches used with lion’s mane.
- GOV.UK. Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. Register of nutrition and health claims applicable to commercial communications in Great Britain.
- GOV.UK. Nutrition, health claims and supplement labelling. Guidance explaining that foods cannot be marketed as treating, preventing or curing diseases and that nutrition and health claims are regulated.
