Mushroom coffee is all the rage, and though MUD Wtr was by no means the first, it was the brand that put adaptogenic mushroom coffee on the map and in the minds of many health-curious consumers. Meanwhile, you may have noticed Four Sigmatic on the shelves of your local Whole Foods at a cheaper price and the convenience of tossing it in your cart and taking it home with you. And though the brand doesn’t shower your Instagram feed with influencers touting its blend, you may have been left to wonder what is the difference between the two. So in a MUD Water vs Four Sigmatic faceoff, which wins the title of the best mushroom coffee? We put the two to the test to find out.
In the showdown of MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend, here’s when each is best for:
- MUD\WTR (not recommended): Best for those that are looking to replace coffee with an adaptogenic alternative.
- Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend: Best for those that are not looking to replace coffee, but make it into a super coffee as you add it to coffee.
MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend At a Glance
 |  | |
| Price | $50 per 30 servings ($1.67 per serving) | $30 per 30 servings ($1 per serving) |
| Shipping | $5 (or Free with subscriptions) | $4.95 (or free for orders over $XX) |
| Taste | Chai, cinnamon, cacao | Earthy, bitter |
| Mix with | Hot water or a smoothie | Coffee, tea, soup, or smoothie |
| Calories per serving | 20 per 1 tbsp (6g) | 5 calories per scoop (2g) |
| Organic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Caffeine-free | X | ✓ |
| Sugar-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vegan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mushroom content | chaga, reishi, lion’s mane & cordyceps | chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, shiitake, maitake, enoki, agaricus, meshima, & tremella |
| Additional ingredients | cacao, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, black tea powder, Himalayan pink salt | rosehips |
| Moneyback guarantee | No | Yes |
| Visit MUD\Wtr | Visit Four Sigmatic |
MUD/WTR Review
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Coffee replacement for those looking to kick coffee – Good for those who want caffeine – Convenient on-the-go packets available – Little to no after taste | – Its nutrition label does not provide the amount of each ingredient – Contains less than half of the mushrooms than Four Sigmatic – Tastes like dirt – It settles quickly, so you need to stir constantly – More expensive than Four Sigmatic – Shipping costs $5 – Does not offer a moneyback guarantee like Four Sigmatic – Longer shipping time |
MUD Wtr ads are strewn all over Instagram, and admittedly they’re marketing does a great job of making the product very enticing. It’s designed to be a coffee replacement, making it ideal for those who those who are looking quit coffee. However, it does have caffeine, so it’s not good for anyone looking to dump coffee due to concerns around caffeine. While it’s ads make it sound incredibly appealing, after trying it, I’d say it doesn’t just get its name based on how it looks, but also how it tastes (yes, MUD Wtr tastes like dirt–which, I personally don’t have a palate for). Additionally, MUD Wtr has a major red flag in that it doesn’t tell you how many milligrams of each mushroom a serving has, so you don’t know how much you’re getting–or if you’re wasting your money.
What’s in MUD\WTR
MUD Wtr’s nutrition label looks normal at first glance, and yet there’s a HUGE PROBLEM with it – it’s not transparent when it comes to what’s in it. Sure, it tells you what’s in it, but you don’t know how much–and of course, this is key information. Too little and it’s a waste of money and too much can overload your system. In the battle of MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic, this is MUD Wtrs biggest red flag, and for me, this is shwere MUD Wtr loses a great deal of credibility, and with that, trust.
MUD\WTR Taste
Surprisingly palatable. It contains chai, and so not surprisingly, it has a chai-forward flavor. Naturally, it’s very earthy tasting, with notes of cinnamon. It’s very smooth and unlike Four Sigmatic, it’s not bitter, nor does it leave an aftertaste. Granted, if you’re hoping it tastes like coffee, you’ll be disappointed to find that it doesn’t. Not to say it’s completely different, but it’s more like cacao meets cinnamon chai than a standard cup of java.
MUD\WTR Cost
When it comes to cost, MUD Wtr is more expensive than Four Sigmatic. Its 30 day supply without a subscription will cost you $50, plus another $5 for shipping so in total, it averages out to around $1.83 per serving. That’s a fraction of the cost of Starbucks and even quite cheap compared to Blue Bottle or your local high-end coffee shop. However, it’s still more expensive than Four Sigmatic and it’s by no mean the most affordable mushroom coffee alternative on the market.
