Does Mushroom Coffee Make You High? Effects Explained

By Mushroom Naturals | Last Updated: 19th February 2025

man high on mushrooms
 

Mushroom coffee has taken the wellness world by storm, offering a healthier alternative to regular coffee with its promise of better focus, immune support, and gentler energy. But with all the buzz around its benefits, you might wonder: Does mushroom coffee make you high? After all, medicinal mushrooms are packed with bioactive compounds, and some mushrooms are even known for their psychoactive effects. In this article, we’ll explore whether mushroom coffee can cause a psychedelic high, how it differs from magic mushrooms, and the true effects it has on your mind and body.

Key Takeaways: 

  • No, mushroom coffee does not make you high because it does not contain psychedelic compounds like psilocybin found in magic mushrooms.
  • Mushroom coffee contains medicinal mushrooms like Lion’s Mane and cordyceps, which offer mental clarity and immune support but do not alter perception.
  • The mushrooms used in mushroom coffee are adaptogens, a class of herbs and mushrooms that help the body adapt to stress and promote overall well-being. They provide energy and cognitive benefits without the hallucinogenic effects typically associated with mushrooms.
  • Mushroom coffee is a safe and reliable daily drink. It can help with focus, mood, and stress without causing a psychedelic high.

What is Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee is a beverage made by combining medicinal mushroom powders or extracts with regular coffee grounds. It offers the energy boost of coffee combined with the adaptogenic properties of medicinal mushrooms, providing benefits like increased focus, stress reduction, and immune support. The most commonly used mushrooms in mushroom coffee include:

  • Lion’s Mane – Known for supporting brain function and improving focus.
  • Reishi – Known for its stress-relieving and immune-boosting properties.
  • Cordyceps – Known for increasing energy levels and improving physical performance.
  • Chaga – Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Turkey Tail – Promotes gut health and digestive balance.

Mushroom coffee is often marketed as a healthier alternative to regular coffee. It offers a gentler caffeine boost and sustained energy without traditional coffee's typical jitters or crashes.

Does Mushroom Coffee Make You High? 

Mushroom coffee, made from functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and cordyceps, is safe and non-psychoactive. It offers mental clarity, improved focus, and increased energy without inducing a psychedelic experience or altering one's state of consciousness.

Can You Get High from Drinking Mushroom Coffee?

You cannot get high from drinking mushroom coffee. The medicinal mushrooms in mushroom coffee—such as Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps—are known for their adaptogenic properties, meaning they help the body adapt to stress and promote overall well-being. These mushrooms don’t contain psilocybin or any other psychoactive compounds, so they will not induce any feelings of being “high.” The main effects are enhanced focus, mental clarity, immune support, and energy.

What’s the Difference Between Functional Mushrooms and Psychedelic Mushrooms?

The key difference between functional mushrooms and psychedelic mushrooms lies in their chemical composition.

  • Functional mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, cordyceps, Reishi, and Chaga) contain bioactive compounds that offer health benefits, such as improved cognitive function, immune support, and stress relief. These mushrooms are often used in supplements and beverages, such as mushroom coffee.
  • Psychedelic mushrooms, on the other hand, contain psilocybin, the compound responsible for hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. These mushrooms are typically consumed for recreational or therapeutic experiences related to psychedelic trips.

So, while mushroom coffee uses non-psychoactive mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms contain compounds that are known to cause euphoria and hallucinations.

What Mushrooms Are Used in Mushroom Coffee?

chaga mushroom

The main mushrooms used in mushroom coffee include:

  • Lion’s Mane: Famous for enhancing mental clarity and supporting brain function.
  • Reishi: Known for its calming effects, immune support, and ability to reduce stress.
  • Cordyceps: Boosts physical endurance, energy, and overall stamina.
  • Chaga: Provides a high concentration of antioxidants, supporting overall immune health.
  • Turkey Tail: Supports gut health and provides prebiotic benefits.

These mushrooms are selected for their specific health benefits, making mushroom coffee a unique and nourishing beverage for those seeking more than just an energy boost.

Does Mushroom Coffee Contain Psychedelic Mushrooms?

Mushroom coffee does not contain psychedelic mushrooms like Psilocybe mushrooms, which are responsible for hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. Instead, mushroom coffee is made with functional mushrooms that provide health benefits but do not induce a psychedelic high.

What’s the Difference Between Functional Mushrooms and Magic Mushrooms?

Functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps offer health-promoting effects such as stress reduction, immune support, and cognitive enhancement. They are used in wellness products like mushroom coffee to provide benefits without psychoactive effects. On the other hand, magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a compound that induces psychedelic experiences such as euphoria, visual distortions, and altered consciousness. These mushrooms are typically consumed for recreational purposes or in therapeutic settings to explore consciousness.

Magic mushrooms, however, contain psilocybin, a compound that induces psychedelic experiences such as euphoria, visual distortions, and altered consciousness. These mushrooms are typically consumed for recreational purposes or in therapeutic settings to explore consciousness.

