The word chicory is bound to raise some eyebrows if you’re surrounded by hardcore coffee aficionados. However, there are plenty of reasons for brewing java with this herb! But first and foremost – how to make chicory coffee?
For starters, you have to get some chicory roots.
Once you have it, it’s time to prepare your very own chicory-infused coffee alternative:
- Mince the chicory roots using a knife
- Roast the minced roots in the oven (roast until golden-brown)
- Grind the roasted roots using a grinder or an old school hammer)
- Mix the chicory ground with your favorite ground coffee
- Brew your coffee and chicory blend
And that’s how you brew good old chicory coffee in the easiest and most straightforward way.
But now let’s take a closer look at all the details regarding needed ingredients and what the other methods for making chicory java are!
How is Chicory Coffee Made? Here Are The 2 Best Methods!
Brewing chicory coffee at home doesn’t have to be overly complex or confusing.
That’s why we’ll now show you the 2 absolute best techniques for preparing chicory coffee at home.
But first – here’s what you’ll need to get…
Needed Ingredients:
- Chicory roots – You can buy it from your local grocery store, just look for a fresh plant that’s tall and has a blue flower
- Coffee grinder – You need a grinder for a proper brew but if you don’t have one simply use a mortar and pestle or even a standard hammer for grinding the chicory
- Coffee maker – Anything from an espresso coffee maker to a French press and pour-over would work
- Baking pan – The baking pan is used for roasting the roots, just like you’d roast coffee beans
- Knife – You’ll have to use a sharp knife to mince the roots into 1-inch bits for optimal roasting
- Oven – This is where you roast the chicory roots
- Coffee grounds (optional) – Use your favorite ground coffee if you prefer a chicory-coffee blend (the exact coffee-to-chicory ratios are entirely up to you)
- Milk, creamers, sweeteners etc. (optional) – Feel free to add any additives to your chicory coffee to enhance the flavor and aroma as per your taste
Once you’ve gathered all the required items and ingredients, it’s time to start preparing your chicory coffee!
[Method #1] Making a Chicory + Coffee Drink
The first method that we’re going to show you is all about mixing chicory with ground coffee.
1. Preparing the fresh chicory roots
- Give the chicory roots a nice wash to remove any traces of soil
- Dry them thoroughly
Note: There’s no need to peel them! - Mince the roots using a sharp knife to form 1-inch bits so that they’re evenly roasted
- Place the chicory bits on a baking pan
- Put them in the oven, set the temp to 350 degrees F and roast until golden-brown (or until it starts smelling like coffee)
- Remove them from the oven once roasted and let them cool
- Put the now roasted chicory roots in your grinder and start grinding
- Grind just like you’d grind coffee beans i.e. coarser if you’re using a French press and finer if you have an espresso coffee maker
2. Adding ground coffee
- Mix your favorite ground coffee with the ground chicory roots
- The exact chicory-to-coffee ratio depends on your personal preference- Use a 4:1 (or alternatively 5:1) chicory-to-coffee ratio for a chicory-dominant drink that’s very low on caffeine
– Use a 1:2 (or alternatively 2:3) ratio for a less stimulating coffee drink
– Use a 1:4 (or alternatively 1:5) ratio if you’d like to add a bit of a chicory taste to your cup of Joe - Keep in mind that chicory is generally more acidic so feel free to play around with different chicory-to-coffee ratios
3. Brewing the chicory + coffee mixture
- Place the mixed chicory and coffee grounds in your coffee maker
- Start brewing as per usual (you’re simply replacing the regular coffee grounds with the chicory-coffee mixture)
4. Serve and add extras (optional)
- Don’t hesitate to add milk, foam, coffee creamer or anything that you normally put in your coffee
[Method #2] Making a Chicory-Only Drink
And if you’d prefer to enjoy an alternative to coffee altogether, then here’s how to prepare a pure chicory drink.
