You’ve probably heard a lot about “mushroom coffee” or “adaptogenic coffee” lately, and for good reason. These functional blends are gaining momentum across the world, fast becoming a daily ritual for those looking to support their wellbeing in a more natural way.
So, what is adaptogenic coffee? What is mushroom coffee? What are the benefits? And how can these blends help you feel more focused, balanced and energised? London Nootropics reveals all in this ultimate guide.
What are adaptogens?
Adaptogens are plants, herbs, and mushrooms that help the body and mind adapt to stress. Used for thousands of years - particularly in Eastern traditions - adaptogens support the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis: balance in the body and mind - a stable internal state despite external stressors.
For example, if you’re feeling stressed before a big presentation, adaptogens like ashwagandha have been shown to help balance cortisol - the body’s primary stress hormone. This helps your system stay steady and resilient, no matter what’s happening around you.
Adaptogens support different systems in the body: ashwagandha acts on the adrenals to help regulate stress; Lion’s Mane mushroom has been shown to support cognitive function and memory; and Cordyceps mushroom has been shown to increase ATP — the primary energy carrier in cells - making it a popular choice among athletes and gym-goers for boosting energy and enhancing physical performance.
The synergies between adaptogens and caffeine
So, why combine adaptogens with coffee?
Caffeine is absorbed quickly, often leading to energy spikes followed by crashes - leaving us reaching for another cup. It’s easy to find yourself drinking 4-5 regular coffees a day, riding the ups and downs of the caffeine wave.
For some, even a single coffee can spike cortisol (our primary stress hormone), which may cause jitters, anxiety, or leave you feeling on edge. That’s where adaptogens come in.
Adaptogens help smooth out caffeine’s impact, reducing the intensity of the spike and crash. Many of our customers say they’ve gone from 4-5 regular coffees a day to just 1-2 adaptogenic coffees after switching.
Adaptogens like Ashwagandha support the adrenal system, helping to keep cortisol levels balanced-reducing common side effects like jitters, anxiety, and palpitations.
Think of adaptogens as a thermostat for your body: when caffeine causes cortisol to spike, adaptogens help regulate and restore equilibrium.
Adaptogenic coffee vs mushroom coffee
You’ve probably heard the terms "adaptogenic coffee" and "mushroom coffee" used interchangeably and may be wondering what sets them apart. We use the term adaptogenic coffee, as our coffee blends not only include functional mushrooms, they are also supported by best-in-class plant adaptogen extracts that have good synergies with coffee and caffeine.
The key difference? The ingredients and the specific health benefits they offer:
Adaptogenic Coffee
‘Adaptogenic coffee’ refers to coffee blended with herbs, plants, and mushrooms that help the body and mind adapt to stress. Some common adaptogens added to these blends include:
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), a well-known medicinal plant extract that promotes calmness and relaxation.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), a plant that sharpens mental clarity and boosts focus.
Cordyceps, a type of mushroom that enhances physical endurance and energy.
Mushroom coffee
As the name suggests, ‘mushroom coffee’ is a blend of caffeine and medicinal mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps and Chaga. These mushroom coffee blends give you the caffeine boost you're used to, with added health benefits from the mushroom extracts, they do not always include additional plant adaptogen extracts for support
In a nutshell, 'mushroom coffee' focuses on the benefits of medicinal mushrooms, while adaptogenic coffee includes the powerful functional mushroom extracts plus the additional of supporting plant adaptogen extracts.
What are the benefits of adaptogenic coffee? By keeping cortisol levels in balance, adaptogenic coffee offers a range of benefits that support your body's ability to manage stress, promoting overall wellbeing. For example:
Benefit #1: Adaptogenic coffee can help sharpen memory and focus
We often reach for a coffee to wake up and clear brain fog, whilst regular coffee can improve focus and concentration, adaptogens can take this a step further. Take Lion’s Mane, for example. Known as the 'brain mushroom' it's active compounds have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and increase the growth of neurons in our brains, improving cognitive function, memory and overall brain health.
For example, one study investigated whether Lion’s Mane could improve memory in Japanese men and women. The 30 participants were split into two groups: one took Lion’s Mane, and the other took a placebo three times a day for 16 weeks.
The results showed that the Lion’s Mane group had better memory scores and improved memory the longer they took it.
This is because the active compounds found in Lion’s Mane mushroom - hericenones and erinacines - may help protect brain cells from oxidative stress and contribute to better learning, memory and overall focus - they have also been shown to increase NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) in our brains, to stimulate new neuron growth.
