ಚಿಕೋರಿ · Coffee & chicory
Coffee & chicory ratios, explained
Ask two South Indian households how they take their filter coffee and you'll often get two different answers — and both will mention a ratio. That number is the proportion of coffee to chicory in the blend, and it quietly shapes almost everything about the cup. Here is what chicory actually does, and how the common ratios taste.
Chicory is the root of a plant (a relative of the dandelion) that is roasted and ground much like coffee. It carries no caffeine, but when brewed it releases a dark, slightly sweet, faintly nutty liquor. Blended with coffee before roasting or grinding, it has been part of South Indian filter coffee for well over a century — not as a filler to be apologised for, but as an ingredient people genuinely prefer the taste of.
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Body
Chicory makes the decoction thicker and heavier on the tongue, giving that satisfying, full-bodied feel filter coffee is loved for.
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Sweetness
It brings a natural, gentle sweetness, so a chicory blend often needs a touch less sugar than pure coffee.
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Colour
Chicory deepens the decoction to a rich, dark brown — the deep colour many people associate with a "proper" tumbler of coffee.
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Economy
Weight for weight chicory costs less than coffee, so a blend stretches further while keeping the cup full and dark.
One honest note: more chicory means less coffee, and therefore less of coffee's own aroma and less caffeine per spoon. That is the trade every ratio is quietly balancing.
Ratios are written as coffee : chicory. So 80:20 means 80% coffee and 20% chicory. Here's who each one tends to suit.
Who it suits: For drinkers who want only the coffee — its aroma, its acidity, its estate character, nothing added.
In the cup: Brightest and most aromatic; a lighter-bodied decoction that can run through the filter quickly. Least sweet on its own.
Who it suits: For those who love coffee-forward flavour but want a little more body and roundness.
In the cup: Coffee still leads. Chicory quietly deepens the body and adds a hint of sweetness without announcing itself.
Who it suits: A popular middle ground for daily South Indian filter coffee at home.
In the cup: Noticeably fuller and darker, with a rounded, slightly sweet finish. Holds up beautifully against hot milk.
Who it suits: For those raised on a bold, dark, sweet filter coffee — the classic tumbler taste many grew up with.
In the cup: Deep colour, heavy body, and a pronounced natural sweetness. Very forgiving with plenty of milk; economical too.
There is no single "best" ratio — only the one that suits your taste. As a rough guide:
- Want to taste the coffee itself? Stay at 100:0 or 90:10.
- Want a balanced daily cup? 85:15 is a dependable, crowd-pleasing middle.
- Grew up on strong, dark, sweet filter coffee? 80:20 will feel like home.
When in doubt, start in the middle and adjust. Your palate will tell you which way to lean over the next few packs.
Choose your ratio
Order the blend that suits your cup.
We roast and grind in-house from Chikkamagaluru coffee and offer a range of chicory ratios. Not sure which is yours? Tell us how you like your coffee and we'll help you pick.