Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Review: Pros, Cons, Is it Effective?

We're tapping into ancient healing and wellness when we consume mushrooms. That's why it's so exciting when I see mainstream products that make the healthy benefits of mushrooms accessible to people who may not have time to frolic through meadows and forests around the world foraging for fruiting bodies. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee caught my eye because I've done some intensive research into the health benefits of mushrooms. As a registered dietitian (RD), I immediately wondered if a product like this could still offer the benefits of fresh-from-the-dirt fungi. I'm excited to share my take on whether or not people should consider making this their morning elixir to wake up on the right side of the toadstool.

Quick Summary of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Review

What Is Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee? I know what you're thinking. Can fungi really replace your beloved coffee beans? First, I want to say that I don't think you need to give up your regular coffee in order to benefit from a product like Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee. It can definitely be part of your life even if you're never giving up your morning Starbucks routine.

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee is a coffee drink that combines coffee with high-quality, food-grade mushrooms. Some of the products in the lineup skip coffee completely. The brand's coffee lineup is divided between ready-to-brew grounds, instant coffee, and pods. You can choose from a variety of roasts and flavors offering specific health benefits.

Pros:

• Vegan.
• Gluten-free.
• Uses free-trade ingredients.
• Designed to balance the caffeine “jitters.”
• Good for the gut.
• Available in many different “brew” types for your lifestyle.
• Reasonably priced.
• Nutrient density packed into your morning coffee.
• Has been endorsed by doctors.
• Quite tasty!
• Free shipping in the United States.

Cons:

• Can only be purchased online!
• The coffee can be slightly bitter at first.

Four Sigmatic Think Review

Four Sigmatic offers a lineup to help you get revved up in the morning using natural energy. As a dietitian, this is exactly what I love to see because people often get hooked on quick caffeine fixes and sugar rushes in the morning that leave them crashing just a few hours later. Four Sigmatic's morning-perfect lineup is all about sustained energy. The complete Think lineup of products includes these superstars:

• Ground Mushroom Coffee With Lion's Mane.
• Matcha Latte With Lion’s Mane.
• Adaptogen Focus With Lion's Mane.

All of these options are perfect if you need a coffee alternative. A glance at the ingredients shows me that these drinks are great for soothing your gastrointestinal system instead of irritating it first thing in the morning. Let's go through how these products provide energy without jitters.

Ground Mushroom Coffee With Lion's Mane

This is the pick if you want to stay as close to regular coffee as possible while dipping your toe into the benefits of mushroom coffee. This is an Arabica dark roast that won't give you the classic dark-roast crash. The blend supports both brain and body using lion's mane and chaga. You may already know lion's mane as a popular edible mushroom that's used in ancient herbal medicine. It's said to help balance mood to reduce anxiety and depression. There's even evidence to suggest that it can protect the body against nerve damage, cognitive decline, and dementia. While chaga is less popular, this dirt-like mushroom that grows on birch trees has powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting properties.

Matcha Latte With Lion's Mane

This yummy, brain-friendly drink combines ceremonial-grade matcha with organic coconut milk powder, organic coconut palm sugar, organic moringa, and organic stevia extract. It's a great pick for weaning yourself from your morning coffee because it contains just a sliver of caffeine that's going to help with withdrawal symptoms.

Adaptogen Focus With Lion's Mane

Offering the ultimate brain rescue, this drink combines lime juice, pineapple juice, rhodiola, guayusa, organic rosehip, pink Himalayan salt, stevia extract, and lion's mane to revive you when you need energy and focus. I want to cover some of the ingredients in here that may not be familiar to you. Also known as golden root, rhodiola root is a Tibetan-harvested super adaptogen that supports concentration and memory. Guayusa is an Amazonian “superleaf” that Ecuadorians consider to be spiritual.

Four Sigmatic Defend Review

The Defend lineup shakes things up with mushroom-based protein shakes. These are restorative, reparative shakes that can help you to fill in nutritional gaps in your day without reaching for high-calorie, high-sugar snacks that are going to leave you crashing. I think these blends can be really valuable if you feel like your hectic schedule is running you down.

Protein Can

The Protein Can product is available in sweet vanilla, creamy cacao, peanut butter, and unflavored. I want to stress that Protein Can isn't meant to be a meal replacement. However, it's great for getting through that stretch between meals. There are no sweeteners or fillers in here! Four Sigmatic does a great job of blending amino acids to help you get natural energy using an incredible blend of different mushrooms that includes chaga, lion's mane, reishi, and cordyceps. There's also Ashwagandha to help with blood sugar, inflammation, mood, memory, stress, and anxiety. The plant-based protein in these shakes comes from hemp, pumpkin seeds, chia, coconuts, and peas.