Benefit #2: Adaptogenic coffee can improve sleep quality
Most of us find that drinking coffee later in the day can disrupt sleep. Even if you stick to a few cups earlier in the day, too much caffeine can still affect your ability to switch off at night - this is because caffeine works by blocking our adenosine receptors, which make us drowsy. We all metabolise caffeine at different rates, and most of us have a coffee cut-off time!
While coffee is known to boost productivity, a sleepless night can have the opposite effect!
We don't reduce the caffeine amount in each cup - every London Nootropics adaptogenic coffee has 80-110mg of caffeine, the equivalent to one shot of coffee, there are many health benefits from taking coffee. By swapping multiple cups of regular coffee for 1-2 cups of adaptogenic coffee a day, you can lower your overall caffeine intake and, in turn, support better sleep. Plus, the adaptogens themselves can help improve sleep quality.
For example, one study found that Ashwagandha helped people with insomnia and anxiety sleep better.
In the study, 60 people were split into two groups: one took an ashwagandha supplement, while the other took a placebo for 10 weeks.
Those who took ashwagandha fell asleep quicker, had better sleep quality, and felt less anxious than the placebo group.
Benefit #3: Adaptogenic coffee can boost athletic performance
Coffee is a well-known go-to for boosting sports performance. Even heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua reportedly downs a couple of espressos before stepping into the ring.
Adaptogens can enhance athletic performance in ways caffeine alone can’t achieve.
For example, Siberian Ginseng is a powerful root known for increasing blood flow and cell oxygenation. It’s been a staple in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and research has shown it can reduce a wide range of fatigue conditions.
One study found that ginseng can help reduce muscle damage after exercise in healthy adults, which suggests it could be important for an athlete’s recovery.
This is thanks to compounds in Siberian ginseng called eleutherosides. While they’re milder than those in Korean ginseng, they’re safe for long-term use, making Siberian ginseng a good option for athletes looking to speed up recovery and maximise their workouts.
Benefit #4: Adaptogenic coffee can help us stay balanced and stress-free
Adaptogens have long been used to help the body manage stress and anxiety. We’ve already touched on how caffeine can spike cortisol - the body’s primary stress hormone - and how adaptogens like ashwagandha help bring it back into balance.
Beyond their synergy with caffeine, adaptogens can have a powerful impact on overall stress levels. Lion’s Mane is known not only for its cognitive benefits but also as a natural mood-booster. Meanwhile, a clinical study on KSM-66 Ashwagandha showed that participants taking the root extract experienced significantly reduced serum cortisol levels compared to those taking a placebo. The results suggest that ashwagandha is both safe and effective in enhancing stress resilience and improving quality of life.
Together, these adaptogens make adaptogenic coffee a natural, effective tool for supporting calm, clarity, and everyday balance.
Benefit #5: Adaptogenic coffee can boost libido
Since adaptogens are thought to evoke a sense of calm and harmony by promoting balance, they may also help improve libido.
Cordyceps, a medicinal mushroom known for its energy-boosting effects, is an excellent choice. They help improve oxygen flow, increase aerobic capacity, and boost ATP levels, making them great for improving endurance and stamina.
In the East, Cordyceps is often referred to as a “deep energy awakener”, believed to enhance libido and support fertility.
In fact, one study found that cordyceps could improve the blood flow to sex organs, making it easier to experience desire and maintain sexual performance.
Where to buy adaptogenic coffee in the UK
At London Nootropics, we make it easy to incorporate best-in-class adaptogen extracts into your daily routine. Explore our adaptogenic coffee blends below.
Flow for mental clarity and focus, with 250mg of Hifas da Terra Lion’s Mane, with 45% beta-glucan fruiting bodies, and 83mg of a branded Rhodiola extract called RhodioLife® (grown from the Siberian Altai), standardised to 3% Rosavins & 1% Salidroside.
Zen for calming energy, with 153mg of L-theanine and 110mg of KSM-66 Ashwagandha®, known as the "Gold Standard" extract, standardised to 5% Withanolides.
Mojo for a natural boost, with 305mg of Hifas da Terra Cordyceps, standardised to 5% Cordycepin & 25% beta-glucan fruiting bodies, and 102mg of Siberian Ginseng (with 0.8% Eleutherosides) extract.
Mush Love for focus, energy, and immunity, with 160mg of Hifas da Terra organic Lion's Mane extract, with 45% beta-glucans, 160mg of Hifas da Terra Cordyceps extract, with 5% cordycepin and 25% beta-glucans, and 160mg of Hifas da Terra organic Chaga extract, with 45% total glucans.
