Nespresso®-compatible mushroom coffee capsule: what's inside and how to choose
By the Mush n Go editorial team - 02 October 2026
By the Mush n Go editorial teamPublished 2 October 202615 min read
Mushroom coffee in capsules
A good Nespresso®-compatible mushroom coffee capsule contains mushrooms from the fruiting body, doses written in milligrams, a stated caffeine content and a short ingredient list. It must also match your machine: Original and Vertuo are not the same system. Here's how to sort them, and what's inside Mush Caps, arriving on Friday 2 October.
Brainstoorm
The Mush Caps recipe in powder form: Lion's Mane, Cordyceps and Chaga at 1,000 mg each, 3,000 mg of maca, ashwagandha, chicory and 20 mg of NewCaff® caffeine per cup.
Discover Brainstoorm →
Coffee Pack
Brainstoorm Coffee and Brainstoorm Chocolate-Hazelnut together: one pack for the morning, one for the afternoon, with no mushroom taste.
Discover the pack →
The principle
A classic capsule, different contents.
A mushroom coffee capsule slips into the machine like any other capsule. Same gesture, same button, same cup. What changes is what's inside: instead of ground coffee alone, you'll find a blend of mushrooms, adaptogenic plants and a base that gives the taste and body of coffee.
The idea comes from powdered mushroom coffee, made with a spoon (our article What is mushroom coffee? covers the basics). The capsule keeps the recipe and removes the spoon: the dose is prepared once and for all and protected from the air.
Two families share the “mushroom coffee capsule” label: ground coffee with a little mushroom extract, or a functional blend where mushrooms and plants make up most of the contents. The box tells you which one you're holding.
What should be inside
The five lines to look for on the box.
A capsule weighs a few grams: every gram of sugar or filler is a gram less of actives. Before the price or the design, read the ingredient list.
The mushrooms, named
The common name and, ideally, the Latin name: Hericium erinaceus for Lion's Mane, Cordyceps militaris or sinensis, Inonotus obliquus for Chaga. A “mushroom blend” with no detail tells you nothing.
The part used
Fruiting body or mycelium. It's the mention that makes the most difference, and the one most often missing. We come back to it just below.
A dose per capsule
Milligrams per ingredient, or at least a total blend weight per capsule. Without a dose, it's impossible to compare two products.
Caffeine, in figures
In milligrams per cup. It's the information that matters most for your day, especially if you drink several capsules.
Fifth line, often forgotten: what's around it. A base of roasted chicory, cereals or coffee, a fibre, a sweetener, a flavouring. Nothing abnormal, but it must all be written down. Beware of sugars at the top of the list and vague mentions such as “plant extract” with no detail.
To go further on these criteria, our guide the 6 criteria that separate real mushroom coffee from a scam applies to capsules as much as to powder.
Fruiting body or mycelium
The mention that changes everything.
A mushroom has two parts: the fruiting body, the visible part, and the mycelium, a network of filaments that grows in wood, soil or, in cultivation, on a substrate. Both are sold under the same name, without giving the same product.
Mycelium is often grown on grains, and is hard to separate from the grain at harvest: the powder therefore contains some starch. The fruiting body is harvested on its own, dried and then extracted. That's where beta-glucans and each species' own compounds are concentrated, such as the hericenones of Lion's Mane.
| Fruiting body | Mycelium on grain | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The visible part of the mushroom, harvested on its own | The filaments, grown on a cereal substrate |
| What you find in it | Beta-glucans and species-specific compounds | Mycelium, and some starch from the grain |
| Production cost | Higher | Lower |
| On the label | “Fruiting body” | “Mycelium”, “biomass” or nothing at all |
If the part used isn't specified, ask the brand.
In Mush Caps, the three mushrooms, Lion's Mane, Cordyceps and Chaga, come from the fruiting body, as in Brainstoorm. Our guide to adaptogenic mushrooms and plants presents each species in detail.
