Whenever we write a review or product comparison article, we search for the underlying rationale for the concept. New diet product? More than two-thirds of adults in the United States are obese or overweight. A New concept in joint health? Seventy percent of older U.S. adults experience joint pain. A new trend in a healthier coffee alternative? Three-quarters of American adults consume coffee, some 400 million cups a day, making it a $100 billion industry domestically and almost $500 billion worldwide.
So, not surprisingly, although the founders of our subject products, MUD\WTR, and Everyday Dose, created their coffee alternatives with doing “good” in mind, their pricing and marketing strategies are designed to ensure they also do “well” financially. This article will compare the product offerings of MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose and assess which is better. But first, we’ll explain mushroom coffee alternatives, their benefits, and why they’re encroaching on the morning brew business.
Let’s get started!
Spoiler Alert: Our Quick Assessment
This is a rather lengthy article, so for those seeking the abridged version, after comparing corporate policies, formulations, pricing, and marketing strategies, we believe Everyday Dose is the better option for those seeking to curb their coffee habit. There is much in common between the two brands, and our recommendation is predicated on formulation – the addition of collagen, L-Theanine, and the amino acids in the Mud Latte from Everyday Dose.
For those seeking to understand the popularity of mushroom coffees and their benefits and to learn more about the brands, we encourage you to read on.
Beans or Shrooms?
Just what is mushroom coffee? A blend of ground mushrooms and coffee beans – combined to brew a dark, smooth, nutty beverage with less caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. The coffee from mushroom varieties tastes remarkably similar to regular coffee; it’s less acidic, with even more health benefits. That’s because mushrooms are a source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, natural antioxidants, and polyphenols. Lower in caffeine than regular coffee, mushroom coffee is still significantly higher than decaffeinated varieties.
Although our subject brands are recent introductions, MUD\WTR in 2018 and Everyday Dose in 2020, we don’t necessarily view mushroom coffee as just another fad. The brew has been a fixture in Finland for generations, and Starbucks is now testing a mushroom blend coffee in some locations.
Mushroom coffee generally features medicinal mushrooms versus culinary mushrooms. The most used are lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, cordyceps, and Chaga. Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years. They are beneficial as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and antimicrobials, to boost the immune system for their anti-tumor effects, to reduce stress, and even combat cancer cells. In the formulation section, we explain the health benefits of the different varieties.
Mushroom coffee in the U.S. is a relatively new segment that provides the benefits of coffee without the adverse effects of dependency, anxiety, nervousness, and sleep disorders.
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: The Companies
MUD\WTR
MUD\WTR is primarily a direct-to-consumer, subscription-based online company. Although they are gaining distribution in the smaller health-niche stores, the product is not yet available on other e-commerce sites or big box stores.
Shane Heath started the company in 2018 after discovering masala chai, a combination of tea, milk, and spices, during an artist residency in Goa, India. He invented MUD\WTR, an organic coffee alternative made with a blend of spices, mushrooms, and cacao to address his personal challenges with and dependence on caffeine. Now he is sharing it with the world.
In addition to the basic MUD\WTR, the company offers additional varieties – :matcha, :rest, and :gold, plus add-ins and sweeteners. Note the (\) and (:) in the company and product names are correct, as indicated on the company website and product packaging.
Klauber and Company, Inc. – Everyday Dose
Everyday Dose is owned by the privately held 2020 start-up Klauber and Company. The company’s founder, Jack Klauber, developed its coffee alternative, Mushroom Latte, to break his personal Adderall and caffeine dependency.
The Everyday Dose business model is an online, direct-to-consumer, subscription-based model. The product is available on Amazon.com but not in traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. The company adheres to the National Institute of Health standards, and ingredients are third-party lab tested for quality and purity.
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: The Products
MUD\WTR
MUD\WTR is a coffee alternative consisting of organic ingredients, including mushrooms, cacao, spices, masala chai black tea, and Himalayan pink salt. The product promises natural energy and focus, immune system support, and enhanced physical performance without jitters and crashes. The taste is described as earthy, with a hint of chocolate, and mildly spicey. The ingredients are USDA Organic certified, non-GMO, gluten- and sugar-free, vegan, Keto Friendly, and Kosher, with about 35 mg of caffeine per serving. Mushrooms are sourced domestically from California, using both the mycelial biomass and fruiting bodies. Ingredients are third-party tested.
