Chicory root coffee is as good as it gets if you are looking for a tasty coffee substitute. Personally, I think it tastes better than decaffeinated coffee as well.
Usually, that’s what people are after with chicory coffee anyway; a tasty drink that doesn’t keep them wired all day and night. In this blog, I will share with you the many benefits of chicory coffee and some of the best brands of chicory root coffee.
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What is Chicory Coffee?
The chicory plant is also known as Chicorium Intybus and is related to Belgian endive and dandelions. Grown all over the globe, chicory is used primarily for its nutritious root. It is often made into a tasty and naturally decaffeinated coffee substitute.
Chicory coffee is made from roasted chicory roots. The roasting of chicory roots is much like the roasting of coffee beans. Roasted chicory root is served alone or combined with regular coffee beans, depending on your preference for caffeine or no caffeine.
Unlike regular coffee beans, chicory root yields a higher amount of flavor compounds per serving, so that is why a serving size of chicory coffee is usually smaller than typically brewed coffees.
In fact, chicory coffee can taste much stronger than regular coffee, which is a surprise to many people. Many chicory products are also available in foods today as well because of their high nutritional profile, antioxidants, and prebiotic content.
The Many Health Benefits of Chicory Coffee
Chicory has been used as a traditional medicine by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans for its metabolic benefits, anti-gout effects, and digestive benefits.
As a natural food, chicory has many health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic fibers. Let’s take a closer look at the many benefits of this natural coffee substitute.
Antioxidants: in chicory include polyphenols, terpenes, and many other trace antioxidants.
Anti-inflammatory: owing to its rich antioxidant content, chicory root also may help reduce pain and inflammation. Indeed, chicory root also may reduce gout symptoms by reducing inflammatory compounds.
If you are looking for the best alternative to coffee that doesn’t give you the anxiety of coffee, you should try chicory coffee.
Gut health: not only does chicory root help promote healthy bacteria, but it can also help alleviate constipation. Chicory root is rich in a type of prebiotic fiber called inulin. Acting as a prebiotic, chicory root helps promote a healthy gut microbiome according to research. However, if you have SIBO or IBS, you may need to limit chicory in your diet due to its high FODMAP content.
Heart health: chicory improves blood pressure levels, so it is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Metabolic health: drinking chicory coffee helps reduce blood sugar levels and insulin levels. It also helps promote improved hemoglobin A1C levels, improved insulin sensitivty, and healthy weight loss as well.
Nutrient-rich: chicory root contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, and also contains natural B-vitamins.
Relaxing beverage: using chicory coffee alternatives instead of coffee also promotes relaxation and improved sleep quality by helping people reduce their caffeine intake.
History of Chicory Coffee
Many people may think having chicory in coffee is foreign, but chicory as coffee has been used for hundreds of years. Chicory has been grown in Egypt for thousands of years and used medicinally. It became popular as a coffee beverage in the 17th and 18th centuries in France. The use of chicory also became popular in the United States during the Civil War in order to help stretch food rations at the time.
Storing Chicory Coffee
If you don’t use your chicory coffee up quickly, make sure to store extra chicory coffee granules in the freezer as you would for coffee beans to preserve the freshness. This is because chicory contains small amounts of fat and volatile oils which degrade if they are stored at room temperature.
Who Should Avoid Chicory Coffee?
If you are allergic to ragweed, you may need to avoid chicory products because the plants are related. Chicory root also contains fructans, which can cause intestinal upset along with gas and bloating in some people. It is considered a high FODMAPS food, so people needing to follow a low FODMAPS diet, should avoid chicory coffee or minimize their intake of it.
Little is known about the safety of using chicory during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so it is best to avoid or minimize chicory coffee intake in these cases.
Chicory Coffee Varieties
Chicory coffee is available in the following forms:
- Plain roasted chicory root “grounds” with no coffee beans
- Roasted instant chicory coffee alternatives
- Roasted chicory and coffee bean blends
- Instant chicory/coffee bean drinks
- Keurig-ready chicory coffees with coffee beans
My personal favorites are instant chicory coffee alternatives because they are so easy to make and taste great.
