MUD\WTR Review: It’s Clean and Delicious, But Nothing Like Coffee

MUD\WTR is a delicious, mushroom-based beverage powder marketed as a healthy alternative to regular coffee. The company behind the product claims it can deliver increased alertness, energy and focus, despite containing significantly less caffeine than coffee, thus reducing or eliminating the likelihood of negative side effects like jitters and sleep disruption.

I decided to try MUD\WTR for several weeks to see how it works as a coffee replacement.

In this review, I’ll tell you about my experience with MUD\WTR, dig into the ingredients list, and answer some of the common questions I’ve received about the product since originally publishing this review back in 2021. 

MUD\WTR Review

I enjoy the taste and smell of coffee, and often make it a part of my morning routine. However, traditional coffee beans are usually contaminated with pesticides and other toxins that can negatively impact your health. (Similarly to peanuts, they’re prone to mold contamination.) As a result, I only consume organic coffee beans that have been tested for mold, heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins.

In comparison, MUD\WTR is a relatively clean product that contains only organic ingredients — primarily a blend of mushrooms, but also herbs, spices, teas, salts and a few other ingredients that vary depending on the flavor.

Taste and Texture

MUD\WTR has subtle notes of cocoa, cinnamon and nutmeg that I strongly associate with the colder months of the year. In other words, I found that when mixed with collagen powder (which adds a bit of creamy body) it tastes like a Christmas-inspired latte (without the overwhelming sweetness you might be used to). 

If you’re used to drinking coffee with milk, creamer, sugar or other ingredients, you’ll be right at home with this product. 

On the other hand, if you’re someone like me who truly appreciates the taste of black, unadulterated coffee — and you’re not drinking coffee for the caffeine — MUD\WTR might not be for you.

The taste profiles of the two beverages are completely different, to the extent that I would only call this a “coffee alternative” in the sense that like coffee, it has caffeine. In my opinion, that’s where the similarities end.

As far as the texture is concerned, MUD\WTR is earthy and gritty, as not all of the powder completely dissolves in the water. I didn’t mind this, but be aware that there will be a small amount of palpable grit, even when you use the frother that comes in the starter kit).

Flavors

Everything in this review refers to Cacao, the original flavor (and the only one I’ve tried). In the years since I originally published this review, MUD\WTR has added several flavors to its lineup, including:

• Matcha
• Turmeric
• Rooibos

Each of those flavors contains a different amount of caffeine per serving. For example, the Matcha flavor contains 55 mg of caffeine (20 mg more than the original Cacao flavor), while the Turmeric and Rooibos flavors are caffeine-free.

For comparison’s sake, a typical cup of coffee contains around 100 mg of caffeine. So depending on the flavor you choose, MUD\WTR has about 1/3 to 1/2 the caffeine.

It’s worth noting that throughout MUD\WTR’s marketing materials and website, you’ll find the claim that the product contains 1/7 of the caffeine of a typical cup of coffee. I’m not sure where that figure is derived from, but based on the numbers above, I would say that it’s incorrect. 

(Potentially) Problematic Ingredients

If you’re a vegetarian or a vegan, MUD\WTR might look like the healthiest product on the planet. If you follow a paleo or healthy keto framework, you might have reservations.

Without getting into a plants vs. meat argument, I’ll be up-front and tell you that I follow a predominantly animal-based diet. That means I consume a lot of animal meat and fat (including organ meat), paired with a limited amount of the least-toxic plant foods available, such as avocados, sweet fruits and certain (deseeded and peeled) veggies.

Unfortunately, few of MUD\WTR’s ingredients fall into that “least-toxic” category.

For example, the primary ingredient in MUD\WTR is masala chai, a black tea made with spices including organic ginger, organic cardamom, organic cloves, organic nutmeg and organic black pepper.

Black pepper is a natural source of piperine, a chemical that improves the absorption of other chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract. That’s a big problem if you consume black pepper together with foods that contain plant-based toxins, such as the phytoestrogens found in turmeric (curcumin) and cacao (catechins). MUD\WTR contains both turmeric and cacao.

Separately, some people have labeled MUD\WTR a “mushroom coffee.” I think that’s a fair description considering that a good portion of the powder — though not all of it — is made up of mushrooms. 

Unfortunately, mushrooms are a double-edged sword, because while they are often hailed for their health benefits, they also contain certain types of carbohydrates (polysaccharides) that can trigger skin conditions (such as eczema) in some people. 

Overall, I don’t think the ingredients in MUD\WTR are terrible, even when viewed through the lens of a carnivore diet. Plus, everyone reacts slightly differently to plant-based foods and toxins. I enjoyed a cup of MUD\WTR daily over the course of a few weeks, and did not notice any of the adverse side effects that sometimes occur when I consume plant-based foods, such as an upset stomach, GI issues, or changes in the appearance of my skin. 

That said, I still prefer animal-based foods whenever possible. 

Pricing

MUD\WTR is available in different serving sizes, but arguably the best way to get started is via the starter kit that includes a 30-serving tin, a USB rechargeable frother (for properly mixing the powder with water or milk, as it tends to clump without frothing), a free guidebook, a free sample of the company’s creamer, and some stickers.

A one-time purchase of the starter kit costs $40 plus shipping (down from $60 plus shipping when I first published this review), but if you sign up for recurring deliveries, you can get it for $29 with free shipping. Of course, you will only get the powder (MUD\WTR calls it the “mud”) auto-shipped every month after the initial purchase — not the accessories. The subsequent refills cost $40.

You can see additional pricing options in the table below. All these options assume a one-time purchase and do not include shipping fees. However, these options are all eligible for subscription, which reduces their price by 20% and includes free shipping. I’ve added the subscription pricing in parentheses.

The company also offers an MCT oil/coconut-milk-based creamer. If you like the taste of silky smooth lattes, I recommend using this (or a similar) creamer when preparing your beverage. 

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MUD\WTR Review: Final Verdict

I consider MUD\WTR to be a reasonable coffee alternative for most people, and especially those who don’t drink their coffee black. If you’re a coffee aficionado and enjoy the bold flavor of espresso, you might still appreciate the taste and texture of MUD\WTR, but I doubt you’ll abandon your morning coffee for it.

I fall into the latter category. I like MUD\WTR and I can imagine having an occasional cup, especially during the colder months of the season. But as far as my daily routine is concerned, I’ll stick with my daily cup of black coffee, brewed in a Swiss espresso machine.

Michael Kummer

Michael is a healthy living enthusiast and CrossFit athlete whose goal is to help people achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society.