We went to the world-famous Cafe du Monde in New Orleans to try some true chicory coffee from the city, and after just one sip, we were hooked! We discovered that the combination of earthy and chocolaty chicory works nicely with a dark roast coffee, and ever since then, we’ve been on the lookout for a chicory coffee experience that is comparable to the one we had at the restaurant but that we can have at home. There is an abundance of chicory coffee available, but many of them roast the coffee and the chicory together. This results in chicory that is overly darkly roasted and contributes an excessive amount of bitterness, or coffee that is overly lightly roasted and lacks flavour. Both of these outcomes are undesirable.
You have found the perfect destination if you are looking for the most delicious chicory coffee that is currently on the market. We have conducted research and conducted testing, and we have put together these evaluations to assist you in narrowing your choice and selecting an experience with chicory coffee that will leave you wanting nothing more than some beignets! Let’s get started.
Check out our simple guide on How To Make Chicory Coffee
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
The 10 Best Chicory Coffees – Reviews 2023
1. Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory – Best Overall
Since Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans is often attributed with the popularisation — if not the invention — of chicory coffee, this Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory is most likely the most genuine chicory coffee that you can get. The use of chicory in these grinds results in a delectable and nuanced marriage of coffee’s earthy, chocolate-like undertones and chicory’s signature coffee taste. We get robust tastes that are sure to leave you wanting more, and they hold up well to the conventional method of serving chicory coffee with hot milk. These flavours are guaranteed to leave you wanting more. The beans are roasted to perfection, resulting in the extraction of rich, dark flavours that are a superb complement to the chicory.
The coffee does not have an overpowering acidity or bitterness, which is typical of blends that include an excessive amount of chicory, but this does not cause the flavour to be lacking in any way. We believe that they have included the ideal quantity of chicory into their coffee. It was delivered a little bit beyond the point at which its freshness was at its greatest, but we were thrilled to discover that the canisters had been correctly vacuum-sealed to maintain taste and intensity. The fact that it can be purchased in big amounts makes it an excellent choice for households that have numerous people who consume coffee on a regular basis. Additionally, the price is extremely reasonable.
Overall, we think this is the best chicory coffee on the market.
Pros
- Authentic experience
- Delicious flavors
- Strong and robust
- Properly roasted
- Chicory isn’t overwhelming
- Vacuum sealed to preserve flavor
- Available in large quantities
- Affordable
Since this Community Coffee Ground Coffee & Chicory Blend is produced in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it is another product on our list that gives consumers the opportunity to partake in a genuine chicory coffee experience. Because this coffee is prepared entirely from arabica beans, rather than robusta beans, it does not have the overpoweringly bitter or burned characteristics that are typical of coffees made from robusta beans. It is roasted to perfection in order to extract flavours of caramel and chocolate, which, when combined with the flavour of chicory, result in a cup of coffee that is exquisitely intricate and nuanced. We get bold and powerful tastes that are quite alluring, and the taste of the chicory isn’t as overpowering as it is in some of the other selections that we have on our list.
It was clear that the coffee hadn’t been sitting around for very long since it was bursting with flavour and showed no symptoms of having gone stale. Although the taste profile is not nearly as impressive as that of our number one choice, it still has a lot going for it. Because it is only sold in limited amounts, you may find that you need to place new orders somewhat often in order to ensure that you do not run out. Because of these two aspects, it did not get our number one ranking; nonetheless, taking into account the price, we believe that this is the chicory coffee that offers the most value.
Pros
- Authentic experience
- 100% arabica beans
- Roasted perfectly
- Strong and robust
- Chicory isn’t overwhelming
- Delivered fresh
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not as nicely blended as the top option
- Only comes in small quantities
3. Leroux Regular Instant Chicory – Premium Choice
The preparation of this Leroux Regular Immediate Chicory, which is the sole instant choice on our list, is straightforward and uncomplicated due to the fact that it is an instant product. Because this simply consists of chicory and does not include any coffee beans, it does not contain any caffeine. As a result of its origin in France, drinking this coffee will provide you with an experience that is true to the chicory plant. It mixes quite fast and smoothly in hot water, and if you swirl it, you can even get it to combine in cold water in a reasonable amount of time. In spite of the fact that they are an immediate choice, these chicory grinds are packed with flavour and continue to give the depth that we seek in chicory coffee.
While there are no coffee beans included in the grinds, the chicory is roasted properly. It has rich notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and an earthy toffee flavour, and once it is combined with hot water or milk, it takes on the flavour of chicory coffee. These qualities give it a chicory coffee-like flavour. When you take a taste of this, you won’t even miss coffee since the flavours are so good; in fact, you could even forget that you’re not really drinking coffee! Because of its limited availability in smaller amounts and its somewhat high cost, this instant chicory did not make our list of top two choices; here are the reasons why. Nevertheless, we believe that this is a delectable substitute for coffee made from chicory.
