With the addition of medicinal herbs and mushrooms, this dairy-free coffee smoothie is a caffeine boost, breakfast, and daily immune support all-in-one. The addition of maca root powder gives this caffeinated, immune-boosting smoothie a classic malted flavor that’s a perfect touch of buttery and toasty. Here’s how to make a coffee smoothie that’s not only healthy but is also the most amazing way to start your day!
HERE YOU’LL FIND:
It’s Coffee + Breakfast + Plant Power All in One!
The Health Benefits of This Coffee Smoothie
How to Make a Coffee Smoothie
Tips, Tricks, & FAQs
Recipe for Coffee Smoothie with Reishi
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All-In-One Coffee + Breakfast + Plant Power
Do you love smoothies, but find yourself gravitating to the same ingredients day after day? I drink the same exact smoothie nearly every morning. But there’s always at least one day in the week that I just can’t.
I’ve been making this raw cacao and medicinal mushroom blend that has cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric in it for a few years now. And nearly every single day for the last few years, I’ve sipped on this same exact blend. I’m really serious about getting my daily dose of medicinal mushrooms!
But good grief, a girl simply cannot drink the same thing every single day. And that’s how this healthy coffee smoothie (that you can make with or without banana!) came to be.
This coffee smoothie is:
- immune-boosting
- energizing
- packed with anti-inflammatory antioxidants
- full of healthy fats
- beneficial to gut health and digestion
- laced with “the mushroom of immortality”
The Health Benefits of Coffee
Yea, you read that right. One of the world’s most favorite beverages has some incredible health benefits. There’s no shame in enjoying a cup (or two) of coffee if you’re not sensitive to caffeine.
Coffee (Coffea spp.) is actually an amazing plant medicine that has snuck its way into our everyday lives. And I’m patiently waiting for the day when we can say that about so many other plants too! Imagine if herb shops were as plentiful as coffee shops!
Daydreams aside, here are a few of the health benefits of drinking coffee:
- Antioxidant: Antioxidant herbs help to prevent oxidative stress to our cells that may be caused by environmental factors, poor quality food, certain medications, smoking, alcohol abuse, or any number of the physical, mental, or emotional stressors we face. Oxidative stress is often the cause of premature aging and many inflammatory diseases.
- Nervine Stimulant: Nervine stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system and can help to increase alertness, counteract fatigue, and even enhance physical performance.
- Bitter Digestive: Herbal digestive bitters can help to stimulate digestion in a way that helps to prevent symptoms of poor digestion such as gas and bloating, indigestion, constipation, nausea, etc.
- Heart Tonic: Heart tonic herbs serve to protect and support the natural function of the heart and cardiovascular system.
- Diuretic: Diuretic herbs help the body get rid of excess sodium by increasing the amount of fluid we’re getting rid of through urine, which may be helpful in treating things like high blood pressure.
- Hypoglycemic: Hypoglycemic herbs may help to reduce blood sugar by increasing the secretion of insulin so that our muscles and fat can uptake more glucose (ie. sugar).
Adding Extra Plant (& Mushroom) Power
And there is always room for more health benefits! This immune-boosting coffee smoothie also includes maca root, dandelion root, and reishi mushroom.
The Health Benefits of Maca Root
Maca root comes to us all the way from the Peruvian Andes! It’s an amazing adaptogenic herb that can help to bring balance, aiding us in better dealing with all kinds of stress, as well as helping to increase our resistance to disease.
In fact, many refer to maca as a superfood and it’s full of nutrition! Medicinally, maca may also help to:
- enhance libido and fertility
- boost mood and energy
- balance hormone levels
**Please note that maca is a traditional South American food and the increased market demand has had negative effects on local culture and ecology. Be sure to source sustainably and look for organically-grown maca from Peru. Maca grown in the Yunnan province of China may not have the same health benefits.
The Health Benefits of Dandelion Root
It’s the weed that everyone loves to hate, that is unless you know the truth about the dandelions. Believe it or not, they’re literally not trying to ruin our pristinely manicured lawns (and perhaps our reputations in the process).
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is both edible and medicinal. Plus, it does a great service to the pollinators!
