Why You Should Add Chicory to Your Coffee
If you’ve ever tried New Orleans-style coffee, you might know that part of its unique flavor comes from the addition of chicory . Chicory is an endive root that is roasted, ground and added to coffee. The use of chicory was introduced by the French as a way to deal with coffee shortages, and its influence can also be found outside of New Orleans, as chicory is an ingredient in South Indian filter coffee and Vietnamese American iced coffee .
Chicory can be brewed on its own to make an alternative to decaffeinated coffee; it can also be mixed and brewed with coffee to add body to it and reduce the bitterness of the coffee. Although the addition of chicory to coffee may have started out of necessity, it is both delicious and may offer health benefits.
Chicory reduces caffeine content in coffee
Chicory contains some micronutrients and inulin , which is a fiber that helps control blood sugar and gut health. While the evidence for these health benefits is still lacking – chicory is, after all, brewed in a cup of coffee, meaning most of these nutrients probably don’t get there – I’d say the strongest argument for adding chicory to coffee is that it is a delicious way to cut down on your caffeine intake.
If, like me, you live for your morning (and mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and mid-afternoon) coffee, there will be times when caffeine levels get too high. However, one of the characteristics of coffee drinkers is that even when you know you should cut back on caffeine, the ritual of a hot cup of coffee is soothing in a way that very few things do.
When that happens, instead of cutting out caffeine entirely, mixing regular coffee with chicory can provide moderation without feeling deprivation. This is especially true if you’re making coffee with milk , which is made with one part brewed coffee and one part steamed or scalded milk. The result is a full cup of coffee, half of which is milk.
How to add chicory to coffee
Some coffee blends, such as Café du Monde, sell coffee with chicory already added, which you brew just like any other coffee. You can also buy chicory separately to add to the coffee of your choice.
It’s best to start by adding it in a one to three ratio of ground chicory and ground coffee, after which you’ll brew the mixture like you would any other coffee pot. Depending on your taste preferences and caffeine level, you can adjust this ratio by adding more or less chicory.
If you want to make coffee with milk, you can heat the milk of your choice just below boiling, then mix it with hot milk and hot coffee in a 1:1 ratio. To add some foam to your coffee with milk , you can pour the mixture between two cups until small bubbles form.