mushroom-coffee
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The Woman Who Sold America a Coffee With No Coffee In It
Caroline MacDougall couldn't drink coffee but loved the taste. So she roasted chicory, carob and figs into a caffeine-free brew - and built the best-selling coffee alternative in America.
IQBAR
IQBAR is a Boston-based 'brain + body' nutrition company that makes plant-protein bars, electrolyte hydration mixes (IQMIX), and adaptogenic mushroom coffee (IQJOE) formulated with brain nutrients like Lion's Mane and Magtein magnesium L-threonate. Founded by Harvard psychology grad Will Nitze, IQBAR pairs low-sugar, vegan, keto-friendly snacks with functional ingredients aimed at sustained mental clarity and energy, sold direct-to-consumer and across 8,000+ retail locations including CVS and Kroger.
RYZE Superfoods
RYZE Superfoods is a Boston-based direct-to-consumer wellness brand best known for its mushroom coffee - a blend of organic instant coffee, organic fiber, and a six-mushroom 'Super6' functional blend (cordyceps, lion's mane, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, and king trumpet). Founded in 2020 by Harvard classmates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain, RYZE pitches a calmer, lower-caffeine ritual that delivers focus and immune support without the spike-and-crash of regular coffee. The company grew largely on early seed money plus aggressive social and influencer marketing, reaching reported revenue in the tens of millions while expanding into matcha, hot cocoa, creamers, and other functional blends.