Who Comes Out On Top: MUD\WTR Or RYZE?

Let’s be real: many of us are running on caffeine fumes. That second (or third) cup of coffee might perk you up temporarily — but it can come with side effects like jitters, energy crashes, and even disrupted sleep. If you’ve ever been stuck in an over-caffeinated cycle just to function, you’re not alone.

That’s why we were curious about two mushroom-based coffee alternatives: MUD\WTR and RYZE. Both claim to deliver focus, energy, and mood support — with far less caffeine and none of the crash.

We checked out both products to see how they compare: flavor, ingredients, benefits, and whether they’re worth swapping out your daily brew for. Here’s how they stack up:

Key Similarities 

• Both offer functional mushroom-based coffee alternatives designed to support energy, focus, immunity, and mood
• Both products contain Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi mushrooms
• Each brand has a 30-day money-back guarantee and free U.S. shipping
• Each has a starter kit with added gifts
• Both highlight low-caffeine, jitter-free energy with sleep-friendly benefits
  

Key Differences

Ingredients: 

• MUD\WTR also includes a blend with additional holistic benefits, using ingredients like Masala Chai, Cacao, Turmeric, Cinnamon, and Himalayan Salt
• RYZE mostly sticks to mushrooms

Caffeine Content:

• MUD\WTR is ultra-low in caffeine (35mg) from black tea — just enough for calm focus without jitters or crashes
• RYZE contains slightly more caffeine (48mg) because it still includes coffee

Free Items:

• MUD\WTR includes a free rechargeable frother in every starter kit
• RYZE includes a free wooden spoon, scoop, and fridge magnet in every starter kit

Flavor:

• MUD\WTR’s rich cocoa + chai blend delivers a singularly warm taste described as if “chai latte and hot cocoa had a baby” 
• RYZE’s flavor is creamy with a hint of hazelnut

MUD\WTR Review

To be honest — when we first tried MUD\WTR, we were skeptical. We didn’t expect much from the flavor and doubted if it would actually make a difference in terms of our energy. But after trying it, we are seriously impressed.

The blend of chai and cacao tastes rich and earthy. We used the free frother to blend it into a creamy, cozy drink that will quickly become part of your morning ritual. But the real surprise is how it will make you feel — clear, focused energy without the crash or coffee jitters. Even your sleep improves.

Each serving includes 2,240 mg of functional mushrooms: Lion’s Mane (focus), Cordyceps (energy), Chaga (immunity), and Reishi (stress) — all organic and USA-grown. Supporting superfoods like Cacao, Turmeric, and Himalayan Salt round out this powerful formula.

Their best-selling Starter Kits come in four terrific blends — Original, Matcha, Turmeric, and Rest — to support your specific needs.

RYZE Review

RYZE Mushroom Coffee is a functional blend that aims to offer clean, sustained energy with less edginess than traditional coffee. With ingredients like Lion’s Mane (focus), Cordyceps (stamina), Reishi (mood), and Turkey Tail and Shiitake (gut health + immunity), it’s designed to be a daily upgrade to your routine. Although it contains caffeine, it’s far less than a normal cup.

Their Starter Kit includes thoughtful touches — a wooden spoon, scoop, and fridge magnet — so it’s a practical intro to functional mushrooms, especially for those easing off coffee.

That said, when we tried it, the taste didn’t quite land for us. While creamy and mild, it feels more like a supplement than a beverage you’d look forward to drinking every day. Compared to MUD\WTR’s chai and cocoa blend, RYZE’s mushroom flavor alone didn’t mesh as well with the coffee base. And although we appreciate the simplicity of RYZE’s approach, it lacks the ingredient variety we found with MUD\WTR.

For us, it didn’t fully serve as a coffee replacement or spark the same lasting habit that MUD\WTR does.

Final Thoughts

After trying both, we recommend MUD\WTR over RYZE for a few key reasons. Ultimately, we needed something we genuinely enjoyed drinking every day to help cut back on coffee — and when it comes to taste, MUD\WTR is the clear winner. Its warm cacao flavor and subtle spicy chai notes make it far more enjoyable than RYZE.

While RYZE markets itself as a coffee alternative, it still contains coffee. MUD\WTR, on the other hand, blends black tea with theanine and adaptogens, which we found gave us calm, sustained energy — without the jitters or crash.

And while both deliver functional ingredients like Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi, MUD\WTR goes further. With 2,240 mg of mushrooms per serving (more than RYZE), it not only supports focus, energy, and immunity but also gut health, mood, and even sleep quality. That’s thanks to extra ingredients like Black Tea, Chaga, Turmeric, and Himalayan salt.

We’re not totally ready to give up coffee — but we no longer need that second, third, and fourth daily cup. MUD\WTR fills that space beautifully. It’s a more intentional experience, with blends for every time of day and a mission to help people reduce dependence on caffeine and wake up feeling different.

If you’re looking for something that supports your mind and body — and feels like a habit worth keeping — we recommend MUD\WTR.