Ultimate Routine Bundle

The Ultimate Routine Bundle includes (1) Sweet Vanilla Protein Can, (1) Mushroom Ground Coffee With Lion's Mane, (1) Mushroom Cacao With Reishi, (1) Mushroom Blend, and (1) Limited Edition ALEX Cup. This is a fun way to get started because you can try several products. I think someone can really enjoy seeing the way that both mushroom coffee and plant-based mushroom protein mixes can impact how they feel at different points in the day.

Adaptogen Immune Support With Chaga

This one is exciting if you're looking for an enjoyable way to get some immune support without swallowing a handful of supplements every single day. This tasty drink uses chaga mushroom, organic beet extract, organic oregano extract, organic elderberry extract, and an adaptogenic root called eleuthero to help you enjoy stamina, endurance, and overall wellness. There's no better way to chug down antioxidants!

Four Sigmatic Chill Review

The Chill lineup is meant to help you wind down in the evening without necessarily powering down. These caffeine-free products can be enjoyed in perpetration for bedtime as part of your nighttime ritual. I especially like the way these blends help to calm down your tummy for gut wellness through the night.

Mushroom Cacao With Reishi

This lightly sweet, dairy-free cacao mix is so delicious. It blends real cacao powder with reishi mushroom, organic coconut palm sugar, organic cinnamon, organic cardamom, and organic stevia extract. Just add hot water!

Reishi Elixir

Designed to nourish you right into a peaceful night of sleep, this highly potent blend features organic reishi mushroom, organic tulsi, organic field mint, and rosehip extracts. This is a great option if you don't necessarily have a sweet tooth that demands cocoa before bed.

Evening Routine

This isn't actually a separate product. Evening Routine lets you stock up on three boxes of Mushroom Cacao With Reishi to make sure you're not left holding the spoon on a sleepless night! I think going with this option can be smart if you want to save some money because there's a good chance Mushroom Cacao With Reishi is going to become the center of your nightly self-care routine.

Key Ingredients and Benefits Analysis

I know I sped through a lot of different ingredients. While a lot of the wholesome, natural ingredients in Four Sigmatic products are probably familiar to you, there may be some mushroom and roots in the mix that you're just learning about for the first time. I'll do my best to give you a rundown on why these are good things to have in your wellness mixes!

Lion’s Mane

Lion's mane is a large, white mushroom that has a “shaggy mane.” Lion's mane is pretty incredible. Studies have shown that it can help to reduce some mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. It may also protect against dementia. The powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties of this wonder mushroom also show promise for helping to lower risks associated with cancers, ulcers, heart disease, and diabetes.

Cordyceps Mushrooms

Cordyceps are considered “performance” mushrooms because they are known to boost energy, endurance, and vitality. Cordyceps are believed to increase the body’s production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for better muscle performance. Studies reveal that cordyceps have an anti-fatigue effect in performance settings.

Chaga Mushrooms

Known to cling to birch trees in cooler climates, the chaga mushroom is a nutrient-dense superfood. Chaga mushrooms are often referred to as anti-aging mushrooms due to their ability to reduce oxidative stress responsible for wrinkling, graying, and other signs of aging. This one mushroom contains all of these amazing components:

• B-complex vitamins.
• Vitamin D.
• Potassium.
• Rubidium.
• Cesium.
• Amino Acids.
• Fiber.
• Copper.
• Selenium.
• Zinc.
• Iron.
• Manganese.
• Magnesium.
• Calcium.
• L-Theanine.

Some research indicates that chaga mushrooms may be beneficial for cancer prevention. Chaga mushrooms have also been shown to lower blood pressure, balance blood sugar, boost the immune system, and lower cholesterol.

Ashwagandha

I covered Ashwagandha briefly a little bit earlier in my review. However, this evergreen shrub deserves a lot more attention. Grown throughout India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, Ashwagandha is often referred to as “Indian ginseng.” It is used around the world as a natural treatment for stress and anxiety. Some people swear by Ashwagandha for treating insomnia. Research actually suggests that Ashwagandha does support better sleep. A study released in 2021 found “significant improvement” in the sleep parameters when Ashwagandha root extract was used. There's also lots of research to support claims that Ashwagandha reduces swelling, lowers blood pressure, and supports the immune system.

Is It Good Quality?

