About Our Coffee
Does mushroom coffee taste like mushrooms?
No. Both of our blends are coffee-forward — the mushroom extracts are designed to blend into the flavor, not overpower it. The ground coffee tastes like a smooth medium roast with dark chocolate and toasted nut notes. The instant has toasted almond, subtle berry brightness, and a soft toffee finish. If you like good coffee, you'll feel at home.
What is the difference between your ground and instant coffee?
Both contain Lion's Mane and Chaga, but the coffee base and experience are different. The ground coffee is a multi-origin blend of Brazilian and Colombian Arabica (Catuaí, Mundo Novo, Caturra, Colombia, Castillo) — fuller body, dark chocolate notes, brewed like regular coffee. The instant is single-origin Papua New Guinea Arabica (Typica, Bourbon, Arusha) — lighter body, toasted almond and toffee, dissolves in hot water with no brewing needed.
How much caffeine is in each serving?
Caffeine content varies by brewing method and serving size, comparable to a standard cup of coffee. Our production partner does not measure exact caffeine content because it depends on how you brew it.
Is it sweetened?
No. Our blends contain only coffee and mushroom extracts — no added sugar, sweeteners, flavoring, or fillers.
What does mushroom coffee taste like?
Coffee. Our ground blend tastes like a smooth medium roast — dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and a clean finish. The instant is lighter with toasted almond, subtle berry brightness, and a soft toffee finish. The mushroom extracts blend into the coffee flavor — you won't taste "mushroom."
Is it keto or low-carb friendly?
Yes. A serving of Mariko Grove has zero sugar, zero carbs, and no sweeteners or fillers. Black coffee with mushroom extracts — nothing else.
Is it low acid?
Our blends are naturally smooth and low in perceived bitterness, but we haven't lab-tested for pH. Many customers who switched from higher-acid coffees tell us the cup feels easier on their stomach.
Does it contain any fillers or additives?
No. Ingredients are coffee and mushroom extracts — that's it. No sugar, no sweeteners, no flavoring, no grain fillers, no gums, no artificial anything.
Can I add milk or sweetener?
Absolutely. It works great black, but it also pairs well with oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or dairy. Add honey, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener to taste. See our Brewing Guide for latte and iced variations.
Can I use it in a French press or cold brew?
Yes to both. French press works well — expect a fuller body and some sediment from the fine mushroom powder. For cold brew, steep 8–12 hours (shorter than typical coarse-ground cold brew) and strain through a paper filter. Full details in our Brewing Guide.
How many cups can I drink per day?
Most customers drink 1–3 cups daily as they would regular coffee. Caffeine content is comparable to standard coffee, so your usual caffeine limits apply.
About Mushroom Coffee
What is mushroom coffee?
Mushroom coffee is a blend of regular coffee and powdered extracts from edible mushrooms like Lion's Mane, Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps. Despite the name, it doesn't taste like mushrooms — most blends are designed to maintain a familiar coffee flavor. Read our full guide to mushroom coffee.
Does mushroom coffee have less caffeine than regular coffee?
Many blends contain less caffeine per serving because mushroom extracts partially replace coffee beans. However, caffeine levels vary by brand, so always check product labels.
How do you make mushroom coffee?
Mushroom coffee can be prepared just like regular coffee. Ground blends brew in a drip maker, pour-over, or French press. Instant varieties dissolve in hot water. It can also be prepared with milk, oat milk, or creamers.
About the Mushrooms
What is Lion's Mane mushroom?
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom that grows naturally on hardwood trees in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is recognized by its distinctive white, cascading strands and has been used as both a food ingredient and in traditional culinary practices for centuries. Read our full Lion's Mane guide.
What does Lion's Mane taste like?
Fresh Lion's Mane is mild, slightly sweet, and savory. In powdered or extracted forms, the flavor is neutral to lightly earthy. In beverages like mushroom coffee, it is typically masked by coffee, cacao, or tea flavors.
How much Lion's Mane is in each serving?
We are working on publishing exact per-serving amounts and will update this page when ready. Learn more about the Lion's Mane we use on our Our Mushrooms page.
What is Chaga mushroom?
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold climates across North America, Northern Europe, and Asia. Unlike typical cap-and-stem mushrooms, Chaga forms a dark, rugged growth on the outside of trees and has been brewed into warm beverages for centuries. Read our full Chaga guide.
What does Chaga taste like?
Chaga beverages are often described as smooth and earthy, slightly nutty or woody, and naturally mild without a strong mushroom flavor. When blended into coffee or lattes, Chaga typically enhances depth without overpowering the drink.
Does Chaga contain caffeine?