The doses
What research has tested, and what a cup contains.
Human trials on these ingredients remain few and small, but they give an order of magnitude. Here are three often-cited trials, with their exact conditions.
Mori et al., 2009 · Japan
30 adults aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive decline took 3 g a day of Lion's Mane fruiting body powder, or a placebo, for 16 weeks. Cognitive scores in the Lion's Mane group rose during intake, then fell four weeks after stopping.
Chen et al., 2010 · United States
20 adults aged 50 to 75 took 1 g a day of a cultivated Cordyceps strain called Cs-4, or a placebo, for 12 weeks. The researchers observed an improvement in certain exercise performance markers.
Chandrasekhar et al., 2012 · India
64 stressed adults took 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice a day, or a placebo, for 60 days. Perceived stress scores fell more in the ashwagandha group.
The takeaway: no 5-gram capsule can contain a study's dose of each of its ingredients. A mushroom coffee isn't a targeted course, it's a daily routine. For a concentrated dose aimed at one need, capsules such as Focus or Energy are made for that. The full references are at the foot of the page.
Caffeine
How much caffeine is in a mushroom coffee capsule?
It all depends on the product. A ground-coffee capsule provides roughly an espresso's caffeine. A functional chicory-based capsule contains only what's added: that's the figure to find on the box.
| In your cup | Caffeine | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| An espresso | About 80 mg | Ground coffee (EFSA benchmark) |
| A cup of Brainstoorm | 20 mg | Microencapsulated NewCaff® caffeine, 6 g serving |
| A Mush Caps capsule | 17 mg | Microencapsulated NewCaff® caffeine, 5 g capsule |
To put these figures in context, the European Food Safety Authority considers that a healthy adult can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, and up to 200 mg in a single dose, without risk to health. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the benchmark drops to 200 mg a day.
Microencapsulated caffeine is coated so that it's released gradually, rather than all at once. In Mush Caps it's only a top-up: it accompanies cordyceps and maca, two ingredients associated with energy, and ashwagandha, the plant associated with calm. The goal is clear: morning get-up-and-go, without the peak or the afternoon slump.
Original, Vertuo, Dolce Gusto
Nespresso®-compatible capsule: check the format.
“Nespresso® compatible” doesn't mean compatible with every machine of the brand. Two systems coexist, and a third is often confused with them. It's the most common mistake with Nespresso®-compatible capsules.
| System | Nespresso® Original | Nespresso® Vertuo | Dolce Gusto |
|---|---|---|---|
| The capsule | Small, the historical format | Wider, domed, with a barcode on the rim | Bigger, a different system |
| Compatibles | Very many brands | Very few | Specific to this system |
| Mush Caps | Yes | No | No |
How can you tell which machine you have? Look at the capsule you already use. If it's small and cone-shaped, with a flat lid, you're on Original. If it's wide and domed, with a barcode band around the edge, you're on Vertuo: the machine reads this code to set the preparation, and an Original capsule won't fit.
Original machines are made by several brands under licence or in the same format. Mush Caps works with Nespresso® Original machines and compatible models from Krups, Magimix, De'Longhi, Sage, KitchenAid, L'OR Barista and Wacaco.
Aluminium or compostable
What is the capsule made of?
The container matters as much as the contents. Three materials dominate the compatible-capsule shelf.
Aluminium
It forms a barrier against air, light and moisture. The blend stays protected until extraction. Recyclable, provided it's sorted.
Compostable
Made from plant materials, often for industrial composting rather than a garden compost bin. The oxygen barrier is generally less tight.
Plastic
Light and cheap, but its recycling stream is less well established for this small format.
What we chose
Aluminium for Mush Caps, to keep the mushrooms, plants and aromas intact down to the last capsule in the box.
For sorting: in many areas, small metal packaging, capsules included, goes in the recycling bin. Check your local rules.
