Chicory coffee is made by roasting, grinding, and brewing the root of the Cichorium intybus plant.
The chicory plant is a woody perennial plant in the dandelion family (Taraxacum). It has a hairy stem and delicate purple flowers.
While native to Europe and Western Asia, it grows in many parts of the world.
This plant has a long history of medicinal use, but it was only recently discovered that if you roast the plant in the oven, it develops a distinct coffee-like flavor. The roots are then ground or chopped into small pieces and brewed as a strong tea.
How to Prepare Chicory Root Coffee
Chicory coffee tastes similar to coffee but milder and naturally caffeine-free — making it a popular coffee alternative. It also offers a ton of excellent health benefits (which we’ll cover in more detail below).
How to Brew Chicory Coffee
To brew chicory coffee, here’s what you need:
- Chicory root or chicory powder (which you can buy online)
- A stove (if you’re roasting the root yourself)
- A grinder (if you’re grinding the root yourself)
- Brewing equipment (whatever you use for regular coffee works)
- Heated water (around 200℉)
Step one walks you through how to prepare raw chicory root. But if you already bought the powder (roasted and ground), you can skip right to step two.
1. Roast & Grind Fresh Chicory
You can buy ground chicory root online, which is easier since it’ll be already roasted and ground. If you’ve bought your chicory pre-roasted, skip to step 2.
However, if you’re more industrious and want to roast your chicory yourself, it’s surprisingly easy.
How to prepare wild chicory root:
- If you’re picking chicory from the ground, wait until the ground is moist after a rain.
- Cut away the flowers and extra stems.
- Let the mud and plant dry overnight.
- Clean off the mud with a brush and scrub clean the roots with warm water.
- Pick away extra branches and cut the chicory root into small pieces (Keep the pieces about the same size so they roast evenly).
- Let the chicory root pieces air dry (by waiting overnight or using a dehydrator).
How to roast chicory root:
- Set your oven to 300ºF (150ºC).
- Roast your chicory root for 1–1.5 hours.
- Look for a brown, toasted color, but not burnt.
- Let it cool for about 2 hours.
How to grind chicory root:
Use a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle to grind your chicory root into fine granules (similar consistency to sea salt).
Don’t grind too finely! Overgrinding your chicory into a powder will produce a chalky, overly bitter cup.
2. Brew Your Chicory Coffee
You can brew chicory coffee like you would normal coffee grounds. Simply replace your coffee with the chicory root. The portions and steep times are all comparable.
For example, any of these methods will work fine:
You can also use a simple teapot or tea strainer — whatever you have lying around will work to make a delicious cup of chicory coffee.
Water to chicory root portions coffee:
|
Serving Size |
Chicory Coffee |
Water |
|
1 |
½-1 tbsp. (5 grams) |
8 oz. |
|
2 |
1-2 tbsp. (5–10 grams) |
16 oz. |
|
3 |
2–3 tbsp. (10–15 grams) |
24 oz. |
|
4 |
3-4 tbsp. (15–20 grams) |
36 oz. |
3. Sweeten & Enjoy!
After brewing, you can drink chicory coffee black or with any of your favorite sweeteners. Milk, coffee creamer, sugar, honey, or maple syrup all work great.
For an extra dash of flavor, consider adding herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cocoa powder, or ginger root.
Expert Brewing Tips: Chicory Coffee
There’s no need to overcomplicate it — brewing chicory coffee is simple and straightforward; just mix a few tablespoons of the dried, roasted root with hot water and let it steep.
With that said, there are a few simple tricks to make your chicory coffee experience as successful as possible:
- Adjust your coffee-to-water ratio to taste — If you’ve never tried chicory coffee, we recommend starting with less, in case you don’t like the flavor.
- Watch your water when brewing — Ground chicory root may have a different coarseness from what you’re used to. This can affect how quickly it brews.
- Try making a café au lait — Café au lait is coffee with hot milk. Mix half chicory coffee and half milk to make it a classic Cafe Du Monde — New Orleans style.
- Mix your chicory with coffee grounds — Start with 70% coffee grounds and 30% chicory root. Then, test different ratios to find what you like best.
Chicory vs. Coffee: Key Similarities & Differences
Chicory and coffee come from completely different plants, but the final result is similar. Here’s how they stack up in terms of their flavor, caffeine content, lineage, and preparation method.
