Mushroom Coffee? Tried it Yet? Wild Ancient Remedies Are Turning Into Modern Rituals

My best gal pal tried to get me to try mushroom coffee over a year ago. I still haven’t tried it.

Recently more friends started mentioning they were drinking it. I thought OK well maybe I should look into it. 

I’m not the biggest mushroom fan, though I do like them sauteed in olive oil well done and I'm always interested in a good marsala dish!

But you’ll never get me to eat a really wild mushroom that my other half (a former chef ) might pick up excitedly while foraging through the woods.

No matter how hard he tries to convince me that wild mushrooms are a delicacy, I refuse to 'go down' from an accidentally poisonous mushroom. 

Because I follow trends, I have become aware that the trend of ‘functional mushrooms and things like mushroom coffee are… well mushrooming! 

So, I decided to do a little research.

On my Wellness Wednesday: Keeping the “Live” in Alive! segment, I sat down with John P. Gorst, founder of Ancient Extracts, to understand what’s behind what is clearly becoming more than just a quirky health trend.

 

This Isn’t Fringe Anymore—It’s a Movement

Here’s what got my attention:

• Mushroom coffee interest has surged dramatically in the last 2–3 years
• It’s part of a multi-billion-dollar functional beverage category
• Some brands are already doing hundreds of millions in sales
• And it’s quietly making its way into mainstream retail

There is a definite shift in how people think about energy, focus, and daily rituals.

 

From Coffee Crashes to Steady Energy

John’s story was interesting.

He went from 3–4 lattes a day to trying mushroom coffee and noticing:

• No more afternoon crashes
• More consistent energy
• No desperate reach for a “power nap”

 

What’s Actually In Mushroom Coffee?

Functional mushroom ingredients like:

• Lion’s Mane for focus & mental clarity
• Reishi for calm & stress support
• Chaga & Cordyceps for energy & immunity

 

My guest John P. Gorst also mentioned something called 'Shilajit'.

What?

It’s a hundreds of years old mineral-rich substance that that stinks that literally oozes from Himalayan rocks high up in the mountains. John mixes this stuff every morning into his morning mushroom coffee. 

I couldn’t help but ask; “Who is the heck is climbing these mountains to go get this stuff?

And what's the appeal? 

John says ‘Shilajit’ …

• Is packed with trace minerals our bodies need  
• Supports cellular energy
• Taps into the growing “replace what modern life depleted” mindset

Very Wild… but apparently very on trend.

 

Why This Trend Is Blowing Up Right Now

This is the bigger story.

We are in the middle of a “coffee that does more” revolution.

People don’t just want caffeine anymore.

They want:

• Focus without jitters
• Energy without crashes
• Daily habits that double as wellness tools

And yes… even decaf that actually gives you energy.

It’s a mindset shift.

 

Where This Is Going

Mushroom coffee is still a small slice of the overall coffee market, but it’s pointing to something much bigger:

 The rise of functional everything
 The merging of wellness and convenience
 And consumers demanding more from everyday products

 

My Take?

I went into this conversation skeptical.

I came out thinking:

“Okay… there’s something here.”

I love innovation.
I love when people rethink everyday habits.
And I REALLY love when something helps people feel better in a smarter way.

So yes… I said it on-air, and I’ll say it here:

Ok fine fine fine… I’ll try the mushroom coffee.

John offered to send me some Ancient Extracts Mushroom Coffee to try. 

I’ll report back.

 

Here’s a Thought to Consider

Maybe pay attention to the things that make you say:
“That’s weird.”

Because more than not…
those are the things quietly becoming what’s next.

 

Enjoy the mushroom education in this podcast of my live conversation with John P. Gorst, founder of Ancient Extracts on Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show where my focus is all about “Keeping the LIVE in Alive!”