Onward is Urban Calm's light roast mushroom coffee. It pairs Chaga and Cordyceps fruiting body extracts with specialty Colombian Arabica roasted in Calgary.
If you already enjoy lighter coffee, this is the blend we would point you toward first.
Why a light roast?
Roast level changes how coffee tastes. Lighter roasting generally keeps more of the origin character in the cup, while darker roasting develops deeper roast flavours.
Onward is built to let the coffee from TimanĂ¡, Huila stay present. The goal is not to cover the coffee with functional ingredients. It is to create a familiar coffee experience with another layer added to the routine.
For more on the coffee side, read Coffee Meets Mushrooms: Why Taste Still Comes First.
Chaga + Cordyceps
Chaga and Cordyceps have very different research stories. Chaga is widely discussed for compounds found in the fungus, but much of the research often cited online comes from laboratory or animal work rather than large human trials. Cordyceps has been studied in humans for exercise and performance-related measures, with mixed findings across studies.
We think that nuance is important. Onward is not a medical product, and a cup of coffee should not be marketed as if it guarantees a clinical result.
See our practical guide to all four mushrooms for more context.
What Urban Calm uses
The mushroom ingredients in Onward are 100% fruiting body extracts with no mycelium-based mushroom ingredients. They are third-party tested.
The base coffee is specialty-grade Arabica from Huila, Colombia. It is part of a women-focused sourcing program connected to ASPROTIMANA and is roasted in Calgary.
Who should start with Onward?
Onward makes sense if light roast is already your preference, or if you like a brighter, less roast-forward coffee style. It is also the Chaga + Cordyceps option in our four-blend lineup.
If you prefer medium, dark or espresso coffee, start with that preference instead. Centered, Dreamer and Lioness use the same philosophy with different roast profiles and mushroom pairings.
Brew it like coffee
For ground coffee, start with about 3 tbsp (14 g) per 8 oz (240 mL) of water, then adjust the ratio and grind to suit your brewer and taste. Whole bean gives you the most control over grind size and freshness.
Compare all four options on our Find Your Blend section or shop Onward Light Roast.
