by Nigel Ong
Coffee may have been the most important drink that gets billions of humans going daily. However, many are also seeking ways to improve their coffee experience. Some drink premium coffee, while some explore other alternatives.
One such alternative coffee is RYZE. It is coffee with six types of mushrooms added in. These mushrooms are claimed to have medical benefits and can help with health. Is it as good as claimed? How about the taste? Let’s find out.
What Is RYZE Mushroom Coffee?
Two Harvard graduates founded RYZE Coffee in 2019 to put more benefits into the coffee we drink daily. They also set up RYZE to help coffee drinkers cut back on caffeine.
RYZE achieved this by adding medicinal mushrooms into their coffee and lowering its caffeine content. RYZE coffee is also made healthier in other ways.
It is gluten, soy, and sugar-free. The coffee beans used to make RYZE coffee are also non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and organic.
RYZE coffee also contains MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) oil. MCT oil is known for its antibacterial properties and helping with weight loss. RYZE’s MCT oil comes from coconut.
The mushrooms used in RYZE include:
Lion’s Mane: Well-researched in the medical community, many believe Lion’s Mane can help those struggling to mentally focus.
Cordyceps: Very popular in Asia, Cordyceps are consumed to boost overall health. Many also believe it can boost oxygen intake and improve physical performance.
Reishi: Reishi may also be known as Lingzhi. It is frequently used in Asian medicine. Reishi are believed to boost and strengthen the immune system. Some also claim that it has anti-cancer properties.
King Trumpet: Originating from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, many believe King Trumpet helps boost the immune system and energy.
Turkey Tail: Native to North America, Turkey Tail mushrooms are shaped like a fan. They are believed to help with overall health and support the immune system.
Shiitake: Shiitake is rich in pantothenic acid and copper. These nutrients are believed to help with providing consistent energy throughout the day.
How Does RYZE Mushroom Coffee Taste?
First Impression
My RYZE coffee arrived in a nice and sturdy cardboard box. I have confidence that the content inside is well protected by the packaging. Inside, there’s the coffee itself, a free wooden spoon, a leaflet promoting RYZE creamer, and a thank-you note from the founders.
The coffee powders are packaged in a plastic packaging. I tore it open, revealing the content inside. I was not hit by the welcoming smell of coffee. Instead, the smell is not very common.
It was a combination of coconut, coffee, and herbal smell, all put together. The smell instantly reminds me of health food stores run by hipsters. It is, however, not unpleasant. At least I can confirm the MCT oil and mushroom content inside the coffee.
I scooped up the powders and put some into my cup. The powders are fine, with the consistency of flour. It also looks quite similar to brown powdered sugar.
On Its Own
To make RYZE coffee, I first checked for brewing instructions. It says to bring a tablespoon of RYZE coffee with about 8 oz (about 236 ml) of hot water together.
I get a murky, brownish cup of drink that does not look like coffee. Aroma-wise, coconut dominated it, with some coffee notes appearing later. I would say this is the most un-coffee-like coffee I have ever smelled.
Taste-wise, there’s a little coffee flavor as well. Instead, I picked up a strong taste of coconut with a strong earthy note. The earthy note here is unlike the type you get from your coffee, but it has an herbal tinge. I suppose these are the mushrooms, not the coffee.
As I sip along, I dislike the earthy tastes more and more. The earthy notes seem to be turning into a dirt-like taste in my palate. I’m not too fond of this.
Perhaps there is a way I can save this drink. Would using flavorings help?
With Creamer
I generally like to have fat and creaminess in my coffee. I usually find coffees such as Lattes and Flat Whites smooth and easy to drink, which makes me wonder if some creaminess can help to make RYZE more palatable for me.
Since RYZE is so careful about the quality of its ingredients (non-GMO, organic & gluten-free), I thought I’d continue with that trajectory. I decided to use creamer instead of milk. Many health foods also avoid using milk since lactose intolerance is rising worldwide.
I added a stick of Coffee Mate creamer to my cup of RYZE. I stirred the drink in and then took sips.
I like what I tasted. The cream helps remove the drink’s earthiness a bit, making it more palatable. It also silkens and smoothens the coffee, making it nicer to sip.
The creamer also helps mellow the coconut taste, making it more similar to a regular cup of Coffee Mate coffee. I am quite happy with how the coffee tastes now.
However, will RYZE coffee be even smoother if we add some sweetener? Let’s find out.
With Sweetener
I added two drops of Equal artificial sweetener into my cup of RYZE coffee with creamer. I decided not to use sugar again to keep to the healthier trend of RYZE coffee.
The sweetener, to me, further smoothens the coffee, making it taste even better than RYZE with creamer. The sweetener helps soften the earthy notes even more and, combined with creamer, makes RYZE a great cup of coffee.
I prefer my RYZE with a stick of creamer and two drops of sweeteners here.
