Chicory coffee, if you don't know it you should try. It is a great drink:
- it is similar to coffee, with a pleasant bittered taste
- it is caffeine free
- it offers many benefits, being rich in health and phytotherapeutic properties
- you can make it in with a moka machine or infusing the roots powder as a decoction.
- there is also the soluble version
Chicory Coffee
Other ways it is know to people...
Cicory Coffee is called in various ways
Chickory, chikory, or chicorie; also said New Orleans coffee.
In Italy the Caffè di Cicoria, especially by the older generations of the South, is sometimes called "'o cafè de tiempe e guerra" (the coffee of wartime). My grandmother said that during the war period (and even before, already during the economic sanctions against fascist Italy), as coffee imports were prohibited, she turned to chicory.
Chicory (what it is, the plant, the leaves, the root, harvest)
We cannot talk about Chicory Coffee without first giving some details on the plant from which this drink is obtained:
The common chicory (chicorium intybus) is a herbaceous perennial plant with bright light blue flowers, belonging to the Asteraceae family. (Wikipedia)
Chicory flowers have a typical and beautiful light blue color. They are edible, so much so that they can be added to salads and dishes as a decoration and / or ingredient. Furthermore, these flowers are used in the manufacture of the Chicory Remedy of Bach flowers.
The leaves of chicory are, of course, also edible. They have a decidedly bitter taste and have always been appreciated by every peasant culture, eaten fresh or sautéed in a pan.
The chicory root is the element from which the coffee powder is produced. It grows taproot, with a cylindrical shape, more or less voluminous, which descends vertically down towards the ground starting from the stem.
The harvest of the root for its transformation usually takes place in autumn, in advance of the first cold weather.
To remove the root from the soil, simply weed out the entire plant by grabbing it from the stem. It must be cleaned, removing the excess soil.
Once the root has been harvested, it must be kept in a cool and dark place, proceeding with the transformation process within a maximum of two days.
[Learn more about chicory roots harvest]
How chicory coffee powder is made
The production of chicory coffee powder, starting from the root, is simple:
- clean the root thoroughly, rinsing it and removing any excess of soil
- dry well
- cut the root into cubes
- leave the cubes to dry in the sun
- toast the pieces in a pan or in the oven (at 200°C for about 1.5 hours) until they have assumed a brown color, similar to the coffee
- pass the toasted pieces in a coffee grinder (avoid a common kitchen mixer, as it tends to pulverize the mixture too finely). [Macinacaffè su Amazon]
Well, you will have obtained a dark and fragrant powder from which to prepare a cup of excellent "alternative coffee"!
Yeah ... but how exactly is it used? Well, read on, it's the next step! 😉
How to make a chicory coffee
Chicory coffee can be prepared essentially in two ways:
Moka:
Ideal for finer grinds.
Fill the filter of the coffee maker up to half level (as is done with barley coffee), closing and then putting the moka machine on low heat until the water runs out
👇 Go to the page where I show you the process of preparing chicory coffee in moka 👇
Infusion / Decoction:
Ideal for thicker grinds.
Put 2-3 tablespoons of toasted chicory root in a saucepan of water. Let it boil for at least 10 minutes, then filter everything.
👇 Go to the page where I show you the process of preparing chicory coffee as a decoction 👇
Does chicory coffee need to be sweetened?
As with any other coffee or herbal tea, sweetening is at your discretion.
Chicory coffee - as already mentioned - is bitter.
If bitter is not a flavor you love, you could try adding honey, stevia or agave syrup in addition to the classic white sugar.
Active ingredients and benefits
Chicory coffee is an excellent source of fiber and can be of great help in improving your digestive functions.
Let's now analyze all the benefits and the active ingredients contained in this "different" coffee:
🦠💩 Inulin: OK for bacterial flora and constipation
Chicory coffee positively supports the intestinal flora thanks to the presence of inulin, a soluble fiber made up of long fructose chains.
There are numerous studies that prove how can increase the concentration of the microbiome present in the intestinal tracts ¹ ².
In addition, chicory inulin has shown excellent positive effects in the treatment of constipation³.
😋🥗 Bitter is good: appetite and liver
The bitter taste of the drink - and more generally of chicory - stimulates liver function. It is no coincidence that chicory is often considered a "liver-friendly" plant. In particular, the bitter substances contained in the root stimulate its functioning. A study in mice showed that chicory extract, in correct doses, can protect the liver from oxidative stress ⁴.
Like all bitter substances, even those contained in chicory can be responsible for the increase in appetite. Chicory coffee can be a good gastro stimulant.
NOTES: Chicory coffee is often used as an eupeptic, stimulant for appetite and digestive functions, in the treatment of biliary dyspepsia.
💧🧘♀️ Antioxidant and Purifying
Chicory root is rich in polyphenols, especially flavonoids ⁵.
The intake of these substances can result in the following positive effects:
- an improvement in renal filtration and diuresis (thanks to ingested water)
- excellent antioxidant and counteracting action against free radicals
- a good protective action on the cardiovascular system
Contraindications
Although the consumption of chicory coffee brings with it many benefits, its abuse, as well as for any other food, is not recommended.
The gastric stimulation action can cause trouble and problems for those suffering of peptic ulcer, gastritis and gastro esophageal reflux.
Chicory has very mild stimulating effects on uterine contractions. Pregnant women should avoid excessive consumption.
Chicory coffee, as repeated many times, is rich in fiber, in this case of inulin: a chronic excess in the consumption of this substance can compromise the intestinal absorption of nutrients and drugs.
Where to buy it? What is the right price?
To buy Chicory Coffee without fail try to go to specialized resellers such as or organic and natural food stores.
Even large retailers respond to the growing demand for this decaffeinated drink.
The most immediate purchase method is certainly through Amazon, Ebay or other online shops.
Here are some interesting options:
Chicory Coffee Organic Powder:
Organic Chicory Coffee Instant Drink:
Chicory Coffee Powder:
Prices
In the US, taking Amazon USA as reference, the price of chicory root powder is very variable.
Some cheaper varieties cost $ 1.5-2 / Ounce.
I.e.:
Chicory Root-4oz- Ingredient of New Orleans Style Coffee
Other varietes come to cost $ 8.50 / Ounce:
Roasted Chicory Root Granules, Coffee Substitute
In Europe, taking Amazon Italy as a reference, the price of ground chicory root for moka starts from € 10.58 / kg, with an average price of around € 12.10:
Soluble chicory coffee has a price per kg which is certainly higher than the powder for moka and espresso.
The average price of a soluble powder based on chicory coffee is about 60 € / kg.
Source: Excel studies of chicory prices on Amazon Italy.
Other content on this site
If you want you can read about other aspects related to the theme of this site:
- Nutritional values of Chicory Coffee
- How to make Chicory Coffee in Moka
- How to make a Decoction of Chicory Coffee
Bibliographical references
¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18590586
¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28213610
²https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27492975/
⁴Composition and properties of chicory extracts rich in fructans and polyphenols