How to Brew Mushroom Coffee: French Press, Pour-Over, Drip and AeroPress
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If you can make regular coffee, you can make mushroom coffee. Ground mushroom coffee brews the same way, in the same gear you already own. The only differences are how much to use and a few small habits that give you a smoother cup.
This guide covers the four most common ways to brew at home, with exact amounts for each, plus quick fixes for when a cup comes out bitter or weak.
What you're brewing
Our Mushroom Coffee with Lion's Mane & Chaga is 90% Arabica coffee, 5% Lion's Mane and 5% Chaga, already ground and ready to brew. It's a smooth, chocolatey medium roast, and in the cup it tastes like coffee.
Lion's Mane is a mushroom long valued in Japan, China and Korea, and it's known for supporting focus and mental clarity.* Chaga has been brewed as a tea in Northern Europe and Siberia for centuries.
The one ratio to remember
1 tablespoon (10 g) of grounds per 6–8 oz of water.
- 6 oz of water gives a bolder cup. It's best if you add milk.
- 8 oz gives a lighter, everyday cup.
- For a 12 oz travel mug, use 2 tablespoons and 12–16 oz of water.
A kitchen scale is the most accurate way to measure, but a level tablespoon works fine. Use water just off the boil, about 195–205°F. If you don't have a thermometer, let the kettle sit for 30 seconds after it boils.
One 12 oz bag makes about 34 cups at 1 tablespoon each.
Method 1: French press (best for a full-bodied cup)
- Add 2 tablespoons of grounds to the press for a 12–16 oz cup.
- Pour in half the hot water and stir gently. Wait 30 seconds.
- Add the rest of the water, put the lid on and leave the plunger up.
- Steep for 4 minutes.
- Press slowly and steadily. If it fights back, ease up and keep going.
- Pour it all out right away so it doesn't keep brewing and turn bitter.
Tip: Leave the last sip in the press. That's where the fine sediment settles.
Method 2: Pour-over (best for a clean, bright cup)
- Put a paper filter in your dripper and rinse it with hot water. Pour that water out of the mug.
- Add 1 tablespoon of grounds per 6–8 oz of water and shake the dripper so the bed is flat.
- Bloom: Pour just enough water to wet all the grounds (about twice their weight) and wait 30 seconds while it bubbles.
- Pour the rest slowly in small circles, keeping the water level steady.
- The whole brew should take about 3 minutes.
If it drains much faster than that, pour more slowly. If it stalls, give the dripper a gentle swirl.
Method 3: Drip coffee maker (best for busy mornings)
- Use 1 tablespoon per 6–8 oz of water. Your machine's "cup" line is usually 5–6 oz, not 8, so measure the water once to check.
- For a 4-mug pot (about 24–32 oz of water), that's 4 tablespoons.
- Use the "bold" or "small batch" setting if your machine has one.
- Turn off the warming plate or move the coffee to a thermal carafe after 15–20 minutes. A hot plate cooks the coffee and makes it taste burnt.
Method 4: AeroPress (best for one strong cup)
- Put a paper filter in the cap, rinse it and attach it.
- Add 1 tablespoon of grounds, then 6 oz of hot water.
- Stir for 10 seconds, put the plunger in and wait 1 minute.
- Press slowly for about 30 seconds and stop when you hear a hiss.
Drink it as is, or top it with hot water or warm milk.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter or harsh | Steeped too long, water too hot, or left on a hot plate | Cut the steep by 30 seconds, let the kettle rest, use a thermal carafe |
| Weak or watery | Too much water | Move toward 6 oz per tablespoon |
| Gritty | Fine sediment in a French press | Press slowly, pour gently, skip the last sip |
| Flat taste | Grounds stored open | Squeeze the air out and reseal the bag; keep it cool, dry and out of the sun |
No time to brew?
Our Instant Mushroom Coffee (70% freeze-dried Arabica, 15% Lion's Mane, 15% Chaga) skips the gear. Stir 1 teaspoon into hot water. A 1.9 oz jar makes about 27 servings. Keep it at your desk or in a travel bag.
What it costs
With Subscribe & Save (15% off, delivered every month, 2 months or 3 months, skip or cancel anytime), a bag of ground Mushroom Coffee is $29.71, about $0.87 a cup. New subscribers can use code RITUAL15 for an extra 15% off their first subscription order. Every order ships from the U.S. with tracking.
Round out your morning
Some people take our Lion's Mane Mushroom Capsules (2 a day, a 30-day supply) with their first cup. The coffee and the capsules together are our Morning Focus Kit.
Pick the method you already have on the counter, measure one tablespoon, and you're set.
More from the blog: 3 iced mushroom coffee recipes · Pumpkin spice mushroom coffee latte · Lion's Mane vs. Ashwagandha
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