1. Preparing the chicory roots
- Wash the roots
- Dry them
- Use a sharp knife to mince the chicory roots (aim for bits that are 1-inch at most)
- Put the minced chicory roots in a baking pan or sheet
- Roast in the oven at 350 degrees F (until golden-brown)
- Take them out the oven once done and let them cool
2. Boiling the roasted and minced chicory roots
- Boil one cup of water (around 8 oz)
- Add 2 tablespoons of the roasted chicory roots to the water
- Cover them with a lid or alternatively a plate
- Let the minced and roasted chicory roots for 10 to 15 minsNote: You can always increase the amount of chicory you put in the boiling water, as per your taste!
3. Serve and enjoy your chicory drink
- Strain the chicory brew into your favorite cup or mug
- (Optional) Add milk or a sweetener to the chicory drink for a more mellow taste since chicory is more acidic than coffee
Why Do People Put Chicory In Coffee?
There are several reasons for putting chicory in your coffee, but mainly to:
- Reduce the overall amount of caffeine (chicory doesn’t contain any caffeine)
- Counteract the bitterness of lower-grade, over-roasted coffee beans
- Add an extra layer of a delicately roasted flavor
- Make the brew thicker
- Spread out your coffee supply as you’ll be adding chicory to your coffee
However, some people add chicory to their cup of Joe for other health-related benefits.
Chicory root is jam-packed with fiber that aids digestive health and it also provides a natural laxative effect.
The primary reason for chicory’s abundance in fiber is inulin – a potent dietary fiber.
And on top of that, chicory roots also offer fair amounts of Manganese, which is a mineral that supports bone health.
What are the Health Benefits of Chicory Root?
The most important scientifically-validated health benefits of chicory root are related to health issues such as:
- Diabetes
- Liver diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Obesity
Let’s now take a closer look at each of these science-backed benefits of chicory!
Chicory Root Could Delay or Prevent Diabetes
Research conducted on the effects of chicory root suggests that it could potentially delay or even prevent the early onset of diabetes (1).
Even more impressive, the same study shows that chicory might even provide an additional benefit in the form of improved bowel movements!
A different study that used rats as test subjects found that chicory may indeed yield short and long-term anti-diabetes benefits (2).
Does Chicory Have Side Effects?
Yes, consuming chicory might potentially lead to certain adverse reactions but only when taking excessive amounts of it.
However, this plant should perfectly safe to consume for most people out there.
But since you’ve asked, let’s take a look at the most notable potential side effects of chicory according to relevant scientific data:
Allergic Reactions
Although generally safe, consuming chicory may potentially lead to an allergic reaction.
Sure, just about any food can potentially trigger an allergic reaction in a sensitive person.
But you shouldn’t take chicory or add it to your coffee if you have a birch pollen allergy!
Studies show that the compounds in chicory are comparable with those in birch, meaning it can trigger a similar allergic symptoms in sensitive individuals (3)!
These findings courtesy of the Journal of Allergy (Cairo) place chicory on par with carrots, potatoes and even tomatoes in terms of their birch-like compounds.
Eventually, if you’re allergic to birch you may feel any pain, swelling or tingling inside your mouth (e.g. your throat) after consuming chicory.
So our advice is simple – DO NOT add chicory to your coffee if you’re dealing with birch allergy!
Pregnancy-Related: Emmenagogue and Abortifacient Effects
A scientific review from 2003 concerning the safety of using herbal products during pregnancy shows that chicory might be a big no-no for pregnant women (4).
In fact, researchers have found that chicory may lead to two particular side effects in pregnant ladies:
- Emmenagogue (this substance stimulates menstrual discharge/flow)
- Abortifacient (a substance that causes abortion)
Are you pregnant and wondering whether or not to drink some chicory coffee (or anything chicory)? DON’T!
Clearly, both of these compounds should be avoided by pregnant women for obvious reasons (e.g. miscarriage).
Liquid stools and bloating
There’s a scientific review from 2014 that suggests that taking excessive amounts in inulin (found abundantly in chicory) may lead to digestive distress (5).
