You may have heard that chicory coffee is a cheaper alternative to regular coffee; however, this is not the truth. Chicory coffee is just as good as regular coffee. This is without a doubt one of the numerous alternatives to espresso that can be found all over the world. People frequently turn to it in order to cut down on their usage of caffeine due to the fact that it contains no caffeine and tastes identical to real espresso.
It is a specialty item that can be purchased at coffee shops all over the globe, but it is most famously associated with New Orleans because of its status as a local icon. The most encouraging news is that you are able to make that delectable beverage at home. Let’s get to know more about chicory root coffee and how to create it on your own, shall we?
The Origins of Chicory Coffee
If you are from New Orleans, you most certainly already are aware of which coffee shops sell the chicory coffee that is considered to be among the finest. Burt Benrud, Vice President of the world-famous Café du Monde, a landmark in this city, has the following to say about this particular coffee (1):
If you go to the section of the store that is dedicated to coffee, you will see that the number of chicory brands is limited to around three. They all genuinely hail from here here in this city where they were born and raised.
Shares of espresso have been steadily decreasing all through historical economic downturns, such as the Great Depression and the American Civil War. Residents of New Orleans, a city that has historically been known for its concentration of coffee shops, were challenged with the task of identifying suitable alternatives.
The chicory grinds tasted exactly the same as regular espresso, and when brewed properly, there was scarcely any discernible difference between the two. The tradition in this town now calls for an espresso like this one.
Health Benefits and Downsides of Chicory Coffee
To begin, chicory does not contain any amount of caffeine. As a result of this, it is a better alternative for espresso than decaf if you are trying to limit the amount of caffeine you consume. In addition to this, it is possible that this coffee may lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. This is due to the fact that the foundation contains inulin, a substance that regulates blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance. According to the well-known neurologist and researcher Dr. David Perlmutter, who studies how one’s food might affect one’s mental state (2),:
Inulin, which comes from chicory roots, is an essential source of fuel for the microorganisms that live in our intestines. This fuel enables these microorganisms to produce life-sustaining chemical compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids, which are responsible for a variety of critical functions in maintaining our health.
Chicory should be avoided by anybody who is hypersensitive to ragweed and birch pollen since both of these allergens are found in chicory. The chicory plant itself has been linked to a number of allergic responses, including pain and swelling. Women who are pregnant should avoid consuming it since there is a possibility that it might result in a spontaneous abortion or bleeding during menstruation (3).
How to Make Chicory Coffee
The good news is that you can also prepare chicory coffee in the comfort of your own home. Once you have obtained the bottom chicory root, you have several options for brewing the root and preparing it for consumption. However, the first thing you need to do is fulfil all of the prerequisites.
Things You’ll Need
To prepare chicory espresso, you will need the following ingredients:
- Chicory roots: Because there are a number of distinct types of chicory plants, you are free to choose the one that you are able to get. Look for a tall plant with blue flowers to identify wild chicory, which is native to the United States and grows freely across the country. If you are unable to get wild chicory, you might use a root of endive instead (additionally from the chicory household).
- Baking sheet or a shallow pan: You will need to roast the components of the base, just as you would do with raw espresso beans.
- A burr grinder is necessary since you will need the chicory to be ground before you can successfully create espresso. If you do not have access to a grinder, you may make an effort to grind the base into powder using your hands. Take, for example, the use of a mortar and pestle.
- If you feel that your chicory drink would benefit from the addition of espresso, you have the option of using regular espresso.
- Milk (optional): If you want to prepare chicory café au lait (café latte), which is one of the many well-known varieties of this coffee, you will need milk. However, milk is not required.
- Coffee maker: This term refers to any apparatus that you use to brew coffee, similar to a French press, pour-over, espresso machine, or one of many others.
You have the option of using wild chicory or an endive that you may buy at a grocery store.
Step-By-Step-Guide
You are now able to concoct your very own delicacy since you have all of the necessary ingredients. This is what you are required to do:
- Using a knife, mash the roots into a pulp that is uniform in size. Because the roots are tough, you’ll need a knife with a pointed tip; this is especially important given that the pieces shouldn’t be any longer than 1 inch. If you don’t cut them into pieces of the same size, there’s a chance that they won’t roast evenly when you put them in the oven.
