What Is New Orleans-Style Coffee?

Have you ever heard of New Orleans-style coffee? Mais yeah! It’s an incredibly unique and interesting type of coffee that not nearly enough people know about. We need to change that.

So today, we’ll answer your questions about New Orleans coffee. Prepare your taste buds for a journey of flavor because this coffee is rich, flavorful, and may even have some health benefits you might not have known about. Let’s jump right in.

New Orleans-Style Coffee

This unique brew isn’t just a regular cup of coffee that happens to be brewed in New Orleans. It has its own unique ingredients and crafting process that make it special. New Orleans is a hub for culture, music, and delicious food — and apparently, a great place to get a cup of coffee as you walk the banquette (that’s a sidewalk for you outsiders).

What Makes It New Orleans-y?

Put simply, New Orleans coffee is coffee infused with chicory root. The chicory root adds a little boost of flavor, making it a bit richer, earthier, and nuttier.

The chicory root is roasted and ground, much like coffee. The two even taste quite similar, with chicory having a slightly earthier flavor.

How Is It Made?

There are several different ways New Orleans coffee is traditionally made. Some people opt to roast the chicory root right along with the coffee beans, keeping them together for the entire coffee-making process.

Others roast the chicory and the coffee separately and even grind them separately, only mixing the two together just before the hot water is poured over the grounds. It’s all personal preference, so there’s no wrong way to do it.

How Did New Orleans Coffee Come About?

There is a long and strange history to New Orleans coffee. The city of New Orleans has always been a major hub for coffee imports. With all of the coffee grown in the Caribbean, it only made sense that this large American port city would be the entry point for much of the coffee in America.

It’s no surprise, then, that coffee has always been popular in New Orleans.

But chicory has long been a popular drink in the region. It tasted similar to coffee, and people even used it as a drink to cure certain health ailments. Chicory was imported to New Orleans from France, which had previously owned the territory.

In the early 1800s, tensions between President Andrew Jackson and Napoleon were high. Napoleon was trying to prevent coffee from reaching the U.S. so that they would rely more heavily on chicory, while Jackson was launching a campaign to convince his citizens that chicory was a lower-quality substitute for coffee.

Spoiler alert: it was too late! Chicory was already ingrained in the culture of New Orleans.

During the Civil War, trade blockades in the Atlantic prevented coffee from reaching the U.S. But powerful France was still able to import chicory through New Orleans. So during the war, the North had a low supply of coffee for their troops, but the South had plenty of chicory to go around.

The French capitalized on this, advertising that chicory could prevent ailments like hypochondria, and its popularity exploded in the South. After the Civil War ended and coffee imports resumed, chicory remained quite popular in the South, especially in New Orleans.

Eventually, to make coffee cheaper, people started mixing the inexpensive chicory root into their coffee, and thus, New Orleans coffee was born.

More About Chicory

Chicory is quite an interesting plant, and it has been used for hundreds of years as a drink. Here’s a bit more information about this unique ingredient that serves as the basis for New Orleans coffee.

What Is Chicory?

Chicory is a perennial shrub that lasts for at least two years before dying and withering away. This small, flowering plant has angular stems that sprout beautiful blue flowers during the summer.

Chicory is known by many different names around the U.S. and the world, including:

This interesting perennial is originally native to Europe, central Russia, and western Asia. However, it made its way to the U.S., where it is now commonly found in the wild, although it is not considered invasive.

This plant's flowers, stems, and roots have been used in medicine for centuries. They can be eaten raw, but more commonly, they are roasted and ground into a powder to be consumed or boiled and served as a tea-like drink.

But it is the root that has served as the basis for New Orleans coffee. The root, on its own, has been an easy coffee substitute throughout history. Combine warm milk with a bit of sugar and a splash of chicory, and you’ve got coffee milk (what some folks give to their kids).

Are There Any Benefits to Chicory?

As we mentioned before, chicory has been used throughout history as a natural remedy for certain conditions. In modern times, we know that chicory cannot cure illnesses, but it is effective for supporting general well-being in various ways.

For starters, chicory is high in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and phytoactive elements, making it a great addition to your diet.

One of the best benefits of chicory is that it contains powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which is an important immune function that helps protect your cells from damage.

On top of that, some people believe that chicory is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal and can potentially help support immune function. Many people believe it can help maintain everyday health and wellness.

One very common use of chicory, even today, is to help keep livestock healthy. Chicory is nutritious and helps to feed livestock, but it can also help with parasites.

How To Make New Orleans Coffee

Now that you know everything about this delicious coffee, let’s get into the recipe. To make this homemade New Orleans coffee as easy and delicious as possible, we’re going to use Javvy coffee concentrate as the base.

Ingredients

Step 1

The night before, grab a mason jar with a lid and add your tablespoon of Javvy and your water. Then add the tablespoon of ground chicory and give it a good stir. Put the lid on and place it in the fridge to steep overnight.

Step 2

The next morning, take your mixture out of the fridge, grab your glass of choice, and fill it with ice cubes. Place a fine mesh strainer over the top and pour your mixture through the strainer to filter out the ground chicory root.

Step 3

Now add your favorite milk or milk substitute. Most recipes in New Orleans call for whole milk, but any milk you prefer will work. We recommend about four ounces, but adjust to taste.

Add sweetened condensed milk for a little sweetness. Again, we recommend half a tablespoon, but taste and adjust as needed.

Enjoy!

A Unique Regional Coffee Beverage

Now you know everything about New Orleans-style coffee, from its ingredients to its history and how to make it. Try it out and see if you’ve found your new favorite coffee BFF.

For more on coffee and an amazing selection of easy, delicious coffee concentrates, head to Javvy.