There are so many products out there claiming to offer “clean energy” for the body. As a dietitian, I've trained myself not to get too excited when a company claims to offer natural energy that supports wellness. The truth is that most products that claim to offer energy really just package excessive amounts of sugar and caffeine into fancy-sounding products. Four Sigmatic is the opposite of this. In fact, I'm not sure I've seen a nutrition or supplement brand ever offer this level of quality before.

There's simply nothing lazy about the way Four Sigmatic achieves the results it promises. The blends for energy are designed to give your body a steady buildup to higher energy levels by activating natural responses in your body to avoid the “peaks and valleys” that are so common with energy supplements. The brand's relaxation products also work in a similar way to naturally “bring your body down” to a relaxed, non-defensive state instead of “knocking you out.” One thing I see time after time with clients trying to use natural methods to fall asleep is that they still end up getting hooked on natural herbs and supplements that cause drowsiness. This can send them into a cycle of constantly trying to “perk up” in the morning using excessive amounts of caffeine that ultimately make it hard to wind down later in the day without a strong sedative.

The use of quality vegan and organic ingredients really speaks for itself across the Four Sigmatic product line. This is also one of the only supplement brands out there to consistently use fair-trade ingredients. Yes, the quality is real.

Safety and Serving Sizes

The ingredients used in these products are exceedingly safe. However, nobody can confirm that any product is safe for you without looking over your health history to check for allergies or aversions. Always do your research with some guidance from your physician before starting any new wellness routines. However, I can say that the use of very gentle, mainstream roots and herbs in these products can give you confidence.

Your serving sizes are going to vary based on the different products you're using here. However, the nice thing about this company is that the product labels are so helpful. You can take a look at the instructions to ensure that you're scooping the perfect amount. You can also order the packets to get perfect doses if you don't want to scoop. You're honestly just adding hot water to any of the products you choose!

Average Rating and Real Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Reviews

When I did my deep dive on Four Sigmatic products, I could see that all of the products were scoring about four stars out of five. In fact, five-star ratings are very abundant throughout the real and honest product reviews posted on each product page. As a dietitian, it was great to be able to read real product reviews from customers because I got a good feel for their experiences with these products that will help me to pass along more accurate recommendations to my clients.

Alternatives Compared to Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee is unique. However, it's not totally isolated in a class of its own. A few other brands also offer products in this wheelhouse. I have to be transparent about the fact that I really think Four Sigmatic is the one to beat in this category. However, I still want to cover a few other mushroom coffee brands just to show you what's out there.

RYZE makes mushroom coffee (read review) with slightly less caffeine than ordinary coffee using cordyceps, lion's mane, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, king trumpet, MCT oil, and coffee. This can be a nice transition if you're already in the MCT oil coffee fan club. I really have nothing negative to say about what shapes up to be a nourishing blend that mirrors most of what's in Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee. However, RYZE doesn't offer any protein products.

MUD\WTR is another popular option. However, this isn't actually mushroom coffee. The blend uses black tea leaves from masala chai for the caffeine content.

Finally, SuperMush gets mentioned a lot when mushroom coffee is discussed. This is actually a mouth spray that offers some of the same benefits as mushroom coffee. SuperMush is generally advertised for “immunity and serenity.” While I don't have a problem with this product, I can't recommend it for providing deep nourishment because it's not a food product.

Effective? Final Verdict

Definitely! Four Sigmatic achieves its goal of providing options for mushroom-infused coffee, plant-based protein, and herb-based relaxation across its full product lineup. I'm impressed by the real, pure mushrooms used. I also like the very short, clean list of herbs and amino acids I see when reading the labels on the various products. I can see how these products can be effective for providing stable, sustainable energy and wellness benefits that don't rely on artificial fillers to get you all hyped up!

Tips for Success From the RD

As I shared earlier, Four Sigmatic is not a meal replacement! These are supplemental drinks for energy and wellness. Here are some tips for getting the most out of Four Sigmatic products:

• Use them instead of your current “artificial” wellness crutches instead of just adding them in addition to sugary, highly caffeinated drinks and snacks.
• Eat proper meals to help support the positive effects mushroom coffee can have on your blood sugar levels.
• Don't cut caffeine cold turkey. Ease your way into reduced caffeine levels to avoid the headaches, shakes, tiredness, and irritability that may mask the benefits of your mushroom-based beverages. Starting with the dark roast mushroom coffee is smart if your goal is to get down to no coffee.

I hope I've been able to shed some light on why mushroom coffee is so popular! Don't forget that it never hurts to actually add some whole mushrooms to your plate. Of course, the tasty beverages in the Four Sigmatic lineup can help you to get the benefits of many different types of mushrooms with other natural roots, herbs, and fruit extracts in the mix!