Say goodbye to your ordinary flat white—there’s a new brew in town, and it’s stirring up quite the buzz. Functional coffees, infused with ingredients like mushrooms, protein, and collagen, are no longer just a health food store staple; they’re now making their way into mainstream coffee shops, promising more than just a caffeine kick. But here’s where it gets controversial: are these trendy beverages truly worth the hype, or are they just another wellness fad? Let’s dive in.
For the past three years, Zak Haddad has started his mornings with a cup of coffee infused with lion’s mane mushroom. He swears it gives him a ‘clear, focused feeling’ without the dreaded crash that often comes with strong coffee. Inspired by this, Zak introduced mushroom coffees to the menu when he opened his own coffee shop, Sipp, in Chorlton, Greater Manchester, in late 2023. His shop offers four types of mushroom powders, each claiming unique benefits, and customers can add them to their drinks for an extra £1.
But here’s the part most people miss: While functional coffees are gaining popularity, the science behind their benefits is still evolving. Nutritionist Eli Brecher notes that mushroom coffees, like those made with lion’s mane, reishi, or chaga, are believed to enhance focus ‘without the jitters of regular coffee,’ but research is ongoing. Health food giant Holland and Barrett has nearly doubled its mushroom coffee range in the past year, and even Starbucks jumped on the bandwagon with its protein coffee, featuring high-protein milk and cold foam.
According to food research company Tastewise, functional coffee is set to be one of the top trends by 2026, with a 30% increase in mushroom coffees on UK coffee shop menus in the past year. ‘Functional coffees are shifting from niche wellness corners into the mainstream,’ says Brecher, who drinks mushroom coffee herself. She attributes this rise to growing interest in wellbeing, stress management, and energy stability. Adding these ingredients to coffee feels like an ‘easy upgrade,’ she adds.
Black Sheep Coffee, for instance, has been offering protein powder and CBD add-ons for a while, but recently launched its ‘functional health’ latte range. Their lion’s mane latte is the bestseller, with customer response ‘far beyond’ expectations. Yet, adding these extras isn’t cheap—a daily functional coffee habit could cost you about £30 more per month than your regular brew. Is it worth it? That’s the question dividing coffee lovers.
At Liverpool Street Station in London, opinions are split. Some, like Mariam Begum, are all in. The 31-year-old adds collagen and protein powder to her three to four daily coffees, believing it benefits her skin, joints, and hair. Others, like Lauren Devlin, a former power-lifter, haven’t tried functional coffees but are open to the idea. Lauren combines coffee with collagen and protein powder at home, saying it makes her feel fuller.
So, what do these coffees actually taste like? I tried Black Sheep’s lion’s mane ‘brain blend’ alongside a regular oat-milk latte. Andrew Salter, cofounder of mushroom drinks brand Dirtea, says lion’s mane has a subtle flavor, and I found the two coffees nearly identical—the mushroom latte was perhaps slightly more bitter, but the difference was minimal. And this is the part most people miss: the mushrooms in these coffees are not psychoactive, unlike their ‘magic’ counterparts, though many still confuse the two.
While some, like Ana Richardson from Cardiff, rave about the benefits—she says lion’s mane coffee made her feel more focused—others find it expensive. Ana now opts for lion’s mane tincture instead. She’s also tried ashwagandha-infused coffee, which she says keeps her alert without the jitters or anxiety.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Are these coffees truly transformative, or just a pricey placebo? Nutritional therapist Rakhi Lad calls the research on lion’s mane ‘promising’ but notes that high-street coffees often use small, inconsistent quantities. James Fleming, a professor of sports nutrition, points out that most people don’t need extra protein unless they’re elderly or professional athletes. Bini Suresh from the British Dietetics Association adds that the doses of functional ingredients in these coffees are often too low to replicate research-reported effects.
‘At present, there’s no robust evidence that lion’s mane in typical coffee doses can meaningfully improve memory, focus, or brain health,’ Suresh says. Yet, nutritionist Eli Brecher remains optimistic: ‘If it makes you feel good and you have the budget, go for it. But remember, it’s an add-on, not a magic fix.’
So, what do you think? Are functional coffees the future of your morning routine, or just another overpriced trend? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
