I tried a mushroom coffee and was blown away by the results
If you were to ask my friends to describe me, I'm fairly certain 'sleepy' would be one of the first words they'd use. I'm no stranger to a midday snooze, a post-work nap, or even a quick 30-minute rest before heading out for an evening event.
Despite starting my day with a cup of coffee, I often find myself feeling quite drowsy, and it's not uncommon for me to clock in a solid 12 hours of sleep if I've had a particularly exhausting day. As a result, people have often recommended adaptogenic blends of coffee, which promise other advantages.
The creators of London Nootropics secured offers from Deborah Meaden and Sara Davies on Dragon's Den in 2022. The brand incorporates special ingredients known as adaptogens that help balance physical and mental stressors. They recently released a fourth blend in their range.
Mush Love is a limited edition blend made in collaboration with Fantastic Fungi, the company behind the viral Netflix documentary. It uses lion's mane, cordyceps, and chaga mushrooms to elevate mornings. The limited edition is retailing at £12 for 12 sachets.
The blends' ingredients are said to counteract side effects like jitters, anxiety, and crashes—something I'm always keen to avoid. I've seen these ingredients in other drink blends, too—like DIRTEA's Cacao Super Blend, which I mixed in with vegan hot chocolate powder. It contains lion's mane (60 Servings) and is available on Amazon for £37.99.
Mushroom Coffee from Protein Works also contains similar ingredients, it's currently £23.99 instead of £39.99. Although I've not tried this one.
In addition to Mush Love, London Nootropics offers a variety of bundles, including the Starter Bundle. Priced at £40, it includes 12 sachet boxes of the brand's Flow Coffee (for focus), Mojo Coffee (for strength) and Zen Coffee (for calmness).
Reach readers can enjoy a 20% discount on London Nootropics with the code REACH20, valid until 11:59pm (BST) on 31/05/2025. This code can be used once per customer and cannot be combined with any other offers.
I've previously tried London Nootropics' blends Flow and Mojo. Mojo uses cordyceps, which is believed to boost energy and stamina, increase oxygen flow to muscles, enhance aerobic capacity, and reduce fatigue. Preparing the drink was straightforward.
I mixed it with hot oat milk, which resulted in a rather bitter taste. However, a dash of caramel syrup quickly fixed this, and I found myself enjoying it just like any other cup of joe.
The effects were immediate, with a noticeable increase in alertness. I found myself taking deeper breaths and feeling physically stronger, which was somewhat unexpected. This could certainly be a beneficial option on workout days.
As a remote worker, I noticed an increase in my typing speed, which I attributed to the coffee. Usually, such an energy surge would leave me jittery, but I experienced none of that.
I didn't feel the need for my customary lunchtime nap or my 5pm snooze, which was quite an achievement. Aside from the slightly bitter taste, the only negative I found with the drink is the long-term cost compared to regular coffee; the packs would make perfect gifts, though, for health-minded friends.
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