Pros
- Easy to prepare
- Not caffeinated
- Authentic experience
- Blends easily
- Roasted nicely
- Complex and delicious flavor
Cons
- Only sold in small quantities
- Expensive
4. French Market Coffee Chicory Ground Coffee
This Coffee from the French Market Chicory Ground Coffee is another product on our list that provides a genuine and true chicory coffee experience. It is produced in New Orleans using chicory that is imported from France, and the chicory itself is grown in France. The tastes are bold and hearty, exactly as we would anticipate from chicory coffee, yet the chicory flavour isn’t overpowering at all. The coffee has been roasted to a medium-dark roast, but we think it might benefit from being roasted even darker to bring out flavours of chocolate and caramel to a greater degree. Although we believe that these tastes would mesh together more harmoniously with the earthiness of the chicory, the coffee was perfectly balanced and did not have an excessive amount of acidity or bitterness.
The coffee wasn’t delivered as fresh as it might have been, but the can was vacuum-sealed to keep the coffee fresh, and it didn’t suffer from a loss of taste in any way! Because it is made entirely of arabica beans, it has a flavour that is well-balanced and not at all overpoweringly bitter or charred. It can only be purchased in tiny amounts; thus, it is not perfect for those who consume a lot of coffee or who serve a large number of people on a regular basis; nevertheless, the price is quite reasonable.
Pros
- Authentic experience
- Strong and robust
- Nicely balanced flavors
- Delicious
- 100% arabica beans
- Affordable
Cons
- Roast isn’t dark enough
- Not delivered fresh
- Only available in small quantities
5. Worldwide Botanicals French Chicory Root
This Worldwide Botanicals French Chicory Root is another another coffee substitute on our list. Since it is made entirely of chicory root, it does not include any coffee and does not contain any caffeine. The chicory comes from France, and it is expertly roasted in order to bring out the expected characteristics of earthiness and chocolateiness in the beverage. We tried it both on its own and in combination with coffee, and the taste was enjoyable in both preparations. If you’re accustomed to drinking coffee, you may not like the flavour of this mix since it’s not quite as complex as coffee and chicory combinations are.
It is deeply roasted, so it does offer some bitter qualities to your cup regardless of whether or not you are drinking coffee. We would love to see a little of a lighter roast on this chicory so that it has less bitterness. It was brought to us in a fresh state, and there was no evidence of any stale tastes in the product. Since this chicory is only available in tiny amounts, it is not the ideal choice for those who consume a lot of coffee. It is not very costly per pound, so the expense won’t pile up very fast, particularly if you are adding this to coffee grounds in order to produce your own blend. This is especially true if you are making your own blend.
Pros
- No caffeine
- Nice flavor
- Delivered fresh
- Affordable
Cons
- Not as complex as coffee blends
- Roasted too dark
- Bitter flavors
- Only sold in small quantities
6. Monterey Bay Spice CHICORY ROOT Roasted Granules
These CHICORY ROOT Roasted Granules from Monterey Bay Spice do not include any coffee but instead are composed entirely of roasted chicory. Because they do not contain caffeine, they are an excellent replacement for coffee. This item has robust tastes that include hints of chocolate and toffee, and the texture is comparable to that of coffee. Because it is roasted to a very dark colour, you may find that the flavour is too harsh for your liking unless you add milk or another dairy replacement to it.
There are some bitter and charred characteristics that come through, and we think that a lighter roast would be ideal for bringing out some of the more pleasant and delectable flavours of chicory. As a result of the dark roasting, this chicory lacks the complexity of chicory and coffee mixes, and the earthiness may be too much for some people to handle. Because it was not delivered fresh, some stale tastes were there with the natural chicory flavour we were expecting. Since this chicory is only available in tiny quantities, it is possible that people who like to take a significant quantity on a daily basis should not purchase it. Having said that, the cost is not prohibitive by any means.
Pros
- No caffeine
- Bold flavors
- Good mouthfeel
- Affordable
Cons
- Roasted too darkly
- Bitter and burnt flavor
- Lacks complexity of coffee blends
- Not delivered fresh
- Only sold in small quantities
7. CDM Automatic Drip Ground Coffee & Chicory
Because it is a local product of New Orleans, the CDM Automatic Drip Ground Coffee & Chicory mix is another item on our list that provides a genuine opportunity to enjoy chicory coffee. It is a very darkly roasted mix, and as a result, we get some bitter and burned notes from the chicory. These characteristics may not be attractive to you. The coffee tastes really rich and robust, but we’d love to see a little of a lighter roast to showcase some of the caramel flavours we anticipate from this sort of coffee without the bitterness. In spite of the presence of several scrumptious tastes, like as chocolate and toffee, the chicory in the coffee may be overpowering at times and almost completely obscures such flavours.
