Nerd Fuel: RYZE Medium Roast Mushroom Coffee

Here’s a coffee review I never thought I’d be writing. Today I want to talk about my latest obsession… mushroom coffee. Yes. You read that right. If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen advertisements for this stuff online. The first time I saw the words “mushroom” and “coffee” together, the thought of such a combination made me want to gag. I’m not a fan of mushrooms. I never have been. But even if I did enjoy eating them, I can’t fathom what would make somebody want to drink them. But, after years of seeing these advertisements and reading all of the potential health benefits surrounding the product, I have to admit. I was curious. Then the other day, I was at my local grocery store and a saw a small box of this stuff on the shelf. The box contained six individual servings for only $10. After contemplating it for a few minutes, I thought “why not?”.

I have to admit. I was fully expecting to toss this stuff directly into the trash can. I couldn’t imagine any scenario where I would actually enjoy something called “mushroom coffee”. Then something happened… I took a sip and I wasn’t grossed out. I waited a second, then took another sip. Holy crap! This stuff actually tasted good! The next thing I knew, I was online ordering something called the RYZE Ritual Box. Now, over a week later, I’ve basically replaced all of the my regular coffee drinking with RYZE mushroom coffee.

So, what is this stuff exactly? RYZE mushroom coffee is an instant coffee powder. It contains instant coffee blended with six adaptogenic mushrooms (cordyceps, lions man, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, and king trumpet). Preparation is simple, you scoop one tablespoon of RYZE into your favorite mug and mix it with 8 ounces of hot water. From there, you can add whatever you normally prepare your coffee with (sugar, cream, etc).

The flavor is best described as a medium roast coffee, with a somewhat earthy and nutty aftertaste. There’s not much bitterness at all. I was immediately surprised at how smooth and rich it tasted. Before actually trying it for myself, I had read reviews claiming that it either tasted like dirt or, worse yet, sour vomit. Thankfully, neither was the case.

I also found that the energy boost I got from this seemed to last longer than the kick I get from traditional coffee. As an added bonus, I didn’t feel the nervous jitters that I sometimes experience when I down a whole mug in a short amount of time. On top of that, I want to say that I can actually feel the calming effect that some people claim to achieve from this product. Of course, it’s entirely possible that’s nothing more than a placebo effect on my part.

The only drawback I’ve found to this stuff is the price. A normal bag of RYZE contains thirty servings and this typically retails for $40-$50. That’s pretty pricey, I’ll admit. But, while researching, I found the Ritual Set gift box for about $55. This starter set includes two 30-serving bags, a bag of mushroom “superfood” powdered creamer, a wooden scoop, wooden stirring spoon, and a fancy little wooden jar. There was also a free bag of mushroom chocolates as a gift. This amounts to sixty servings of RYZE (and a ton of extras) for a little over $50. For me, that’s a perfectly acceptable price as I typically only drink one cup of coffee per day on average.

Lots of people make some really big claims about this product. Some even consider this to be one of those wellness brands. I’m not here to tell you that you’ll lose weight or de-bloat just from drinking this stuff. But I can tell you that it tastes good and has less caffeine than a normal serving of coffee. The functional mushrooms in the blend do seem to have a positive effect on my mood. But who knows if that will last long term.

Still, I’ve throughly enjoyed this coffee and for the most part it’s replaced my regular K-Cup pods. Unless I’m no longer able to get a bundle deal, I plan to continue drinking this in lieu of my regular brew for the foreseeable future.

Score: 4 out of 4

Would buy again?: Yes. I’m sold. The flavor is rich and delicious. The energy I get from this seems to last longer without the crash of traditional coffee. There’s less waste involved (no filter or pod to dispose of). I understand that this might not appeal to everyone. But, I’m sold.