I have a confession. I have a sensitivity to coffee. Caffeine is not my friend and even decaf coffee makes me feel like an anxious mess. Don’t get me wrong, I love coffee and I still drink it every now and then but it’s a huge bummer that I can’t drink it more often. I’m always on the hunt for the best coffee alternatives so I can pretend I’m a coffee drinker, but don’t have to worry about the brutal caffeine feels. Roasted chicory root coffee is always the answer.
A cousin of dandelion, chicory root has been used as a coffee alternative for generations. It’s rumored that Charlemagne grew chicory in his personal garden. It’s also used in New Orleans’ Cafe Du Monde’s famous coffee blend, which give it its unique flavor that has been cherished for over a century now.
My favorite way to make this coffee alternative is by using a French press, but any brewing method will work. Combine equal parts roasted chicory root and dandelion root. I recommend to use organic options. Most of my herbs come from Mountain Rose Herbs. I also like to add a little bit of almond milk, sweetener, vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon to make it extra perfect. It’s the perfect solution for me and makes me feel like I’m part of the coffee drinkers club.
ROASTED CHICORY COFFEE RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of roasted chicory root
- 1 tablespoons of dandelion root
- Milk of choice (I used almond milk)
- Sweetener to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Dash of cinnamon (optional)
Directions
- Using a French press, add equal parts roasted chicory root and dandelion root. Pour boiled water over top and brew for 3-5 minutes.
- Pour into heat-proof serving glasses and top off with milk of choice, sweetener (optional), vanilla extract (optional) and a dash of cinnamon (optional).
- Enjoy!