What’s the Deal With Mushroom Coffee? Our Editors Tested Two Viral Beverages To Find Out

What Alessandra Tested…

• MUD\WTR Nourish Mind & Body Protein ($80)

What Caroline Tested…

• MUD\WTR Original Starter Kit ($60)

Why Alessandra Tested...

Test Results...

• Texture. I was impressed to find that the texture was finer than other protein powders I’ve tried. This made it easier to use the shaker bottle (included), versus a traditional blender. Consequently, that made consumption easy and portable. 

• Taste. Here’s where this powder loses a few points for me. It was much chalkier than I was expecting. It’s not very sweet, so as someone who’s used to a delicious mocha-flavored protein powder, I found this drier, earthier taste to be a little jarring. That being said, I felt myself getting used to it the more I drank. I also improved it a bit by adding oat milk and a ripe banana and blending it all together.  

• Ingredients. I do love the transparency MUD\WTR provides. Right on the packaging, you can see that the formula contains 25 grams of plant-powered protein, 2.8 grams of nootropics and adaptogens, fiber, and vitamins. With all the mystery that comes with protein powders, I appreciated that this one uses only clean, USDA-organic ingredients and “no weird stuff.”

• Energy. Would I replace my morning coffee with this protein powder? Probably not. I didn’t feel the mood-boosting or focus-inducing effects of the functional mushrooms as much as I wanted to after the first week. I did, however, find it easy to replace my post-workout shake with this powder (so long as I blend it with fruits and creamy milk) since I felt more confident consuming ingredients I can actually pronounce.

Why Caroline Tested...

Test Results...

• Taste. The flavor is definitely on the earthy side, which won’t be for everyone — but I actually love it. It’s comforting and has just a hint of spice. Full disclosure, I drink my coffee black, so I am partial to a more bitter hot drink. I didn’t add sweetener, but again, I think a lot of people will want to. 

• Texture. The texture and flavor definitely improves with a splash (or more) of milk — I used oat milk and it thickened up the drink nicely for more of a latte vibe. I also added a bit of the included coconut/MCT oil creamer for more thickness, but I personally didn’t love the coconut flavor or the “oily” feel. Very personal to your palate, though.

• Energy levels. I drank this in the afternoon when my energy started to flag during the work day, and/or over the weekend when I knew I needed to get myself out the door for nighttime plans. I’m very sensitive to any caffeine beyond my mandatory cup of coffee early in the morning, but I found that the effects were very mild. I did feel a gentle lift in my energy, but it was even less of a boost than I have with caffeine tea. This is not a bad thing, as I feel jittery even *thinking* about having a second cup of coffee. But it might not be strong enough for people who really rely on several cups of coffee per day. (Honestly wondering whether some of the effects were psychosomatic/a placebo effect? But does it even matter?)

Sidenotes...

• For California residents, MUD\WTR has a studio location where they host in-person wellness workshops, classes and speaker events. You can also sign up to become a member and gain access to their fully equipped open workspace, complete with a cafe and private kitchen access. 

• Other popular MUD\WTR products include matcha, hot chocolate, sweetener, and creamer.

The Fine Details...

• MUD\WTR Nourish Mind & Body Protein ($80)

• MUD\WTR Original Starter Kit ($60)

  • Try their original starter kit today and get up to 43% off, plus a 30-day money back guarantee.