Chaga itself is typically caffeine-free. However, when blended into mushroom coffee products, the coffee component provides caffeine. Caffeine levels depend on the specific blend and ratio.
How much Chaga is in each serving?
We are working on publishing exact per-serving amounts and will update this page when ready. Learn more about the Chaga we use on our Our Mushrooms page.
Are these fruiting body extracts?
Our Lion's Mane is a blend of mycelium and fruiting body, cultivated on organic oats. See our Our Mushrooms page for more detail on what this means and why we chose this format.
Does this contain mycelium-on-grain?
Yes. Our Lion's Mane is a mycelium and fruiting body blend cultivated on organic oats. This means both growth stages are included — fruiting body for hericenones and mycelium for erinacines. See our Our Mushrooms page for details.
What is the difference between fruiting body and mycelium?
The fruiting body is the visible mushroom — the part that grows on a tree. Mycelium is the root-like network that grows through a substrate. Each contains different bioactive compounds. Our Lion's Mane includes both growth stages to capture hericenones (fruiting body) and erinacines (mycelium). More detail on our Our Mushrooms page.
Is the mushroom extract organic?
Our Lion's Mane is cultivated on organic oats. We don't currently carry a USDA Organic certification for the finished product. We're transparent about what's in the bag — see our Our Mushrooms page for full sourcing details.
What does "third-party tested" actually mean?
It means an independent lab — not us, not our production partner — tests our roasted coffee base for heavy metals, mycotoxins, mold, and yeast before mushrooms are added. The results are published as Certificates of Analysis (COAs) on our Lab Reports page. Anyone can review them. We are working to obtain finished-product and mushroom extract COAs and will publish those as they become available.
Safety & Quality
Is your coffee third-party tested?
Yes. Our roasted coffee base is independently tested for heavy metals, mycotoxins, mold, and yeast before mushrooms are added. See our Lab Reports page for certificates of analysis. Finished-product and mushroom extract COAs are in progress.
What is a COA (Certificate of Analysis)?
A COA is a lab report issued by an independent third-party lab for a specific batch of mushroom coffee. It lists pass/fail results for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), microbial levels (bacteria, yeast, mold, E. coli, Salmonella), potency (beta-glucan content), and species identity confirmation. Read our full COA guide.
Why is third-party testing important for mushroom coffee?
Mushrooms absorb heavy metals, pesticides, and mold from their growing environment. Without testing, there is no way to verify that the product is free of contaminants or that it actually contains the mushroom species listed on the label. Third-party testing catches these problems before anyone drinks it.
How do you read a COA?
Check three things: heavy metals should say "Pass" or show numbers well below safety limits; mold and yeast should show "Not detected" or results within passing range; and beta-glucans should show a percentage (25% or higher generally indicates more of the compounds people seek in functional mushrooms).
Is it vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free?
Yes. Our blends contain only coffee and mushroom extracts — no dairy, gluten, animal products, fillers, or artificial additives.
Can I drink mushroom coffee every day?
Our blends are designed for daily use as a regular coffee replacement. Many customers enjoy them as part of their morning routine.
Who should talk to a doctor before using functional mushrooms?
We recommend consulting your healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication (especially blood thinners, immunosuppressants, or diabetes medication), have a scheduled surgery, have a mushroom allergy, or have a diagnosed autoimmune condition. This is not medical advice — your doctor knows your situation best.
Does mushroom coffee contain heavy metals?
Our roasted coffee base is independently tested for heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury before mushrooms are added. Results are published on our Lab Reports page. All batches to date have tested within safe limits.
Is it safe to take with medications?
If you're on blood thinners, immunosuppressants, diabetes medication, or any prescription medication, talk to your doctor before adding functional mushrooms to your routine. Lion's Mane and Chaga may interact with certain medications. This is not medical advice.
Can kids drink mushroom coffee?
Mariko Grove contains caffeine comparable to regular coffee, so we don't recommend it for children. The mushroom extracts have not been widely studied in pediatric use. Talk to your pediatrician if you have questions.
Is it safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
We recommend avoiding functional mushroom products during pregnancy and breastfeeding until more safety data is available. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
Shipping & Returns
Where do you ship?
We currently ship within the United States. International shipping is not yet available.
How long does shipping take?
Orders are processed within 1–3 business days. Delivery typically takes 3–7 business days depending on your location. See our Shipping Policy for full details.
Can I return my order?
Unopened products may be returned within 14 days of delivery. Damaged or defective orders are eligible for replacement within 7 days. See our Returns Policy for details.
Storage & Preparation
How should I store mushroom coffee?
Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture and direct sunlight. No refrigeration needed.
Contact
How can I contact you?
Email us at hi@marikogrove.com or visit our Contact page. We respond Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM PST.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.