The MUD\WTR Starter Kit includes a thirty-day supply of :rise, a free electronic “frother” called the Mud Whip, a guidebook, and samples of the brand’s coconut creamer and sweetener.
The recommended dosage is one 6-gram tablespoon.
Everyday Dose – the Mushroom Latte
The Mushroom Latte is a blend of medicinal mushrooms, nootropics, collagen, L-Theanine, and low-acidity coffee extract. The company tells us the product tastes like a delicious cup of coffee with 80% less caffeine, about 39 mg per cup. Perfect for people that love their cup of joe but hate the jitters, anxiety, digestive issues, and the crash after regular coffee.
With its functional ingredients, Mushroom Latte is like five products: coffee, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and protein. Ingredients are USDA Organic certified, with grass-fed collagen protein, the trademarked L-Theanine, Suntheanine, and organic, fair-trade coffee extract. Everyday Dose is gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, Paleo and Keto-friendly, and Kosher.
The product is rigorously third-party tested for purity. The recommended dosage is one 6-gram tablespoon.
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: Nutrition Facts Table
Both products recommend a six-gram tablespoon per serving, delivering the following nutritionals. The apparent difference is the inclusion of protein (collage) in the Mushroom Latte:
| MUD\WTR | Mushroom Latte | |
| Calories | 20 | 20 |
| Total Fat | .5 gm | 0 gm |
| Sodium | 10 mg | 19 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 4 gm | 1 gm |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 gm | |
| Total Sugar | 0 gm | 0 gm |
| Protein | < 1 gm | 4 gm |
| Potassium | 110 mg | |
| Iron | .4 mg |
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: The Formulations
We’ll first review the two mushroom varieties that our subject brands have in common, address the crucial differences in the blends, and finally address those compounds unique to each brand.
Organic Chaga Mushrooms – Health benefits: Supports the immune system, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral, prebiotic.
Organic Lion’s Mane – Health benefits: Cognition; improves memory, focus, and clarity. Adaptogenic; reduces depression and anxiety, enhances mood and creativity. Digestive health; a prebiotic to support healthy gut flora.
Everyday Dose emphasizes that their mushrooms are from fruiting bodies versus the mycelium used in MUD\WTR. The fruiting body and the mycelium contain valuable compounds used in extracts; however, the fruiting bodies may have somewhat more than the mycelium.
Another significant difference between the two brands is that Dose blends their mushrooms with a Fair-Trade, Organic Coffee, versus MUD’s blend is with Organic Masala Chai black tea.
MUD\WTR – Unique Ingredients
Organic Reishi Mushrooms – Health benefits: Immune support, energy, cognition, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic (stress relief), and prebiotic.
Organic Cordyceps Mushrooms – Health benefits: Energy production, endurance, and stamina.
Organic Cacao – the seeds that make chocolate, cocoa, and coconut butter. Provides flavor and health benefits – antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Masala Chai – a blend of organic blade tea powder and organic spices.
Organic Spice Blend – Contains all organic spices – cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, and cloves.
Organic Black Tea – A potent polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly, black tea contains L-Theanine, a compound highly touted in the Everyday Dose product. Additional health benefits: heart health, digestive health, reduced “bad” cholesterol.
Himalayan Pink Salt – Salt supports hydration and contains essential minerals that the body needs.
Everyday Dose Mushroom Latte – Unique Ingredients
Organic Fair-Trade Coffee – A low-acidity extract providing 39 mg of caffeine per serving. Health benefits: increased energy, cognition, and as an antioxidant.
Collagen Peptides, 4 mg – Types I and III collagen sourced from grass-fed cows. Health benefits: improved skin, hair, nails, and joint health.
L-Theanine, 150 mg – Mushroom Latte contains a patented form of L-Theanine, Suntheanine. An amino acid found naturally in tea, L-Theanine has health benefits in cognition and as an adaptogen.
