The best chicory coffee may not taste exactly like coffee. But if you are like me, you know that roasted chicory root coffee is as good as it gets for a good coffee substitute.
And personally, I think it tastes better than decaffeinated coffee.
Usually, that’s what people are after with chicory coffee anyway; a tasty drink that doesn’t keep them wired all day and night.
This post gives you the best organic chicory coffee brands along with a bit about the history and benefits of chicory.
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Table of Contents
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 the best chicory coffee
For this blog, I chose the best chicory coffee varieties based on 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 is the best chicory coffee?
Any of the listed chicory coffee or chicory coffee blends are worthy of the best chicory root coffee as great coffee alternatives.
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.
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 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
Teeccino Chicory Coffee Alternative – French Roast
Teeccino Chicory Coffee, Organic French Roast has a rich taste like coffee, which contains organic carob, organic barley, organic chicory, organic Ramon seeds, and organic natural flavors.
This highly reviewed chicory beverage gets great marks for taste and some people think it even tastes like a mocha due to its carob content.
Unlike decaffeinated coffee, this is an acid-free coffee substitute that helps balance your stomach and pH levels throughout your body.
You can blend this chicory with coffee to gradually get used to a coffee-free lifestyle.
Pros
- Brews like coffee
- Contains 650 mg prebiotics per serving
- 100% organic ingredients
- Bonus of healthy herbs and carob
Cons
- Not gluten-free
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
Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory
Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory is a very popular blend of real coffee and chicory and is from the original Cafe Du Monde which is the original French market chicory coffee stand from the 1860s.
This drink was also made popular in New Orleans because of the popularity of chicory root coffee in France. Many people consider this product to be the best coffee and chicory blend and I agree that its taste is smooth and delicious.
Advantages and disadvantages for some people are that this contains real coffee, so it is stimulating. However, it contains less caffeine than regular coffee, so people trying to cut back on coffee may find this a good starting place.
Pros
- Energizing because it contains real coffee and caffeine
- Tastes exactly like the coffee you would get at the Cafe du Monde in Louisiana
- Great for bowel regularity like regular coffee
- Many people say this is their favorite coffee, even more so than straight coffee beans
Cons
- Not organic
- Contains caffeine
Community Coffee Coffee & Chicory Single Serve K-Cups
Community Coffee Chicory and Coffee K Pods are a great alternative for people who need their coffee in Kpod form. It contains real coffee with chicory blended together and is predominantly made from real coffee beans.
For this reason, it is closest in taste to real coffee and is more of a chicory-flavored coffee than the other brands.
The other perk of this chicory coffee blend is that it comes in 4 flavors: Coffee & Chicory, French Vanilla, Mardi Gras King Cake, and Pecan Praline. Each box contains 18 pods.
You should try using the small cup setting on your Keurig to make a stronger flavored coffee.
Pros
- Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans
- Energizing because it contains coffee and caffeine, around 60 mg per pod
- Compatible with Keurig coffee makers
- Responsibly sourced coffee beans
- Coffee contains between 30% and 40% chicory
- Single servings
- Supports programs for military service members and schools
- Unsweetened
Cons
- Not organic
- Contains caffeine
- Has both natural and artificial flavors in the flavored versions
What is chicory coffee?
Chicory coffee is made by roasting chicory root much like is done for coffee beans. Then it is either served alone or combined with regular coffee beans depending on your preference for caffeine or no caffeine.
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.
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 available in foods today as well because of their high nutritional profile, antioxidants, and prebiotic content.
Health benefits of chicory coffee
If you are looking for the best alternative to coffee that is a realistic alternative to coffee but doesn’t give you the anxiety of coffee, you should try chicory coffee.
It is also the healthiest coffee substitute because it 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.
Not only does chicory root help promote healthy bacteria, but it can also help alleviate constipation.
Chicory root helps support gut health for many people, but it is also good for heart health because it improves cholesterol levels and may help reduce blood sugar levels and insulin levels. It also helps promote healthy weight loss as well.
Additionally, chicory root contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, and also contains B vitamins.
Antioxidants in chicory include polyphenols, terpenes, and many other trace antioxidants. Because of this, chicory root also may help reduce pain and inflammation.
Chicory was also used as medicine by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans for its metabolic benefits, anti-gout effects, and digestive benefits as well.
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 but 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.
Heidi Moretti, MS, RD is The Healthy RD. A registered dietitian for 23 years as well as a book author of the new book Gut Fix and The Whole Body Guide to Gut Health, Heidi has a passion for functional nutrition and natural medicine. She has researched supplements and natural medicine throughout her career. One of her biggest loves is helping people gain function and vitality by tackling the root causes of illness.