Unfortunately, the coffee wasn’t delivered fresh, and it comes in a vacuum-sealed packaging that can’t be resealed, which means that once the package is opened, you won’t be able to keep any of the coffee’s rich, powerful tastes or any of the freshness after it’s been opened. Because you cannot reseal the packaging of this coffee, it is best suited for heavy coffee drinkers or for those who serve several people on a regular basis. Because of this, the coffee is offered in big volumes and is thus ideal for these situations. This chicory coffee choice is reasonably priced, and when compared to the other options on our list, it has one of the lowest per-pound costs.
Pros
- Authentic experience
- Robust and full of flavor
- Comes in large quantities
- Very affordable
Cons
- Roasted too dark
- Bitter and burnt flavor
- Chicory is a bit overwhelming
- Not delivered fresh
- Package isn’t resealable
8. Teeccino Chicory Coffee Alternative
This Teeccino Chicory Coffee Alternative is mostly derived from chicory root, and it does not include any coffee beans or caffeine since coffee beans are the source of caffeine. The chicory is roasted to a very high degree, which results in a very strong bitterness as well as tastes of burned foods. If this chicory and combination of other roots were roasted with less heat for a shorter amount of time, we believe the finished product would have a higher degree of complexity and include less bitterness. It is flavoured, so it gives a pleasing taste profile for people wanting for more than just a traditional chicory flavour in their cup. Because it is not quite as complex as coffee blends, but it is flavoured. Because it has a pleasant feeling in the mouth, it might be a suitable alternative for those who like strong coffee.
This chicory was not given to us in a fresh state, and as a result, our cup included some unfavourable tastes that were rather strong and stale. Because it is sold in huge amounts, it is an excellent choice for those who want to use it in lieu of many cups of coffee on a daily basis. However, despite the fact that it is reasonably priced, it is only available in huge amounts, which means that you won’t be able to sample it first to determine whether or not you enjoy the flavour before committing to purchasing several weeks’ worth of stock.
Pros
- No caffeine
- Flavored nicely
- Good mouthfeel
- Affordable
Cons
- Bitter and burnt flavors
- Roasted too darkly
- Not as complex as coffee blends
- Not delivered fresh
- Only comes in large quantities
9. Herbaila Chicory Root Roasted Granules
Since they are not made with coffee beans and do not contain caffeine, the Herbaila Chicory Root Roasted Granules are another option on our list of alternatives to coffee. As a result of roasting the chicory to a very high degree, we get quite pronounced bitter and charred tastes. We believe that a lighter roast would complement the chicory more appropriately and help to tone down the intense bitterness that we received when we brewed it. It has a decent texture that is comparable to coffee, but its complexity and taste are not even close to those of chicory coffee or the other coffee substitutes on our list.
The grind size of this chicory is our primary point of contention with it. Because it is crushed into such huge bits, the tastes that are extracted from it are somewhat muted when you drink it. A more consistent and powerful taste profile, which we believe would be more pleasurable, would be produced with a finer grind. Because this was not delivered fresh, it had some quite strong stale tastes, which was a consequence of the fact that it was not fresh. Due to the fact that this chicory is only sold in tiny amounts, it is not the best choice for individuals who are seeking for a caffeine-free alternative to many cups of coffee. The cost of this chicory is reasonable, despite the fact that it is only available in single pounds; hence, it will not break the bank for you to stock up on it if you like the taste.
Cons
- Roasted too darkly
- Bitter and burnt flavors
- Not as complex as coffee blends
- Grind size is too large
- Weak flavors
- Not delivered fresh
- Only comes in small quantities
10. InfuSio Coffee & Chicory Single Serve Pods
The preparation of this specific beverage is made very simple and uncomplicated by the use of these InfuSio Coffee & Chicory Single Serve Pods. The pods are handy, however we discovered that some of them are not compatible with our Keurig machine. We estimate that around ten percent of the pods will not be used in the machine. It has a very dark roast, which we consider to be too dark for our tastes. The roast profile brings out powerful tastes that are both bitter and burned, neither of which are ideal; we feel that a lighter roast would have been a much better fit for this mix of coffee. Because the tastes that are there are, for the most part, subdued, we do not obtain the powerful taste from these pods that we anticipate getting from chicory coffee.