Price per cup
Compare the price per cup, not per box.
Mushroom coffee capsules cost more than classic compatible capsules. That's logical: a fruiting-body extract costs much more than ground coffee. To compare fairly, always bring the price back to the cup, then to what that cup contains.
The price per capsule
Divide the box price by the number of capsules. A box of 10 at €5 works out at €0.50 a cup.
The contents per capsule
Look at the blend weight and the doses. Two capsules at the same price can contain very different quantities.
Extra costs
Delivery, commitment, compulsory subscription: a low price can hide a monthly direct debit.
At Mush n Go, nothing is imposed: a one-off purchase or, on our courses, our packs and Brainstoorm, a monthly subscription at −30% (conditions detailed on the product page), with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
The Mush Caps price will be shown on the site on 2 October. Until then, if you want to taste the recipe, Brainstoorm powder is available today, and the Coffee Pack brings the two flavours together.
The checklist
Before buying Nespresso®-compatible mushroom capsules.
A capsule that ticks every box deserves a taste; a capsule that misses several deserves a question to the brand.
- The mushrooms are named, ideally with their Latin name.
- The part used is specified: fruiting body rather than mycelium on grain.
- The blend weight per capsule is written, with doses if possible.
- Caffeine is stated in milligrams per cup.
- The format matches your machine: Original or Vertuo.
- The ingredient list is short, with no sugar at the top.
- The place of manufacture is stated.
- You can try with a one-off purchase, with a refund possible.
Mush Caps in detail
Mush Caps: what's inside the capsule.
Mush Caps is the recipe of Brainstoorm Coffee, our powdered mushroom coffee, dosed for one cup and slipped into a Nespresso® Original compatible capsule. It arrives on Friday 2 October, in a first batch of 1,000 boxes. Everything is written on the box, nothing is hidden.
*dried mushroom / dried plant equivalent. Other ingredients: acacia fibre, coffee flavouring. About 10 kcal and 2.1 g of carbohydrates per capsule.
Why these ingredients? Lion's Mane is the mushroom associated with concentration. Cordyceps and maca are the ones for energy. Chaga is the antioxidant mushroom of birch forests. Ashwagandha is the plant of calm. Roasted chicory gives the roundness and bitterness of a coffee, without its caffeine.
And the taste? A short, intense coffee, with its crema, and no mushroom taste. Short or long, depending on the intensity you like.
“Your coffee, but in my machine.”
The request we'd been getting since the very first pack, as told by Alex, founder of Mush n Go
“If you don't like it, we'll refund you within 60 days, no questions asked.”
Alex, founder of Mush n Go
Capsule or powder
Already a powder fan? The perfect dose.
Already drinking powdered mushroom coffee? Keep the benefits, forget the spoon. The recipe is the same; what changes is the gesture.
| Brainstoorm powder | Mush Caps capsule | |
|---|---|---|
| Dose | 6 g per cup, with a spoon | 5 g per capsule, identical in every cup |
| Caffeine | 20 mg per cup | 17 mg per capsule |
| Preparation | Water or milk, hot or cold, with a frother if you like | In the machine, thirty seconds, crema included |
| Storage | Pack to be closed carefully | Each capsule protected from the air |
| Best use | At home, as a latte, as a cold drink | The office, travel, rushed mornings |
No more spoon, powder next to the cup and pack to close. At the office or at friends' and family's, any Original machine becomes yours.
The recipe, for its part, already has its regulars. The reviews below concern Brainstoorm, the powder recipe found in Mush Caps; the capsule arrives on 2 October.