Criteria for Choosing Quality Chicory Coffee
To get a high quality chicory coffee, you should use the following criteria:
- Organically grown
- Highly-rated
- Taste and quality
- Brand reputation
- To include both caffeine-free and caffeinated options
To make the list, each of the best chicory coffees had to meet most of these standards. I did include a couple of non-organic brands because of their great reviews, the versatility of use, and their long history of use, such as the Cafe Du Monde brand.
What are the Best Chicory Coffee Brands?
Any of the listed chicory coffee or chicory coffee blends are worthy to try, truly.
Also, if you are wondering where to buy chicory coffee, you often can buy them at the grocery store, but they have become difficult to find in some areas. For this reason, you can buy them on Amazon or directly from their website stores.
Teeccino Chicory Herbal “Coffee”
Teeccino organic chicory root coffee one is absolutely delicious made in an espresso machine and I sometimes prefer it over coffee, honestly. The best flavor, in my opinion, is the the Butterscotch Cream that also contains chaga and ashwagandha for added health benefits.
| Pros | Cons |
| -A great value and contains 26 servings (more if you make it dilute) -75% organic ingredients and all natural ingredients -May help improve sleep quality Less than $1 per serving | -More expensive than some brands -Can contain gluten due to its organic barley content |
Worldwide Botanicals Organic French Chicory Root
Worldwide Botanicals Organic French Roasted Chicory Root is a dark roast of chicory root that brews like coffee, so you can make this in your drip coffee maker. This organic ground chicory coffee is a great value and serves 45, although most people agree that you can get closer to 60 servings per container.
The package contains 1 pound of pure organic chicory root, so it is even better value than organic coffee. Some people blend this with their regular coffee but when you serve it as a pure substitute of chicory for coffee. It is 100% caffeine-free and is also Kosher.
Like all roasted chicory roots, Worldwide Botanicals Organic French Roast Chicory Root is rich in a soluble fiber called inulin, which also serves as a prebiotic for gut health.
You can also make this drink in a French press, teapot with a strainer, or espresso maker too.
Pros
- USDA-certified organic chicory root and certified by QAI
- Sustainable harvesting practices
- Great value
- Strong taste
- Most reviewers say it tastes just like coffee
- Kosher
Cons
- A little more work than instant chicory because it requires brewing
- Very strong taste for some people so use less than the directions say
Frontier Co-op Organic Roasted Chicory Root Granules
Frontier Co-op Organic Roasted Chicory Root is a coarsely ground coffee substitute that gets high marks for taste and smoothness. You also can’t beat this chicory for its value, with 3 pounds coming in right at around $30.
Many people use chicory root coffee like this one for its liver health benefits and also to help reduce inflammation in the body. It also helps keep the bowels regular just like regular coffee does.
Keep in mind, that not everyone finds that this chicory coffee tastes just like regular coffee because it isn’t. However, it’s a pretty close match for most people.
Pros
- From a reputable company that is Climate Pledge Friendly
- 100% USDA Certified Organic
- The best value chicory root coffee alternative
- Less intense flavor than some
- Brews like regular coffee
Cons
- Flavor is less intense for some people
Blue Lilly Organics Chicory Root Roasted Granules
Blue Lilly Organics Chicory Root Roasted Granules is highly rated and is a great value as well. This chicory coffee contains 64% prebiotic inulin so it’s great for gut health. As you may know, prebiotics fuel the healthy bacteria in the gut, which supports a healthy immune system.
Many people brew this coffee in their French Press or drip coffee maker, while others brew it like tea. Most people prefer to mix this 1:1 with their favorite coffee for the best taste.
Pros
- Great taste
- non-GMO
- 3rd party tested
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
- Good value
Cons
- Not USDA-certified organic despite the brand name
Prewetts Organic Instant Chicory Drink
Prewetts Organic Instant Chicory Drink is the best instant chicory coffee because it gets rave reviews for taste and is a super convenient instant coffee substitute. This product simply contains chicory root with nothing else in it. If you are looking for a super-easy way to try to drink chicory coffee instead of caffeinated coffee, this is a great place to start.
Pros
- Instant form of chicory coffee for convenient use
- Works great as an espresso powder substitute
- Excellent reviews for taste
- Naturally gluten-free
- Produced in Bristol, UK
- Organically grown
- Comes in a glass jar
Cons
- Some reviewers complain about slow shipping but are pleased once they get the product
- People who live in humid climates have trouble with this product clumping after a few months