Amino Acid Blend – containing nineteen amino acids, including eight essential amino acids. Health benefits: Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are important for muscular development and repair, plus many other critical roles in the body, including mood and digestion.
How to Use Mushroom Coffees
As indicated in the product descriptions, both brands have a recommended serving size of six grams added to hot water and served to your taste. In addition, both offer a “frother” to aid in blending your brew, and MUD\WTR suggests you add some creamer, honey, butter, or whatever you may like to enhance the flavor.
Benefits of Mushroom Coffee
Both brands emphasize the following as the benefits of a mushroom coffee alternative:
- Energy Boost
- Cognition
- Digestion/Gut Health
- Stamina
- Sleep Quality
- Supports Immune Function
- Heart Health
- No Anxiety/Jitters
- No Crash
- Non-Addictive
Everyday Dose goes a bit further in their claims, attributable to the collagen in their product that will improve hair, skin, nails, and joint health.
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: Price Comparisons
One general note that applies equally to MUD\WTR and Everyday Dose is buyer beware, as the highly touted Starter Kits convert to longer-term commitments. Both companies specialize in subscription services, i.e., automatic, monthly deliveries of their products once you access the Starter Kit offer.
MUD\WTR Pricing
The MUD\WTR Starter Kit costs $40 on the company website and includes a thirty-day serving, a free rechargeable frother, a guidebook, a free sticker, and samples of the company’s creamer and sweetener – and a refill shipment in three weeks. Free shipping in the U.S. and a thirty-day guarantee for unopened products.
A single thirty-day supply is listed on the site as $1.33 – $1.66 per serving.
Everyday Dose Pricing
Their VIP Starter Kit retails on the site for $45 and includes a thirty-serving trial, a glass vessel to store your Everyday Dose, a mug, a scooper, a motivational art poster, and a sample of their Macha+ product – and a refill order in thirty days for $39.99. Free shipping. Sixty-day guarantee.
There is also a one-time purchase price of $60.00 for a thirty-day supply available at $60.00. The starter kit is also available online at Amazon.com.
MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose: What Customers Say About the Products
MUD\WTR
The company cites more than thirty thousand reviews on its site, with an overall rating of 4.5 of five stars. Unfortunately, we could not validate the rating on a more unbiased site, such as Amazon.com, as the product is unavailable there. Most reviewers mentioned taste, an energy boost, and improved cognition, focusing on the lack of jitters or crashes.
Everyday Dose
Introduced two years after MUD, Mushroom Latte has only about 1,400 reviews on its site. The company does not publish an overall rating; however, reviewers mentioned an energy boost, improved mood and focus, fewer digestive issues, and improved skin.
Everyday Dose is sold on Amazon; however, it has very few reviews, with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
MUD/WTR vs. Everyday Dose: For Your Consideration
So, how do you decide which coffee alternative is suitable for you? Either product will work as a substitute if you are sensitive to caffeine or are developing a dependency. From a taste perspective, Everyday Dose is preferred by reviewers that have tried both products. Everyday Dose is more faithful to the concept of blending coffee with their mushrooms versus the black tea in MUD\WTR.
In either case, be prepared for an adjustment period as you reduce your caffeine consumption. Additives like coconut or almond milk should make the flavor transition more tolerable. Another option for those who love coffee and tolerate caffeine is a multi-collagen protein added to their traditional morning cup of joe.
In Our Opinion: MUD\WTR vs. Everyday Dose
Both products will deliver energy and the other promised benefits without the jitters or crashes from regular coffee. Since taste is so very subjective, we focused on the formulations in our decision-making process.
We were favorably impressed with the variety in the organic mushroom blend of MUD\WTR. We acknowledge the energy and focus of the Chai Tea in MUD\WTR and love its Organic Spice Blend, with ingredients used in popular cognition products today. Although MUD\WTR is worth a test ride if you are trying to curb your coffee habit, it is a bit pricey.
Everyday Dose is also a useful alternative for consumers sensitive to caffeine. We think this one may be the better-formulated alternative with its Fair-Trade Organic Coffee, collagen peptides, amino acid stack, and trademarked L-Theanine. The same energy without the jitters, but more potential health benefits.