“I was sceptical and I've ended up won over. Less caffeine and yet I'm full of energy and my mood is steady”
★★★★★ Maïté S. · Brainstoorm review · 4 April 2026
“Very good product, for me the afternoon crash has disappeared”
★★★★★ Franck C. · Brainstoorm review · 6 September 2026
“I feel more focused and much less jittery”
★★★★★ Roxane T. · Brainstoorm review · 24 October 2025
“I used to get stomach aches with normal coffee, now my bloating has gone and I feel great”
★★★★★ Sonia L. · Brainstoorm review · 27 August 2026
Reviews published on Trustpilot, where Mush n Go is rated 4.8/5, quoted verbatim and translated from French. For our full view on the subject, read mushroom coffee: benefits, side effects and our honest take.
Using it well
A mushroom and adaptogenic plant coffee capsule in your day.
A mushroom and adaptogenic plant coffee capsule is drunk like a coffee, at the moment you already have one. Here's a typical day.
7:30 am
Your first cup, as a short coffee for intensity. With a splash of milk if you like, or foam made with a frother.
2 pm
After lunch, slump time. A cup as a long coffee, or a Brainstoorm Chocolate-Hazelnut from the Coffee Pack for a change of flavour.
Evening
Time to stop. Even with little caffeine, it's better to keep the evening calm.
A few precautions, as for any supplement based on plants and mushrooms.
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding, ask your doctor before consuming adaptogenic mushrooms and plants or ashwagandha.
- If you're on treatment, particularly for thyroid, blood pressure or blood sugar, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
- Add up all your caffeine for the day, capsules, coffee, tea and sodas included.
To find out everything about precautions related to mushrooms, our article on the risks of adaptogenic mushrooms and plants reviews them ingredient by ingredient.
Your questions
Everything about the Nespresso®-compatible mushroom coffee capsule.
Are there Nespresso®-compatible mushroom coffee capsules?
Yes, several brands offer them. Mush Caps, the Mush n Go capsule, arrives on Friday 2 October in Nespresso® Original format: 5 g of blend, Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, maca, ashwagandha and 17 mg of microencapsulated caffeine.
Do mushroom capsules work in a Vertuo machine?
No. The Vertuo system uses a wider capsule, read by a barcode. Mush Caps only works in Nespresso® Original machines and compatibles, not in Vertuo or Dolce Gusto.
Does a mushroom coffee capsule taste of mushrooms?
Not Mush Caps. It tastes like a short, intense coffee, with its crema, thanks to roasted chicory and coffee flavouring. No mushroom taste. And if you don't like the taste, you have a 60-day money-back guarantee.
How much caffeine is in a mushroom coffee capsule?
It depends on the product: a ground-coffee capsule contains about as much as an espresso, around 80 mg. Mush Caps contains 17 mg, in microencapsulated form, released gradually.
What's the difference between an adaptogenic capsule and a classic coffee capsule?
A classic capsule contains ground coffee. A mushroom and adaptogenic plant coffee capsule such as Mush Caps contains mushrooms and adaptogenic plants, a roasted chicory base and a little caffeine. Same gesture, different contents.
Are Mush Caps capsules sweetened?
No, they have no added sugar.
Can aluminium capsules be recycled?
Yes, aluminium can be recycled. In many areas, small metal packaging, capsules included, goes in the recycling bin. Check your local rules.
I already drink Brainstoorm, why switch to the capsule?
For the office, travel and rushed mornings. It's the same recipe as Brainstoorm Coffee, dosed for one cup, with no spoon or frother. Nothing stops you keeping both.
Sources
- Mori K., Inatomi S., Ouchi K., Azumi Y., Tuchida T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3).
- Chen S., Li Z., Krochmal R., Abrazado M., Kim W., Cooper C. B. (2010). Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(5).
- Chandrasekhar K., Kapoor J., Anishetty S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3).
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (2015). Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. EFSA Journal, 13(5):4102.
Keep reading
To go further.
The capsule is just a format. Discover the powder recipe, the mushrooms in it, or our whole mushroom coffee range.
Nespresso® is a registered trademark of a third party, unconnected with Mush n Go.
Discover our mushroom and adaptogenic plant supplements
Our vegan formulas, made in Toulouse by a French manufacturer.