As a medicine dandelion root, like maca, is also incredibly nutritive and full of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial phytochemicals. For example, dandelion root contains a type of fiber called inulin that serves as a prebiotic to help feed the beneficial bugs in our guts!
Likewise, dandelion root is also considered to be an herbal digestive bitter and can help to support overall healthy digestion.
(And if you’re still not convinced, here’s 5 reasons you should change your mind about dandelions.)
The Health Benefits of Reishi
And last but not least, this coffee smoothie also contains reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum). Reishi mushroom is often referred to as the “mushroom of immortality” and the “herb of spiritual potency.”
This amazing medicinal mushroom has an extensive history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most commonly, in our day to day, reishi is used as an immune-boosting supplement and general health tonic and has also been used more therapeutically in the treatment of high blood sugar, cancer, liver disease, heart disease, and more.
How to Make a Super Healthy, Immune-Boosting Coffee Smoothie
I like my smoothies big! Granted, I also like to thin them out with whatever liquid I’m using. So imagine a regular-sized, single-serving smoothie just thinned out with more oat milk instead of super thick and creamy. It’s just a personal preference. Slowly sipping on my quart-sized mason jar of a smoothie while I’m making my to-do list for the day or catching up on emails has become a beloved part of my morning ritual.
The recipe below can fill ~3/4 a quart-sized mason jar. If you’re thinking “holy moly! that’s way too much,” you can always cut back on the amount of liquid added. You’ll end up with a thicker, and smaller smoothie. But again, all the other ingredients in this recipe listed below are for a single serving.
Just wanted to warn you! I know we all have different thoughts about smoothies! 😁 You can always adjust the thickness (and size) to your personal preference.
Equipment You’ll Need:
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Blender (A high-speed blender is always helpful, but not necessary. A regular blender might not blend the ice and cacao nibs very well, and you might end up with an icier, grittier smoothie.)
- Quart-sized Jar (I use a quart-sized canning jar for my smoothies, but you can use any container or cup you please.)
- Reusable Drinking Straw (A straw is completely optional, but if you’re looking for a nice reusable drinking straw, I recommend going with a glass straw. I like that they’re clear which leaves no doubt whether or not they’re clean!)
Ingredients:
- Banana, frozen
- Oat Milk (Organic oat milk is my smoothie milk of choice. It’s creamy and has a natural sweetness to it, but any non-dairy milk will do. Try almond, soy, or hemp milk.)
- Brewed Coffee, chilled (or use cold brew)
- Cacao Nibs
- Nut Butter (I always go for raw almond or cashew butter, but peanut butter works too.)
- Maca Root, powdered
- Dandelion Root, powdered (Roasted dandelion root powder will give a deeper, more complex flavor to the smoothie, but unroasted is also delicious.)
- Reishi, powdered (I currently source all my medicinal mushrooms from Om Mushrooms.)
- Vanilla Bean Powder (This ethically sourced Tahitian vanilla bean powder has been my fave for years, but you can also substitute vanilla extract.)
- Sea Salt
Method:
- You know the drill! Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Pour your smoothie into your jar, pop in a straw, and sip away on a delicious, immune-boosting, plant-powered coffee smoothie spiked with medicinal mushrooms.
✺ PRO TIP! ✺
There are a lot of ingredients in this smoothie, which can be totally annoying. I’m fully guilty of trying to shove too many good things into smoothies on the regular! Here’s what I suggest:
Take the time to pull all these ingredients together at least once! If you love this smoothie, you can then go ahead and make yourself a several-serving, pre-mixed blend of the powders. This effectively cuts the ingredients in half and saves so much time!
More Botanical Beverages You’ll Love
Iced Lavender Matcha Latte
Banana Milk with Ashwagandha & Chamomile
Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Ashwagandha
Tips & Tricks & FAQs
What kind of coffee should I use?
It’s totally up to you! If you’re already a coffee drinker and regularly make yourself coffee at home, just use what you have. However, if you’re not a coffee drinker, a medium roast is always a safe bet. Or you could purchase cold brew at the grocery. You can usually find cold brew in the same place the refrigerated non-dairy milk is. Be sure to check the ingredients, as some brands contain unnecessary sugar and/or artificial flavorings.
