Menu
Author:
Franco Salzillo
Herbs are widely misunderstood. We still know little about all the health benefits of herbal infusions. Some of which have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine!
What we do know is that some herbs are delicious, and that’s what matters most. Today we’re making an easy herbal coffee, and it has very little coffee, so it’s lower in caffeine. It has lots of flavor, though, and it’s so robust that it plays the role of a regular coffee perfectly.
Here’s what you need to know about this herbal, warm drink. Make this one often, mainly because it will make you feel light and full of energy!
With herbs, you can go as easily or as complicated as you want. For me, there’s no reason to complicate things. I make my herbal coffee with a coffee and roasted chicory granule blend; that’s the base.
The rest of the ingredients are totally customizable. I like mine with ground cinnamon, brown sugar and a distinctive element — roasted dandelion root. If that isn’t an herbal coffee, I don’t know what is.
For herbal infusions, especially when using chicory, my brewing method of choice is the French press. You can brew the coffee gently, extracting all the herbs’ flavor and nutrition. This is the gentlest way of making an herbal infusion, and the French press plunger lets you pour the coffee, leaving all the sediments behind.
Pour the ingredients into the French press, fill it with boiling water and press. Then let the infusion sit for a few minutes. Your herbal coffee is ready to be served.
And one last thing. Cream, milk and milk alternatives are great in this one, and make sure you sweeten yours to taste. I use brown sugar, but honey is terrific as well! Use your favorite sweetener.
Bring the water to a boil in a kettle.
Spoon the coffee & chicory, dandelion root and ground cinnamon into the bottom of a French press.
Pour the boiling and stir. Let the herbal coffee sit for 2-3 minutes.
Place the plunger and press. Pour the coffee into two cups immediately.
Sweeten with brown sugar to taste and, optionally, add cream.
