Café Du Monde – A Taste of New Orleans’ Iconic Chicory Coffee
I recently discovered Café Du Monde through a Mark Wiens video. Listening to his travel stories inspired me to seek out this legendary Café Du Monde chicory coffee blend—so famous, it’s shipped worldwide.
I’ve said on this blog before that I’m a big Mark Wiens fan. His videos have inspired me to search for a variety of foods, most notably my favorite Moroccan Inspired Cucumber Salad. In a video I recently watched of a trip he made to New Orleans, Louisiana. During this trip he visits Cafe Du Monde – the Cafe of the World. They ship their famous chicory coffee worldwide and needless to say, I was intrigued.
What Makes Café Du Monde Special
Founded in 1862 at the French Market in New Orleans, Café Du Monde has been serving its signature coffee with chicory around the clock—except on Christmas or during severe weather—ever since. Expect delightful pairings like beignets, milk, and orange juice alongside your coffee.
The Story Behind Coffee & Chicory
The chicory root (from the endive plant) has a long history: championed by ancient Egyptians for medicinal use, added to salads by Romans and Greeks, and adopted in 17th-century Europe—though often fed to livestock. Today, Belgian cuisine still appreciates young, tender chicory. Americans began blending it with coffee during colonial times when coffee was pricey, and France turned to it during Napoleon’s Continental Blockade in the early 19th century
First Sip: Sensory Notes
Upon brewing, the Café Du Monde French-style coffee with chicory gives off a smoky, woodsy aroma—somewhat like lingering campfire notes. Straight up, the flavor leans toward mildly burnt, especially if you’re not a black-coffee fan like me. Adding sugar and creamer softens the edge, making it much more approachable
How I Enjoy It Now
I often add a scoop of Café Du Monde insoluble chicory blend to my regular coffee to temper bitterness and enrich the taste—especially in a breakfast brew. It pairs well with unflavored roasts, though it doesn’t do much for more aromatic, flavored coffees grecobon.
Want to Try Café Du Monde?
If you’re curious to explore a piece of French-Colonial culinary culture, Café Du Monde’s Coffee and Chicory blend is a great starting point. Visit the Café Du Monde official site to order their coffee and chicory, French Roast Coffee mix, or Beignet mix—all shipped right to you