Are There Any Hallucinogenic Compounds in Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee does not contain hallucinogenic compounds like psilocybin. The mushrooms used in mushroom coffee—such as Lion’s Mane and Reishi—are primarily used for their adaptogenic properties and ability to support mental clarity, stress relief, and immune health. However, they do not alter perception or consciousness.

Can Any Functional Mushrooms Alter Your Perception or Mood?

While functional mushrooms like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, and Cordyceps can positively influence mood, energy, and cognition, they do not cause hallucinations or altered states of consciousness. These mushrooms support mental well-being, focus, and stress management, but they don’t change your perception in the way psychedelic mushrooms do.

Effects of Mushroom Coffee on the Brain and Body

the brain

Mushroom coffee offers a wide range of brain and body benefits.

It can enhance focus, mental clarity, and mood. For instance, Lion’s Mane is known for its ability to support brain function and cognitive performance, promoting a clearer mind.

Mushrooms like Reishi are adaptogenic, promote relaxation, and reduce stress. They help balance the body’s stress response but do not induce a psychedelic high.

Lion’s Mane in mushroom coffee supports brain health and enhances focus, providing a clearer mind without the jitters or crashes commonly associated with regular coffee.

Mushroom coffee does not induce euphoria like psychedelic mushrooms. However, the adaptogens in mushroom coffee can provide a sense of calm and well-being, which can help improve overall mood.

Which Mushrooms in Mushroom Coffee Influence Brain Function?

Several mushrooms in mushroom coffee contribute to brain health and mental clarity:

  • Lion’s Mane has been shown to boost brain function, memory, and focus, helping improve cognitive performance.
  • Reishi has calming effects and supports relaxation, but it does not induce a psychedelic high.
  • Chaga and Cordyceps enhance energy and stamina without altering your state of consciousness.

Mushroom coffee does not cause altered perception or a psychedelic high. Unlike magic mushrooms (Psilocybe species), mushroom coffee contains no psychoactive compounds.

Mushroom coffee does not cause hallucinations. The mushrooms used in mushroom coffee, like Lion’s Mane and Reishi, do not have any psychoactive properties.

Are There Any Reports of People Feeling “High” from Mushroom Coffee?

There are no credible reports of people feeling "high" from drinking mushroom coffee. Any positive effects are due to improved focus, calming effects, and energy boosts from the mushrooms and the caffeine, but none cause a psychedelic experience.

Can the Combination of Mushrooms and Caffeine Lead to an Altered State?

Combining mushrooms and caffeine in mushroom coffee provides a balanced energy boost but does not cause altered states of consciousness. Unlike psychedelic mushrooms, the mushrooms used in coffee don’t influence the brain’s neurotransmitters in a way that produces a high.

How Mushroom Coffee Differs from Psychedelic Mushrooms

cup of mushroom coffee

Mushroom coffee is made from functional mushrooms, which are known for their health benefits, while psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, the compound responsible for hallucinations.

Psilocybin mushrooms induce psychedelic effects, including euphoria and hallucinations. In contrast, functional mushrooms are consumed for their health benefits, such as immune support and cognitive function, but they do not have any psychoactive effects.

Mushroom coffee does not contain any illegal or controlled substances. The mushrooms used in mushroom coffee are non-psychoactive and are safe for general consumption.

Mushroom coffee will not trigger a drug test. It does not contain psilocybin or any other controlled substances that could affect drug test results.

Does Mushroom Coffee Affect Neurotransmitters?

Mushroom coffee, particularly with mushrooms like Lion’s Mane and Reishi, can influence neurotransmitter activity in ways that benefit mental clarity, focus, and mood.

Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane may influence dopamine and serotonin levels, supporting mood and cognitive function, but they do not cause a psychedelic high.

The adaptogens in mushrooms like Reishi can support emotional well-being, relaxation, and stress relief without affecting consciousness.

Mushrooms like Reishi and Cordyceps can help reduce stress and anxiety, making mushroom coffee a relaxing beverage, but it doesn’t induce any form of psychedelic high.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Do Some People Think Mushroom Coffee Can Make You High?

Some people may confuse the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms with the psychoactive effects of magic mushrooms. However, mushroom coffee contains only functional mushrooms, which provide health benefits without altering perception.

2. Can You Mix Mushroom Coffee with Other Substances for a Stronger Effect?

Mixing mushroom coffee with other substances, such as MCT oil or collagen, can enhance its health benefits but will not induce a high.

3. Are There Any Risks of Drinking Too Much Mushroom Coffee?

While mushroom coffee is generally safe, consuming too much may lead to digestive discomfort, caffeine sensitivity, or mild insomnia if consumed too late in the day.

4. Does Mushroom Coffee Affect People Differently Based on Dosage?

The effects of mushroom coffee may vary depending on dosage and individual tolerance, particularly for caffeine-sensitive people or those new to adaptogens.

5. Can Mushroom Coffee Be Used for Relaxation Without Causing a High?

Mushroom coffee can be used to enhance relaxation and reduce stress due to mushrooms like Reishi without causing any psychedelic effects.

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