Because the coffee was not delivered in a fresh state, it had some stale tastes when it arrived at our office. Because this coffee is only available in huge quantities, you won’t be able to purchase a lesser quantity of it to sample it and determine whether or not you like the taste. Although it is extremely reasonably priced, the roast profile has an overpoweringly bitter flavour, and not all of the pods are compatible with our Keurig machine. Therefore, we suggest selecting a another choice.
Cons
- Some pods incompatible with machine
- Roasted too darkly
- Butter and burnt flavors
- Muted flavor profile
- Not robust
- Not delivered fresh
- Only come in large quantities
Buyer’s Guide
As you can see, selecting a chicory coffee is not quite as straightforward as you would have first believed it to be. When selecting a chicory coffee, it is important to pay attention to the following factors because they can have a significant impact on the overall quality of your experience. There are many factors to take into account to ensure that you get the best blend that is currently available, so make sure you do so.
Coffee vs Coffee Alternative
You have undoubtedly seen that some of our options do not include any coffee at all, and this is due to the fact that chicory is often used as a replacement for coffee. It’s possible that you’ve decided to use chicory as an alternative to acidic and caffeinated coffee because you like its flavour and the way it combines with coffee. On the other hand, you may be seeking for a suitable substitute for coffee. In any case, the first thing you’ll need to do is choose whether you want a chicory coffee mix or just roasted chicory alone as an alternative to the coffee you drink on a regular basis. This is the decision you’ll need to make.
Roast Profile
Before you make a purchase, it is essential to think about the roast profile, and this is true whether you go for a blend of chicory and coffee or pure chicory alone. If chicory is roasted for an excessively long period of time, it may impart bitter and burned characteristics into your cup of coffee, which you may find unappealing. On the other hand, in order to achieve an ideal balance with the earthy and chocolaty flavour of chicory, the coffee should be roasted to a medium-dark level or even just slightly lighter.
According to our research, the finest blends strike the ideal equilibrium between a robust coffee flavour that is characterised by dark flavour profiles and a wonderful, tasty chicory that is not too bitter. It’s a narrow line, but the coffees that land on the right side of it are irresistibly tasty and exquisitely well-balanced.
Freshness
Next, you are going to want to make certain that the chicory coffee that you buy is delivered fresh and not many months after it has been roasted. Since coffee beans and chicory root are both roasted, maintaining their freshness is vital for both chicory-only alternatives and coffee mixes that include chicory.
If you can get your hands on some fresh chicory coffee, you may be certain that the grounds you use will impart the strongest, most delicious, and most powerful taste conceivable. Coffee and chicory that has gone stale both have unpleasant tastes, so it is best to choose the one that is fresh and comes in a container that can be sealed back up.
Authenticity
Even if this aspect may not be required for some people, there are still many who drink coffee who are interested in having a true experience with chicory coffee. It is recommended that you pick a coffee and chicory mix, or simply ground chicory, that is supplied from either New Orleans or France in order to assure that you get this. Chicory coffee has a murky past and it’s not quite clear where it came from, but there’s no denying that both France and Louisiana have some kind of connection to it.
Quantity and Price
Last but not least, you should think about the amount of chicory coffee that is offered in addition to the cost of the product. Some chicory coffees are only available in limited quantities, which might be a challenge for persons who consume a lot of coffee or who regularly make coffee for a large group of people. On the other hand, many types of chicory coffee are only available in bulk amounts, and given the vast range of quality available, it may not be in your best interest to buy several pounds at a time.
It goes without saying that the cost is also quite important; hence, you need to ensure that you do some elementary mathematics and evaluate the prices based on the weight of the item rather than the whole cost. Some choices may give the impression of being more affordable, but in reality, they may be more costly since they are only available in a limited quantity.
Conclusion
Finding the greatest chicory coffee won’t be nearly as soothing as drinking it, so you may as well just enjoy it. You should begin into your search with the knowledge that not all chicory coffees are made equal since there are a number of distinct aspects that go into crafting the greatest chicory coffee. We really hope that these reviews and our buyer’s guide have been helpful in pointing you in the direction of the chicory coffee that is just right for you and your preferences.
Our top choice for quality, authenticity, and its complex and delicious flavors is Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory. It’s delicious, robust, and perfectly balanced for a satisfying and flavorful cup of chicory coffee. If you’re looking for a cheaper option to appease your taste buds and your wallet, we recommend Community Coffee Ground Coffee & Chicory Blend. This is another authentic chicory coffee that is sure to please with its robust and well-balanced flavor profile.
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