When purchasing coffee, organically-grown, fair trade coffee is always the most ethical choice.
Can I make a coffee smoothie with instant coffee?
Yes, you can! Just make the instant coffee according to the directions on the container and substitute an equal amount of “brewed” instant coffee for the brewed coffee in this recipe.
Instant coffee does have a slightly different flavor typically. Most regular coffee drinkers can pick it out without fail, and most don’t care for its different flavor. But if you’re already an instant coffee lover, go for it!
Can I make this recipe without banana?
Heck yes, you can! If you’re not into the banana, just sub 1/3 cup of organic rolled oats AND add your sweetener of choice (I strongly suggest herbal honey!) If you don’t have a high-speed blender, I recommend soaking your oats first in just enough hot water to soften them. Otherwise, you may end up with small bits of unblended oats in your smoothies, and ultimately, and a less creamy smoothie.
You could also try 1/2 avocado instead of the banana, but I haven’t tested this version yet.
I love this smoothie, but good grief are there a lot of ingredients! How can I save time?
I’m so glad you asked! I’ll admit it; it can be pretty annoying to have to grab 8 different jars and bottles of ingredients from your pantry for one little smoothie. Some may find it an exercise in mindfulness and a chance to be slow and intentional about nourishing themselves. For others, it may be enough to grab a sugary granola bar and call it good!
Here’s a hot tip: Try this smoothie once. If you love it, then pre-mix all the dry ingredients, minus the cacao nibs, in one large batch. You may want to make a week’s worth or a month’s work. Store in an airtight container, in a cool and dry location, out of direct sunlight.
For a week’s worth:
- 1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons maca root powder
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoons dandelion root powder
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoons reishi powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder (only if not using vanilla extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
Then, for each single serving coffee smoothie you make, add ~4 teaspoons of this pre-mixed blend.
For more plant magic & herbal wellness in your life, be sure to follow along on ➡️ Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter, & snag my herbal 📚 eBooks Nourishing Herbal Gifts & Holiday Pies from the (Un)Bakery. 🌿 And please don’t forget to tag me in your snaps 📸 @_botanyculture_. I love to see all the plant magic you make happen!
Immune-Boosting Coffee Smoothie
(with Maca, Dandelion Root, & Reishi)
Course: Drinks, BreakfastCuisine: VeganDifficulty: Easy1
serving10
minutesA coffee smoothie that blows all the others out of the water! This smoothie not only contains coffee, but also includes maca root, dandelion root, and reishi mushroom for an extra immune-boost, digestion-supporting, and inflammation-fighting twist. Make this smoothie with or without banana. And you can pre-mix the herbal add-ins in larger batches to save time.
Ingredients
1 large frozen banana (or sub 1/3 cup rolled oats + sweetener of choice)
1 cup oat milk (or other non-dairy milk of choice)
3/4-1 cup brewed coffee (or cold brew)
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
1 tablespoon nut butter (I use raw almond or cashew butter. Peanut butter works as well.)
1 cup ice
- Plant Power Blend with Reishi*
2 teaspoons maca root powder
1 teaspoon dandelion root powder
1 teaspoon reishi powder (or sub with another medicinal mushroom such as lion’s mane, turkey tail, chaga, or maitake)
1/8 teaspoon vanilla bean powder (or sub 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
pinch of sea salt
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend on high until smooth (~30 seconds, longer if you do not have a high-speed blender).
- Pour your smoothie into your jar, pop in a straw, and sip away on a delicious, immune-boosting, plant-powered coffee smoothie spiked with medicinal mushrooms.
Notes
- *LOVE THIS SMOOTHIE?! I’m a big fan of kitchen time savers, especially in the mornings. Instead of having to pull together all the immune-boosting powders in this recipe, make a larger batch of the Plant Power Blend with Reishi. You can make a week’s worth (multiply the recipe by 7) or a month’s worth (multiply the recipe by 30). For each smoothie, add about 4 teaspoons.
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DISCLAIMER: The information given in this article is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before consuming certain herbs & medicinal foods, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking any prescription medications.
