Chicory Coffee & Substitutes

part of: Chicory

Chicory coffee is made from the roasted and ground root of the chicory plant, producing a dark, rich brew with an earthy, slightly bitter flavour reminiscent of coffee but without the caffeine. It can be drunk on its own as a caffeine-free alternative or blended with instant coffee to mellow the flavour and stretch the coffee further.

The tradition of mixing chicory with coffee has deep roots in French and New Orleans cuisine, where it remains a signature style. In Australia, chicory-blend instant coffees have long been a quiet pantry staple, particularly among older generations.

It dissolves easily in hot water or milk and is typically prepared the same way as regular instant coffee. The chicory adds a roasted sweetness that pairs well with milk.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Chicory roots are harvested from cultivated plants, washed, sliced, and slowly roasted at high temperatures until dark and fragrant. The roasted pieces are then ground into a fine powder or processed into soluble instant granules through extraction and spray-drying, similar to how instant coffee is made. For blended products, the chicory powder is mixed with instant coffee granules in set proportions before packaging.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 3kcal
Protein 0.1g
Carbs 0.8g
Fat 0g
Fibre 0g Sugar 0g
Mass Distribution

1 serving 6 fl oz is about 179 g — roughly 10 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈1.96kg
Freshwater ≈371.96L
Land ≈1.68

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from

In the kitchen

Used as

coffee substitute beverage

Goes well with
Classic dishes
  • New Orleans Café au Lait
  • Chicory Latte

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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