The price does drop if you find that you love Mud and want to include it in your daily ritual, as subscriptions are available at a discount price–with the steeper the discount the more you buy. For example, the 30 serving subscription costs $40 (~$1.33 per serving) and the 90 serving subscription costs $100 (~$1.11 per serving). For perspective, Four Sigmatic’s 30-day subscription costs just $24 (~0.80 per serving).
Personally, I opted for the box of single servings since I figured if I happen to dislike it (which is always a risk given how picky I am), I wouldn’t have an open container going bad. Instead, I’d have unopened packs for friends that like it or for friends who are interested in trying it. However, I do wish MUD Wtr offered a smaller pack for those who have never tried it before, like how Four Sigmatic sells single servings at Whole Foods.
How to Mix MUD\WTR
The package recommends mixing Mud with hot water and a touch of honey. So I first mixed mine with hot water, half a teaspoon of raw honey, and a touch of unsweetened coconut milk. It was a bit too sweet for me (I don’t add sugar to coffee or tea) and so I tried it without the honey and liked it better. It mixes really well and dissolves quickly so it’s not chunky. Of course, if you don’t drink it fairly quickly it will settle a bit to the bottom of your mug, so I do recommend string it occasionally to avoid a thick last sip.
Additional Products by MUD\WTR
MUD Wtr is more of a specialist than a generalist in that it sticks to its core product: Mud and it doesn’t veer too far off. Well, it doesn’t really veer off at all. There’s currently one version of Mud and one version only, so don’t expect that you can also get other fun adaptogenic mushroom blends. However, it does sell Mud accessories, such as creamer and sweetener. For some reason this upsell doesn’t sit well with me as I don’t like buying products that require other products. Though perhaps they’re incredible and I wouldn’t know that as I refused to get suckered into buying more from them–especially when you can’t order anything less than 15 servings at a time.
Four Signmatic Mushroom Blend
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Costs less than MUD Wtr – Contains 6 more types mushrooms than MUD Wtr – Great for coffee lovers who don’t want to give up coffee – Very mild (if not undetectable) flavor makes it easy to add to anything from coffee and tea to soups and smoothies – Contains high-quality Vitamin C from Rosehips – 100% moneyback guarantee – Arrived days before MUD Wtr – Try it for a couple of bucks by getting a single-serving pack at Whole Foods | – It’s not a coffee replacement like MUD Wtr so it may not be what you want if you’re looking for coffee flavor sans coffee – Shipping costs an additional $4.95 – Does not sell packs of single servings online |
You may have noticed Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend Mix on the shelves of stores like Whole Foods. While it’s not necessarily a coffee replacement like MUD Wtr, it is an adaptogenic mushroom cocktail to add to your morning cup and give you an extra boost through the day. It stands out for its long list of mushrooms and transparency in providing individual mg for each mushroom–something MUD Wtr fails to do. Since it’s meant to be added to coffee, it’s best for those that aren’t looking to break up with coffee, but to supercharge their coffee with an easy-to-implement way of getting adaptogens.
To make your life even easier, choose one of Four Sigmatic’s coffee’s, such as its instant coffee or its coffee grounds which come with adaptogens in them so there’s no need to mix or add anything. to your coffee. This is a great way to make adaptogenic coffee part of your daily routine for those who have trouble changing their routine and making something new a habit.
What’s In Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend
Four Sigmatic wins hands down when it comes to its ingredients. This is because, unlike MUD Wtr which doesn’t actually tell you how much of each ingredient it consists of, Four Sigmatic provides the milligram count for each and every ingredient. Of course, the ingredient quality could be much higher with Mud, but without any idea of the quantity you’re getting, quality is nearly null.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend Taste
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend is almost undetectable when mixed with coffee. I will say that I found it made my coffee taste a bit stronger and a bit more bitter. Though if I got a coffee from a cafe or diner, I wouldn’t think anything was different about it. However, you do need to frequently stir it, otherwise, it will settle at the bottom, making the last few sips a bit of a challenge.
