Coffee

I love the smell of coffee but can’t stand the taste, so am never faced with the dilemma of which version to choose. I can just about understand ‘espresso,’ and ‘black,’ but things become a little trying when I see ‘ristretto,’ ‘red eye,’ or ‘lungo.’ They must mean something to someone, and indicate that there isn’t such a great difference between a barista and a barrister – both have to study and understand confusing terms.

I was astonished to come across mushroom coffee blends. I don’t know how they came to my attention, but delving further, I discovered that there is a subculture in the coffee business. Mushroom coffee blends laud physical, mental, and possibly emotional benefits. For example, Lion’s Mane is credited with supporting mental . . . oh, I’ll just copy and paste from the London Nootropics site: Lion’s mane, also known as the ‘brain mushroom’, has been valued for its potential role in supporting cognitive balance and overall mental wellness.

It's been said to be traditionally used by Buddhist monks during meditation and has been appreciated for centuries in spiritual practices and wellness traditions.

 

The additions are called ‘adaptogen extracts.’ There is a world of information ‘out there’ to be read, studied, and inwardly digested. Is mushroom coffee more expensive than the non-adapted stuff? The short answer is ‘Yes.’ It can be between two and five times as expensive as ordinary coffee.

 

I considered buying a few samples as unusual gifts for some of the coffee drinkers in my family, but decided against it. Some people find there’s little difference between mushroom and standard coffee, and are surprised to discover that it doesn’t taste like mushroom soup.

I often  wonder how much more ‘refinement’ can be added to the simple process of refreshment.