RYZE Mushroom Coffee vs. Regular Coffee
I’m unsure if I want to compare the two since regular coffee and RYZE coffee taste completely different. However, I understand people will search for this, so I went ahead.
I bought a cup of hot Americano from 7-Eleven, which I think represents regular coffee you can get from your gas station or convenience store. I then sipped it side by side with the RYZE coffee.
I think regular coffee definitely tastes much closer to coffee than RYZE. However, understand that RYZE has more goodness added, which means it will taste a little off.
If you are looking for a regular coffee experience, buy regular coffee. RYZE can work well for you if you want to get the goodness of the mushrooms and MCT oil and can tolerate an off-tasting coffee.
What I Like About RYZE Mushroom Coffee?
Instant Coffee Mix
RYZE coffee is an instant coffee mix. This means all you need to do to make your coffee is tear off the packet, pour the coffee mix into a cup, add hot water, and stir to enjoy.
This means you do not need to spend money on coffee brewing gadgets. RYZE may cost more than your normal coffee, but you save money by not buying tools. You also do not need to spend time every morning brewing your coffee.
Smooth To Drink… With Flavoring
When you try to combine herbal mushrooms, coconut oil, and coffee, you probably end up with some really hard-to-drink stuff. I can say the same with Ryze. If you drink it on its own, the taste is not very nice, to be honest.
However, I improved the taste by adding a stick of creamer and two drops of Equal sweetener. These flavorings greatly enhanced the coffee and made it much smoother to drink.
I see this as a positive since Ryze could have formulated the drink even worse and made the coffee undrinkable, even with flavorings added.
Little Mushroom Taste or Smell
RYZE is made from 6 different mushrooms, which means there is a likelihood that the coffee will taste funny. That’s on top of the coconut MCT oil used inside as well. Many ‘fancy’ food products usually end up tasting odd.
However, this is not the case with RYZE. Sure, it does not taste exactly like your regular coffee, but it does not taste too mushroomy or herbal. There is some earthy taste, but not to the point of being too overbearing to many.
Easy On The Stomach
RYZE thought through coffee drinkers’ issues – one of them is high acidity, causing stomach upset. As a result, RYZE coffee is low in acidity, which means it will be gentler on the stomach.
This could have been achieved using darker roasted beans, as dark roasted beans are less acidic. RYZE may also have used coffee beans with baking soda added while roasting.
Low Calorie & Low Fat
Finally, RYZE is a good option if you are watching your waistline. This is because the coffee is low calorie and low fat. Coffee itself is usually low in calories. However, many added sugar, milk, or cream, loading up on the fat.
RYZE uses MCT oil, which gives the coffee its creamy flavors. MCT oil is also less likely to grow your waistline and can help with weight loss. This means you get creamy coffee without needing to add milk or creamers.
What I Don’t Like About RYZE Mushroom Coffee
Pricey
I do have to say, RYZE is pricey. If you calculate things on a per-cup basis, Ryze will cost you a lot more than, say, a regular McCafe Premium Roast Coffee.
However, the goodness RYZE added can easily justify the price increase. The 6 mushrooms are not exactly cheap, plus the coconut oil, too.
If you believe in these mushrooms’ goodness, you may see a lot of sense in drinking RYZE coffee. You may be better off with regular coffee if you do not see the need to.
May Be A Bit Too Earthy For Some
I am sure RYZE tried its best to adjust the flavor and taste of the coffee. However, on its own, the coffee just tastes too earthy. Even I, who likes black coffee, have to use creamer and sweetener to make the coffee more drinkable.
This means for some of you, RYZE may taste too earthy. Be ready for this when trying out the coffee yourself.
Health Claims May Be A Bit Too Drastic
I do not know about you, but I do not want to fully trust RYZE, especially on their claims that their coffee improves your health.
Sure, there are many types of mushrooms inside the coffee. However, you may need to take more of them to experience the health benefits. Perhaps one or two cups of RYZE per day may not be enough.
If I buy RYZE, I would drink it without expecting much from the health benefits. If it comes, good. If it doesn’t, then I do not feel too disappointed.
Should You Try RYZE Mushroom Coffee?
RYZE Mushroom Coffee is made with organic coffee, 6 mushroom herbs, and coconut MCT oil. This means you get a cup of coffee full of goodness, but it tastes little like the regular coffee you get at Starbucks or gas stations.
As a result, I would have to say that RYZE coffee is an acquired taste. Do not expect yourself to love how it tastes the first time you sip it. You may even be so shocked you spit it out.
However, RYZE is so packed with goodness that it puts regular coffee to shame. This is one point you need to hold on strongly when sipping RYZE.
If you want to get the goodness of the mushrooms and the MCT coconut oil and can tolerate how it tastes, RYZE can be a good choice.
However, if you just want a regular coffee experience, stay away from RYZE. If you still want the goodness of the mushrooms and MCT oil, you can always purchase supplements and take them with your regular cup of joe.