How to make Chicory Coffee at home Caffeine content? A complete guideline
Chicory coffee is one of the popular beverages in the past twenty years. Its nutty flavor and health benefits may win some fans who used it as an alternative to a cup of coffee, and the people served by home-brewed chicory for reducing the amount of caffeine in a standard cup of coffee because it is made from ground and roasted chicory roots. Whether you are a coffee-lover and want to reduce its consumption level in your diet or simply an inquisitive person and want to know other types of coffee, chicory coffee is very easy and satisfying drink to brew at home.
We will talk about how to make chicory coffee at home, what are the benefits of it and how much more it contains in comparison with regular coffee.
What Is Chicory Coffee?
Chicory coffee is a brew infusion of roasted chicory roots, which actually is a dandelion. Traditionally, Chicory roots have been used as a substitute for coffee where it costs too much or nearly impossible to get hold of. In the 19th century France, chicory roots were used as a substitute for real coffee because it was practically impossible to get real coffee during the American Civil War. Since it contains no caffeine, it tastes like coffee but with the sweetness of nutty nut taste and earthy undertones.
Chicory coffee could be taken straight from the bottle or a little dose added to one’s regular coffee for an even lighter version of the favorite drink.
Health Benefits of Taking Chicory Coffee
Digestive Health
Chicory root is said to harbor inulin-a type of soluble fiber that causes the flowering of good gut bacteria .
Antipyretic Properties
The herb calms down the inflammation of the body, and this has anti-inflammatory properties.
No caffeine content
This can be consumed highly easily as a substitute for all those who want to reduce their intake of caffeine substantially.
Here’s how you can go about making chicory coffee in the comfort of your own home. You have two options here, and you can go for 100 percent chicory root so that you just end up having no caffeine, or you can mix it with your regular coffee grounds, and you will enjoy that unique flavor without losing much in flavor.
Ingredients
Chicory Root
Roasted chicory root can be found at most health food stores or online. Most come pre-ground, but some vendors sell whole roasted chunks that you must grind.
Optional -Coffee Grounds
You can simply use your own coffee beans to make a chicory-coffee blend. It’s up to you to determine the ratio of chicory to coffee.
Equipment
coffee grinder
To have the entire roasted chicory root, you will likely want to grind up the pieces to a grind consistency similar to coffee.
Coffee Brewer Any style
French press, drip brewer, pour-over, or even an espresso machine
kettle
To heat the water for brewing
Instructions
Step 1 :Chicory Root Grind
You will need whole roasted chicory root. You’ll grind this so it’s coarse like ground coffee. Note that chicory root is greatly denser than coffee beans, so you can sure enough use some elbow grease.
Step 2 :Brewing Preparation
Ground-coffee brew the chicory. Chicory to coffee ratio is usually one to two but in this instance, one will be to two of chicory and two parts of coffee. They are toned up at a flavor ratio of 1:3-that is one of chicory to three of coffee
Step 3 :Strong Chicory
Will be at the ratio of 1:1 to 2:1 when to taste more pungent.
Step 4 :Heat Water
Scald your water to 195 F-205-that’s the ideal brewing temperature.
Step 5 :Brew Your Coffee
Use your preferred method to brew:
Step 6 :With Drip brewers
The same amount of water you would use were it an ordinary drip
Step 7 :French Press
Place your chicory-coffee mix in your French press. Add your hot water, stir it up and let it sit for about 4 minutes before pressing the plunger.
Step 8 :Pour-over
Pour the mix into your filter. Pour your hot water in a circular motion and you thus will let the coffee seep into your carafe or mug.
Step 9 :Serve
Pour the brewed chicory coffee into your cup, serve. Add milk, cream, and your choice of sweetener to taste.
Yummy Chicory Coffee Preparation Recipe Tips
Slowly tweak the ratios
So, a new convert to chicory coffee knows to start at a low amount of chicory and add more and more. Since chicory tends to be bitter and provide more contrast, slowly tweaking the ratio is how you find that balance.
Cold Brew Chicory Coffee
You can even cold brew using chicory. It involves using a jar: combine your coffee and chicory mix with cold water, let it steep in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours, strain, and serve over ice.
Does Chicory Coffee Contain Any Caffeine?
But another reason chicory coffee is so popular is through the use of caffeine optimization. So, let’s see how much of it compares with regular coffee.
1- Chicory Root (100%)
It is totally caffeine-free. If you brew fully with 100% chicory coffee, then you would have absolutely no caffeine; this makes it a rather perfect brew for those who are sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, or cutting on caffeine for health reasons.
2- Chicory-Roasted Coffee Blend
The ratio also puts into practice the chicory root mixed with coffee. It sets the level of caffeine when the chicory root is mixed with the coffee.
i) 1:1 Ratio (Chicory to Coffee)
You would mix equal measurements of chicory and coffee. At that point, you would already have almost half the quantity of caffeine it would contain if it were in the full cup of regular coffee.
ii) 1:2 Ratio (Chicory to Coffee)
It cuts it by around one-third.
Example
- 8-oz cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine.
- 1:1 ratio chicory and coffee yields around 47.5mg of caffeine. If it is in the ratio of 1:2, it will give an amount of about 63 mg.
The last brew is depending on the selection of beans and how one brews. However, from this point of view, chicory is an amazing way to exclude the degree of caffeine along with having a drink like coffee.
Benefits of Chicory Coffee
Choices:
Alternative with no caffeine
Well, if you cannot stomach enough stout or if you can’t even get stout to be able to tolerate the stimulating effect of caffeine, this chicory coffee is an alternative substitute that would have a taste nearly like coffee but with no activating effect of caffeine.
Probiotic Fiber gut health Promoter
Inulin is actually the fiber from the root of chicory. It’s actually a prebiotic. This means it promotes the gut bacterial state and can prove very helpful when digestion is on your mind.
May Help Regulate Blood Sugar levels
Quite a number of studies maintain the inulin found in the chicory root to be an excellent means of maintaining the level of blood sugar steady, hence, can be very useful for those with diabetes beside those with insulin resistance.
Nutrient-rich with Antioxidants
The Chicory root is full of that chemical referred to as polyphenols and many more antioxidants. These antioxidants may well fight the inflammation and free radicals damage as well.
Possible Downsides
Bitter than regular Coffee
It is bitter than your regular cup of coffee. So may not be too tasty for everyone. But a little bit of milk and sweetener helps to reduce the bitterness of it.
Abdominal Pain
Some may have gas and bloating as the roots of chicory contain inulin. Start with a low dose and observe how you are reacting to it.
Conclusion
Chicory coffee is yet another alternative if one would like to cut down on the amount of caffeine that one is using or wants something other than the flavor that they have been used to. This can be taken on its own for the caffeine-free drink, or it may be taken with normal coffee for a low-caffeine drink.
Ergo, it goes without saying that it is quite versatile and adds variety to your coffee habit since it is steeped in history, tastes wonderfully different, and has many more health benefits. And the best part-it can be prepared both as a chicory coffee hot, or better still, as a cold brew. So, it can easily be prepared at home, and then the person can personalize his or her caffeine intake as he may require.