- The chicory pieces should be roasted. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet or a shallow baking pan, and then set them in the oven. They should be toasted at a temperature of 350 degrees until their colour changes to a golden brown. When they are finished, you will be able to smell something similar to coffee coming from them.
- Crush the plant’s roots. Put the roasted chicory roots into the burr grinder, and grind them to the same level of coarseness as you would use for coffee beans. In an ideal scenario, it should be a fine grind in the event that you will be brewing them in an espresso machine, but it should be a coarser ground in the event that you have a French press, etc.
- Blend chicory and floor espresso together. The ratio is determined only by you. If you want the flavour of coffee without the excitement that comes with caffeine, you might try using a ratio of four parts chicory to one part coffee. If you want to reduce the amount of caffeine you consume on a daily basis, then drinking a mixture of chicory and coffee with a ratio of two to three. If you want to stretch out your coffee supply over a longer period of time, adding four-fifths of an ounce of chicory could be plenty. Alternately, if you want a true chicory espresso, you don’t even need to add any espresso at all.
- Crush the plant’s roots. Put the roasted chicory roots in the burr grinder, and give them a good ground with your knife.
- Brew your espresso. Make the coffee the same way you normally would, but this time include the chicory and low powder in the mix. It is essential that all other aspects, such as time and method, remain unchanged.
- After reinforcing the scent with some foamed milk, toppings, or flavourings, you can then serve your espresso made from chicory root.
You have the option of using wild chicory or an endive that you may buy at a grocery store.
What Does Chicory Coffee Taste Lake?
If the roots are fresh and you roast and grind them correctly, your chicory root coffee should have a flavour profile comparable to that of traditional coffee. It is notably similar to Robusta in that it has a style that may be described as “groundy.” On the other hand, it has a more pleasant scent.
In his essay, popular food blogger Hank Shaw provides the following description of chicory root coffee:
Chicory coffee prepared in its purest form has some very potent ingredients. Although it may give the impression that it contains a lot of caffeine, it most certainly does not. It has that malty-chocolate scent, a stronger acidity than espresso, and a flavour that I truly am having trouble defining other than “earthy.” It seems like motor oil. It has that malty-chocolate aroma.
Final Thoughts
When you are brewing your own chicory coffee at home, you should try to give it a little something more to make it more interesting. If you already know how to prepare a latte, you may as well experiment with chicory coffee in the evening as well.
Experimentation may be done in the same manner as before with this coffee since there is no discernible difference between the way it is served and regular coffee. Who knows, maybe you’ll end yourself appreciating chicory even more than coffee in and of itself.
FAQs
Why do they put chicory in espresso?
Coffee may benefit from the addition of chicory in a few different ways. For example, if you want to reduce the amount of caffeine, add a certain flavour, or even just extend out the amount of coffee you have available, you can do all of these things with coffee.
What are the advantages of chicory?
Chicory roots have been shown to lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. The root contains inulin, which has been shown to be beneficial for managing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. The higher components of chicory have the potential to treat a variety of conditions, including liver malfunction, heart failure, lack of appetite, and constipation, amongst others. (4)
What is the distinction between espresso and chicory?
Despite the fact that the two beverages have flavours that are quite equivalent, there are major differences between them. To begin, chicory does not contain any amount of caffeine. Additionally, it changes the flavour of regular espresso, making it taste sweeter than it would otherwise. There is also the possibility that the hues vary just very little. The colour of regular espresso is a shade or two lighter than light brown, but chicory espresso is completely black.
Does chicory make espresso stronger?
Although chicory gives espresso a more robust appearance, it does not significantly improve the beverage’s stimulating properties. The flavour of the espresso is enhanced by the chicory, which gives it a more roasted quality. It has a darker hue, which may give the impression that it is bitter. However, since there is less caffeine in this coffee than in a typical cup, the effect of drinking it is far less intense.