That said, it makes it a very easy addition to your daily routine–that is if you’re ok with drinking coffee and not necessarily looking for a replacement. Coffee aside, because of its very mild flavor, it’s easily added to smoothies or recipes.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend Cost
No matter how you slice it, Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend is cheaper than MUD Wtr. The price for 30 servings is $30, plus $4.95 for shipping equaling out to around $1.17 per serving without a subscription and just $24 (~$0.80 per serving) with a subscription. On the other hand, 30 servings of Mud will cost you $50 plus $5 for shipping without a subscription and $40 with a subscription.
One great benefit of Four Sigmatic over MUD Wtr is that you can buy a single serving packet of its Mushroom Blend from Whole Foods. This gives you a way to try it for just a couple of dollars.
How to Mix Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend
The suggestion is to mix Four Sigmatic Mushroom blend into your morning cup of coffee or tea, and so that’s what I do. However, I don’t add sugar to my coffee, nor do I usually use a flavored creamer (which adds a lot of sweetness), and the mix of just Four Sigmatic, coffee, and half and half was pretty bitter. So I tried it with a touch of vanilla Flaxmilk and that did help take the bitterness away.
It does dissolve easily into hot coffee and it doesn’t clump up. I will say that I use a frother since it’s so quick, easy, and effective. And no, you don’t need one of the fancy (and expensive) branded versions. I got mine for about $10 on Amazon.
Four Sigmatic also notes that you can add it to tea, smoothies, and soups, though I haven’t tried it in any of these so I can’t speak to that.
Other Products by Four Sigmatic
Unlike MUD Wtr which is a coffee alternative specialist, Four Sigmatic is more of an adaptogenic health generalist. It offers a range of adaptogenic coffee grounds, which is pretty cool, as well as a range of other products such as protein, mushroom elixirs, and even skincare products. In the battle of product lines between MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic, Four Sigmatic is the winner with a much wider and more affordable line of mushroom coffee products.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the other best adaptogenic coffees on the market?
There are new mushroom coffee brands cropping up all the time these days. While it would be tough to know which are the best without having tried all of them, there are some top options that are well-loved and highly-rated. For example, Ryze is another top contender that’s very similar to MUD Wtr in that you mix it with water but it includes MCT oil. Similar to Four Sigmatic, many rave about Om Mushroom Superfood Brain Fuel. Mocha latte fans looking for a more affordable option should try Cocotropic by A Wild Foods Product or for those that want the ingredient profile of Four Sigmatic but as an instant coffee try La Republica Organic Mushroom Coffee.
Is Mud Water worth the hype?
Personally, no, Mud Wtr doesn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Until it becomes more transparent and tells you how much of each ingredient is in its product, it simply can’t live up to the hype for me. I mean, you can’t even know what you’re consuming. This is troubling in general, but also for anyone who uses other adaptogens as you need to be able to have some idea of the dosages you’re receiving.
Can mushroom coffee help with acne?
While adaptogenic mushrooms aren’t widely touted as a skin-clearing solution, many adaptogenic mushrooms do offer effects that can help improve skin. For example, ashwagandha helps to reduce stress by reducing cortisol levels, which in return, can help with stress-induced acne, and many adaptogens reduce inflammation, such as reishi, which will help reduce redness and help your organs function properly–allowing your body to process toxins or excess hormones, which cause acne. Learn more about the many causes of adult acne and how to fix them.
Does Mud Water offer samples to try?
No, unfortunately, it doesn’t offer product samples or individual single-serving packs let Four Sigmatic does. You can purchase a pack of individual servings, but it’s still an investment of $XX, though this is great for those who travel or want MUD Wtr on the go. Additionally, MUD Wtr doesn’t offer a satisfaction guarantee, so if you buy it and hate it, you’re out of luck.
Bottom Line – MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic
If you’re comparing MUD Wtr vs Four Sigmatic you’ll find that MUD Wtr is hands down the loser. Not only is it very expensive, doesn’t offer trial packets, nor does it offer a moneyback guarantee like Four Sigmatic does. And that’s not even the worst part. MUD Wtr fails to share how much each serving contains of each of the mushrooms in its mix, so won’t even know what you’re getting, which makes me think that the amounts are very low.
Choose Four Sigmatic if you’re a coffee lover who wants to rev up their morning cup by transforming it into a super adaptogenic coffee. Granted, these aren’t the only two options you have and neither may be the best for you. When looking for a mushroom coffee, look at the list of mushroom, along with the serving of each and additional ingredients to determine its flavor profile, and with that, whether or not you’ll likely enjoy the taste.