Coffee vs. Chicory root comparison:
|
Chicory Coffee |
Traditional Coffee |
|
|
Flavor Profile |
|
|
|
Preparation |
Chicory coffee is made by roasting and steeping the root in hot water, similar to tea. |
Coffee is made by roasting and quickly immersing them in boiling water. |
|
Active Ingredients |
Inulin, caffeic acids, coumarins, tannins, chlorogenic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid |
Caffeine, caffeic acids, chlorogenic acid (CGA), trigonelline, diterpenes, and melanoids |
|
Plant Parts Used |
Dried, roasted root |
Dried, roasted seed |
|
Plant Family |
Asteraceae |
Rubiaceae |
Preparation
Chicory root is prepared slightly differently from regular coffee. It’s destemmed, air-dried, roasted, and ground. Coffee, on the other hand, comes from the dried and roasted seed rather than roots.
Once the root or beans are ground, both chicory and traditional coffee are brewed using boiling water. Chicory root coffee is less sensitive to over-brewing than coffee.
Taste
While both drinks share a similar roasted flavor, chicory coffee is sweeter thanks to the presence of inulin. Chicory has a distinct coffee-like aroma and a strong nutty finish.
Coffee has many different flavor profiles, depending on the bean, and can be a combination of the following:
- Bitter and strong — especially if brewing robusta coffee.
- Sweet & floral notes — especially if brewing arabica coffee.
- Chocolate aftertaste — most pronounced in medium-dark and dark roasts.
- Citrus and berry undertones — common in light roast arabica.
- Caramel smoothness — often found in medium roasts.
- Earthy and woody notes — typical in some Asian coffees.
- Spicy hints — found in beans from regions like Yemen and Ethiopia.
Caffeine Content
Chicory root doesn’t contain any caffeine, but coffee has about 80-100 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce cup.
However, your brewing method and water temperature also influence the caffeine you get (with regular coffee). For example, immersion-style methods like a French press often extract more caffeine.
If you want to enjoy a coffee-like beverage but need to avoid caffeine (or you just don’t like the flavor of decaf), chicory coffee may be a great option. Some people even choose to mix their coffee with chicory to reduce the caffeine without eliminating it completely.
Related: How Much Caffeine is in Different Kinds of Coffee?
History & Cultural Uses
Coffee has been a staple for cultures around the globe for centuries, starting in Africa and the Middle East in the early 1500s and eventually expanding to the Americas and Asia through European colonization.
There’s not a country around today that doesn’t drink coffee in some capacity.
On the other hand, chicory coffee has yet to reach global popularity. With an increasing percentage of coffee drinkers looking for non-caffeinated alternatives, it's becoming more common in local coffee shops and restaurants.
Chicory coffee is most popular in New Orleans, where it's been a caffeine-free staple for more than 200 years.
History & Roots of Chicory Coffee
Chicory root has been cultivated since ancient Egyptian times and is now grown in many parts of the world. But using the root as a coffee substitute dates back to France in the 1800s, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
From Europe to North America, chicory coffee was often used during economic hardships and coffee shortages. In France, it was a solution to import issues caused by Napoleon's Continental System, which banned British imports of various goods, including coffee.
In North America, locals were also forced to find alternative solutions to coffee (i.e., chicory root). British taxes on American tea imports, the Great Depression, and the Union army blockading Louisianan coffee ports during the American Civil War are a few examples.
Chicory coffee is now a key part of Louisiana culture, though it goes by a few different monikers now:
Despite its rough beginnings, chicory coffee has evolved into something more epicurean.
It’s a popular drink for many people seeking a coffee alternative. But it’s also a gourmet choice for coffee drinkers who want a unique flavor and experience.
Health Benefits of Chicory Coffee
Chicory coffee has an array of possible benefits that make drinking it even more appealing.
1. Digestive Health
Chicory root also has inulin fiber, which supports digestive health. Some research has shown that chicory may improve bowel regularity [1] and constipation [2].
2. Inflammation
Research shows that chicory root has strong antioxidant effects and reduces free radicals, giving it anti-inflammatory properties [3].
Given that ongoing inflammation leads to various diseases and chronic conditions [4], this is one potential benefit of chicory coffee worth paying attention to.
3. Blood Sugar
Various research shows that the inulin in chicory root may have a positive impact on blood sugar levels and diabetes.
One study showed that chicory root extract may delay or prevent early-onset diabetes [1]. Another study demonstrated that chicory-derived inulin may benefit patients with type 2 diabetes [5].
While it’s important to consult with your doctor, studies support the idea that drinking chicory coffee may be useful for maintaining healthy blood sugar management.
4. Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure is the force at which your heart pumps blood. Elevated levels could lead to a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, and more.
Research from the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine showed that drinking chicory root extract significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared to placebo [1].
While caffeine raises (short-term) blood pressure, chicory root coffee may help lower it.
5. Caffeine-Free
Caffeine is a natural stimulant with many potential benefits related to disease prevention, but too much of it can also cause sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and nervousness [6].
Chicory coffee is completely caffeine-free, so you don't need to worry about any of these potential downsides.
Related: How Much Is Too Much Caffeine?
Chicory Root’s Side Effects
High fiber in chicory coffee could result in bloating and stomach discomfort in some individuals — however, the vast majority of drinkers tolerate this drink without side effects.
Drinking chicory coffee may not be suitable for everyone, including those with eczema. Certain compounds in chicory could cause allergic reactions that present as skin rashes and itching. There’s a common overlap with chicory allergies in people allergic to ragweed or birch pollen.
There’s also not a lot of research on chicory coffee’s effects on pregnant or breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before adding this drink to your routine [7].
FAQs: Chicory Coffee
1. Is chicory coffee actually coffee?
No. Chicory coffee is made from the chicory plant (Cichorium intybus), while traditional coffee comes from a different plant (such as Coffea arabica or Coffea robusta).
2. Can I use my regular coffee grinder to grind chicory root?
Yes! Chicory coffee can be used with all of your traditional coffee brewing equipment.
3. How do I grind chicory root?
After drying and roasting the root, simply use your regular coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle to grind up your root. Try to get the same coarseness as you would with regular coffee.
4. What does chicory coffee taste like?
It’s slightly different and milder from traditional coffee. It has an earthy and woody flavor with floral undertones.
5. Is chicory coffee really caffeine-free?
Absolutely! Chicory coffee is caffeine-free, making it a popular coffee alternative. The flavor is similar enough, and some people enjoy it more than coffee. Otherwise, decaf coffee is a good choice for those who want to eliminate caffeine.
6. Is chicory coffee healthy?
Chicory root contains inulin, a fiber that may support digestion and gut health. It also may help with inflammation and blood sugar.
7. How do you make chicory coffee?
You can buy chicory grounds online already prepared for you. Alternatively, you can pick, roast, and grind the root at home. From there, simply brew it the same way you would normal coffee. There are plenty of brewing methods to choose from!
8. Where do I buy chicory coffee?
You can buy chicory coffee online or in health food stores. Some specialty coffee shops may offer as well, especially New Orleans cafes!
9. Can you mix chicory with regular coffee?
Absolutely! This is a popular way to enjoy chicory.
10. Is chicory coffee safe to drink? Are there any side effects?
While rare, chicory coffee may cause an allergic reaction in people sensitive to ragweed or birch pollen. There’s also little research about its effect on pregnant or breastfeeding women, so be sure to speak with your doctor.
References
- Nishimura, M., Ohkawara, T., Kanayama, T., Kitagawa, K., Nishimura, H., & Nishihira, J. (2015). Effects of the extract from roasted chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) root containing inulin-type fructans on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and fecal properties. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 5(3), 161-167.
- Micka, A., Siepelmeyer, A., Holz, A., Theis, S., & Schön, C. (2017). Effect of consumption of chicory inulin on bowel function in healthy subjects with constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 68(1), 82-89.
- Rizvi, W., Fayazuddin, M., Shariq, S., Singh, O., Moin, S., Akhtar, K., & Kumar, A. (2014). Anti-inflammatory activity of roots of Cichorium intybus due to its inhibitory effect on various cytokines and antioxidant activity. Ancient science of life, 34(1), 44-49.
- Apostolopoulos, V., Feehan, J., & Chavda, V. P. (2023). Inflammation: The Cause of All Diseases.
- Ning, C., Wang, X., Gao, S., Mu, J., Wang, Y., Liu, S., ... & Meng, X. (2017). Chicory inulin ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus and suppresses JNK and MAPK pathways in vivo and in vitro. Molecular nutrition & food research, 61(8), 1600673.
- Rodak, K., Kokot, I., & Kratz, E. M. (2021). Caffeine as a factor influencing the functioning of the human body—friend or foe? Nutrients, 13(9), 3088.
- Puhlmann, M. L., & de Vos, W. M. (2020). Back to the roots: revisiting the use of the fiber-rich Cichorium intybus L. taproots. Advances in nutrition, 11(4), 878-890.
