How much caffeine is in mushroom coffee?
The short answer: most mushroom coffees contain between 35mg and 60mg of caffeine per serve. Mello contains 48mg per serve, in both the coffee and the matcha, which is roughly half a standard double shot flat white.
Mushroom coffee caffeine vs espresso, tea and energy drinks
Numbers vary by brew and brand, but typical figures look like this. A single espresso shot runs about 60mg to 100mg. A double shot flat white or latte lands between 120mg and 200mg. A cup of instant coffee is usually 60mg to 80mg. A mug of black tea sits near 50mg, green tea a little lower, and a standard energy drink around 80mg. A serve of Mello, at 48mg, sits just below a cup of black tea and around half of what most Australians get from their usual cafe order.
Why mushroom coffee is lower in caffeine
The caffeine dose in a good mushroom coffee is a design decision, not a shortfall. Research on caffeine shows its useful effects, alertness, faster reaction time and improved mood, begin at doses well under 50mg. The unwanted effects, anxiety, jitters, disrupted sleep and the afternoon crash, climb as the dose does. A 48mg serve is enough to feel, and small enough that the comedown mostly disappears. The mushrooms carry the rest of the load, with Reishi in particular traditionally used to smooth the edge of stimulation.
Can you have two cups of mushroom coffee a day?
Yes. Two serves of Mello is 96mg of caffeine, still less than one large flat white. Many people have a second cup after lunch precisely because a 48mg serve at 2pm does not sabotage sleep the way a full strength coffee would. As a rule of thumb, Australian guidance treats up to 400mg a day as fine for most healthy adults, so a couple of serves leaves enormous headroom.
Will mushroom coffee keep you awake? Caffeine timing and sleep
Caffeine has a half life of roughly five to six hours, which means half of your 3pm coffee is still circulating at 9pm. This is where the lower dose earns its keep. Half of 48mg at bedtime is a rounding error. Half of 180mg is a reason you are staring at the ceiling. If sleep is the thing you are trying to fix, moving your last caffeine earlier and smaller does more than almost anything else, and an afternoon mushroom matcha is built for exactly that slot.
Who should limit caffeine further
Australian guidance suggests pregnant and breastfeeding women cap caffeine at around 200mg a day, which two serves of mushroom coffee sits comfortably under, though we would always suggest checking with your GP or midwife first. People with heart conditions, anxiety disorders or high caffeine sensitivity should do the same. And anyone on regular medication should have the same quick conversation with a pharmacist that any dietary change deserves.
Does mushroom matcha have the same caffeine as mushroom coffee?
In Mello's case, yes, about 48mg per serve in both blends. Matcha's caffeine also arrives alongside L-theanine, an amino acid that many people find gives the lift a calmer texture, which is why matcha has a reputation as the gentler of the two.
Mushroom coffee caffeine: the bottom line
Mushroom coffee gives you roughly half the caffeine of your usual cup, on purpose, because that is the dose where the benefits show up and the side effects mostly do not. If you want the full breakdown of what else is in the cup, start with our guide to what mushroom coffee actually is, or go straight to the Mushroom Coffee itself.