For many coffee lovers, a standard flat white is no longer enough. A new wave of functional coffee—brews boosted with mushrooms, protein, collagen, and other wellness add-ons—is quickly becoming a mainstream trend across the UK.
A New Morning Ritual
For Zak Haddad, the day begins with a container of coffee imbued with lion’s mane, a sort of utilitarian mushroom. He says the mix gives him a clearer, more centered headspace without the highs and lows of a conventional solid coffee.
Once seen as being in master wellbeing stores, these upgraded brews are presently showing up in high-end cafés. So when Zak opened Sipp, his Manchester coffee shop, in late 2023, he made mushroom coffee a central portion of the menu. Customers there can choose from four mushroom powders or add collagen for an extra £1.
From Wellness Niche to Mainstream Menus
Useful fixings like lion’s mane, reishi, and chaga are picking up footing among individuals looking for steadier vitality and mental clarity, according to nutritionist Eli Brecher—though she notes that logical considerations are still catching up.
Demand is climbing quickly. A major health retailer says it has nearly doubled its mushroom coffee offerings, and global brands are taking notice, too. Starbucks recently launched protein coffees in the US and now sells bottled protein blends in UK supermarkets alongside other chilled protein coffees.
Food trend analysts at Tastewise predict functional coffee will be one of the defining drink trends of 2026, reporting a 30% rise in mushroom coffees listed on UK café menus.
Coffee Chains Join the Trend
Black Sheep Coffee, an early adopter of wellness add-ons like CBD and protein, expanded its offering this year with a new range of “functional health” lattes. Options include a collagen latte aimed at skin support, a prebiotic blend for gut health, and its best-seller—a lion’s mane latte.
Customers now add functional extras to about 15% of all coffee, matcha, and smoothie orders, according to the company.
Prices vary, but in Birmingham, a shot of lion’s mane is around 99p and collagen is about £1.09. For daily drinkers, that can add roughly £30 a month. In the US, Starbucks charges $1 for high-protein milk and $2 for protein foam.
Not Everyone Is Sold—Yet
While functional coffee is gaining visibility, not all commuters at London’s Liverpool Street Station were familiar with mushroom add-ons or herbs like ashwagandha. Some were unsure whether the benefits justify the extra cost.
Others, in any case, are completely on board. Londoner Mariam Begum, 31, includes collagen in each coffee she drinks—sometimes protein powder too—believing it boosts her skin and hair.
Former competitive powerlifter Lauren Devlin blends collagen and protein into her everyday coffee at home, claiming the mix keeps her fuller for longer.
Taste Test: Does Utilitarian Coffee Truly Taste Different?
A lion’s mane latte from Dark Sheep Coffee tasted shockingly comparable to a standard oat-milk latte, with, as it were, an additional intensity. Andrew Salter, cofounder of the mushroom-drinks brand Dirtea, says lion’s mane has a mellow enhancement, something numerous consumers also report.
He includes that clients frequently inquire whether mushroom coffee is psychedelic, a justifiable misinterpretation. But the assortments utilized in coffee, like lion’s mane, are completely non-psychoactive.
Real Encounters and Detailed Benefits
Some regular drinkers swear by functional brews. Cardiff inhabitant Ana Richardson says lion’s mane coffee made it less demanding for her to concentrate, even though she ultimately switched to tinctures because they are more potent. Ashwagandha coffee, moreover, gave her a calmer, more consistent feeling compared with customary caffeine.
What Does Science Say?
Research into lion’s mane for cognitive support looks promising but remains early-stage, says nutritional therapist Rakhi Lad. She notes that many café servings use small amounts, and product quality varies widely.
On protein coffee, sports nutrition professor James Fleming explains that most people already consume enough protein. Extra supplementation is mainly relevant for athletes or older adults.
The British Dietetics Association adds that functional coffees often contain doses too low to replicate the results seen in clinical studies.
In short, the benefits may exist, but typical café servings may not be enough to deliver dramatic results.
A Wellness Boost—Not a Cure-All
Nutritionist Eli Brecher sums it up essentially: useful coffee can be pleasant and may offer little benefits, but it ought to be seen as a reward, not a supernatural occurrence solution.
“If it makes you feel great and fits your budget, appreciate it,” she says. “Just remember—it’s an update, not an enchantment fix.”
