Quick links
What fuels your mind during tranquil moments of meditation and makes it a success? It could be the scent of incense (or deliciously scented candles!) wafting through the air, the soft flicker of candlelight, soothing background sounds, or just the soothing rhythm of your own breath.
The world can feel chaotic at any given moment, so we're big fans of finding the types of grounding that works for you. Meditation is one of the practices that feels slightly intimidating at first because there seems to be a set of rules to follow, but we want you to throw out that rule book for the moment.
Meditation doesn't have to be hours on end, or even 30 minutes. One small session of 5 minutes can be extremely impactful to the mind -- especially if you're someone who can't relax easily.
Why coffee and meditation together?
Did you know adding something like a small cup of nootropic coffee could hold the key to elevating your meditative experience? Mmhmm, coffee and meditation. An odd pair, some might say. But when brewed with the right ingredients, this potent elixir can enhance your focus and fuel your creativity.
Why? Caffeine has been found to increase blood flow to the brain, which can help with overall alertness. But how exactly does this special brew work its magic?
"The art of meditation lies in the power of the mind, and what better way to harness that power than with a brew that combines the invigorating effects of coffee, the brain-boosting benefits of lion's mane, and the immune system support from chaga?"
Nootropic coffee can contain different types of ingredients, but we're focusing specifically on mushroom coffee blends that include Lion's Mane and Chaga:
- Lion's Mane: This medicinal mushroom has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. It's believed to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor, which can help enhance focus and cognitive function.
- Chaga: Known as the "King of Medicinal Mushrooms," Chaga is packed with antioxidants and can help support your immune system. Plus, it's a vasodilator, which means it can improve blood flow and oxygen supply to your brain.
Incorporating mushroom coffee into your meditation routine can also create a grounding ritual, helping you establish a rhythm and routine that signals to your mind that it's time to meditate.
Coffee before meditation: how much should you drink?
Sipping coffee in small doses can be beneficial for meditation practices BUT... the optimal amount of coffee to consume varies from person to person and depends on factors such as body weight, caffeine tolerance, and sensitivity to caffeine. Generally, a moderate amount of caffeine, around 50-100mg, is recommended for optimal benefits.
It's important to note that consuming too much caffeine can have negative effects on meditation practices, such as increased anxiety and restlessness. It is recommended to start with a small amount of coffee and gradually increase the dosage if needed, while monitoring both the body and mind for jitters or anxiousness.
If you're someone super sensitive to caffeine, our mushroom coffee blend actually has less caffeine overall than other brews, so that could be a good place to start.
Steps for combining coffee and meditation
Bringing together the magical world of coffee with the tranquility of meditation isn't as complex as you might think.
Here's a simple step-by-step guide for how to pair caffeine and meditation together:
- Prepare your mushroom coffee: Start your ritual by brewing your favorite nootropic coffee, enriched with lion's mane and chaga. The act of brewing can be a meditative process in itself, encouraging mindfulness and concentration. We recommend our As Above, So Below mushroom coffee. ;)
- L-theanine: Consider adding L-theanine in small doses (less than 100 mg) to help increase relaxation and focus. While this naturally occurs in green tea, it can be added to coffee to take advantage of the benefits in the same manner.
- Savor the aroma: Before you take that first sip, take a moment to deeply inhale the aroma of your brew. This simple act can help to engage your senses, grounding you in the present moment.
- Sip slowly: Don't rush. Take small sips, savoring each one. This encourages mindfulness, a crucial element in effective meditation.
- Start your meditation: Once you've finished your coffee, it's time to start your meditation. By this point, the nootropic coffee should be starting to take effect, increasing your focus and creativity.
Remember, the goal is not to rush through the coffee drinking process, but to incorporate it into your meditation routine. The act of brewing and drinking the coffee should be just as much a part of the meditation as the meditation itself.
That's it! By incorporating this powerful nootropic brew into your routine, you might just find your meditation practices are more focused, creative, and grounded than ever before.
Meditation apps
Meditation can be a bit intimidating at first, but these apps make it pretty simple to get started. It's not about how long you meditate for, it's about the quality. A lil' one minute meditation sesh with deep breathing can be pretty impactful if relaxing is hard for you.
- Headspace: Great beginners. It has live meditation sessions throughout the day, guided meditation (where someone talks you through it) or unguided meditation. There are lots of different styles too, so something for everyone.
- Calm: Calm has meditations, but also "sounds" (like ocean waves) and celebrity narrators.
- Waking Up: This is created and guided by Sam Harris and has a lot of different formats and options.
If you're looking for a bit of calm and tranquility before approaching the (potential) chaos of the day, give coffee and meditation a shot. There truly are no downsides to this practice as long as you start slow and listen to your body.