Research shows that most people can safely consume up to 20 grams of inulin per day, without any unwanted reactions!
Eventually, if you consume too much inulin you might experience unpleasant things such as:
- Liquid stools
- Flatulence
- Cramps
- Bloating
The potential cause for these adverse effects is the gas that’s formed from the particular fermentation products.
Which Are The Best Chicory Coffee Brands On Amazon?
Based on the love they receive from both users and Amazon itself, these are the top chicory coffee brands at the moment:
1. Community Coffee
Community coffee currently offers the best chicory coffee out there that screams quality with its rich and flavorful profile and superb overall rating.
They have the most popular and top-rated product in this category in the form of the medium-dark roast chicory coffee K-Cups.
These K Cup pods are made of quality chicory and 100% Arabica beans for a bold, sweet, rich and flavorful experience.
Another great thing about Community coffee (apart from the fact that they’re a family-owned company) is that they rely on sustainable coffee bean sourcing.
It’s also worth noting that these chicory coffee K-Cups are compatible only with Keurig 2.0 coffee makers.
And if you prefer traditional coffee grounds, then Community Coffee also offers premium ground chicory coffee !
2. Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde hails from New Orleans (Louisiana) and their coffee and chicory blend is quite successful.
Now, it has a great overall rating based on quite a lot of user-generated reviews.
And to further solidify its top-notch coffee plus chicory combo, this Cafe Du Monde product also sports a brilliant flavor rating!
This brand also includes the popular cafe au lait recipe on each canister so that you can easily make your own coffee, chicory and milk drink.
3. French Market
New Orlean’s French Market chicory and coffee combination is our 3rd best chicory coffee brand found on Amazon.
This medium-dark roast goodness has a great overall rating from over lots and lots of user-generated reviews.
Even more astonishingly though, French Market’s chicory/coffee mix has a stellar “Flavor” rating as well!
Apart from that, these coffee+chicory grounds are made of 100% Arabica and imported French chicory.
Also, this French Market product is Kosher certified by the Orthodox Union!
Chicory Coffee – FAQ
How To Prepare Raw Chicory Root?
You can roast or brew chicory roots to prepare hot coffee and other hot beverages such as tea or a chicory-based coffee substitute.
Apart from that, you can also use raw chicory root to make smoothies, salads and even soups.
How To Make Chicory Tea?
- Boil some water in a kettle (around 1 cup i.e. 8 oz)
- Put the chicory inside a French press
- Pour the boiling water on the chicory
- Steep for about 8-10 minutes
- Give it 3 to 4 plunges
- Pour into a teacup and enjoy
- Add sugar, honey or another sweetener (optional)
Does Instant Chicory Coffee Exist?
Yes and the top-rated instant chicory coffee on Amazon is the Leroux Regular Instant Chicory powder .
How Much Caffeine Is In Chicory?
The chicory plant contains zero caffeine making it an ideal caffeine-free substitute to regular coffee.
Where To Buy Chicory Coffee?
Amazon.com seems to be the most popular place for buying chicory coffee.
However, you’ll also find coffee plus chicory products on other popular online retailers like eBay, Walmart etc.
Conclusion
So, with the help of this article, you should no longer be wondering how to make chicory coffee.
All that you have to do is mince the chicory roots, roast them, grind them, add some coffee grounds and start brewing!
It’s THAT simple and you can even brew chicory without adding any coffee to it if you want a caffeine-free experience.
Over to you now – how do you personally make chicory coffee?
And do you even mix it with ground coffee or you prefer drinking a chicory-only drink?
Drop your answer in the comment section below!
Did somebody say coffee? Two shots of espresso for me, thanks. Oh, nevermind – I’m Simon, nice to e-meet you, dear CoffeeLifior! I like to write, drink coffee and I believe in Jesus. Highly-caffeinated drinks are my thing, but you can occasionally see me sip on decaf (my wife never finishes her coffee). Speaking of which, I’m off to grab another cup of caffeinated goodness now, laters!
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
