Chagaccino: Make Room for Mushrooms!

Chagaccino Coffee

Have you ever had coffee and thought “Hmm, I wish this had mushrooms in it?” We hadn’t, until we tried out a Chagaccino at Nook Coffee Bar in Costa Mesa. Nook Coffee Bar displays a sign at their checkout boasting about their Chagaccino, a blend of Chaga mushrooms with espresso and milk. Chaga mushrooms are typically found growing on Birch trees in the northern hemisphere, and they have been consumed for years by people in Northern Europe and Russia for their health benefits. Chaga is high in antioxidants and claims health benefits such as stress relief, anti-aging, immunity boosting, and cognitive function. We sent two of our LuxaDaisy representatives to check it out. 

Chaga mushrooms being harvested. A chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a parasitic fungus that primarily grows on birch trees in cold climates like Siberia, Northern Europe, Canada, and Alaska. Unlike typical mushrooms, chaga doesn't have a cap and stem. Instead, it appears as a dense, blackened, and cracked mass on the tree's bark, resembling burnt charcoal on the outside, while the inside is a softer, rusty orange-brown color.

How does it taste? 

Riki: Delicious. There’s an almost nutty flavor? Like it tastes way smoother than a regular latte. I would expect to taste mushrooms a little bit, but I don’t at all.

Jacob: The Chagacinno tastes good! I have only tried a chagacinno once before and that one was not very tasty, so I did not have high expectations going into this, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how good it is! It isn’t very sweet but it has just enough flavor and sweetness to be tasty while also making me feel healthy.

Do you consider health benefits when ordering beverages? 

Riki: Laughs Not really, no. It definitely helps, though. I’m fully prepared to wake up tomorrow as a smooth-faced, unstressed genius. 

Jacob: I don’t often consider the health benefits of ordering beverages (especially considering my tendency to get super sweet and artificially flavored drinks).

Would you order this again?

Riki: I actually would! I really liked the taste, and I feel like the chaga benefits mixed with my daily coffee kills two birds with one stone. I appreciate anything that lets me incorporate healthier practices into my day-to-day routine. 

Jacob: I would order this again for sure! 

Chaga mushrooms can be made into teas, supplements, extracts, and powders, so there are plenty of different ways to incorporate them into your daily life. If your Chaga of choice is in coffee, make sure to try out a Chagaccino at either of Nook Coffee Bar’s locations in Costa Mesa or Torrance.