PJ’s Coffee is a well-known coffeehouse in the southeastern United States, particularly in Louisiana, where the company originated. One unique feature of PJ’s Coffee that sets it apart from other coffee shops is its distinctive roast. New Orleans-style roast has been a staple of the region for many years. New Orleans is famous for its chicory-infused coffee; many coffee shops in the area, including the famous Café du Monde, offer coffee with chicory. This naturally raises the question: does PJ’s coffee contain chicory?
What is Chicory and Why is it Common in New Orleans Coffee?
Before delving into the world of PJ’s Coffee, let’s examine chicory and its role in the world of coffee. Chicory is a perennial plant that has edible tubers. It’s the roasted root of this plant that gives coffee with chicory its distinct flavor. Chicory adds a rich, sweet, and slightly earthy flavor to coffee. This taste is distinctly different from traditional roasted coffee.
Chicory entered the coffee market when coffee became scarce in Europe during the 18th century. Europeans turned to alternative methods for brewing their beloved beverage. As coffee drinkers began experimenting with the roasted root, chicory soon became an alternative for true coffee. This marked the beginning of a long history between coffee and chicory. As many French emigrants went to New Orleans, they brought the tradition of using chicory with them.
However, some argue that the popularity of chicory in New Orleans can also be attributed to a civil war-era coffee drought. According to legend, with the Mississippi blockaded during the Civil War, many sources for high-quality Arabica coffee beans disappeared. Cries for coffee filled the streets of New Orleans. To get around the coffee famine, many residents started using roasted chicory in place of (or mixed with) expensive and scarce genuine coffee.
Chicory in PJ’s Coffee
PJ’s Coffee uses a unique blend of high-quality Arabica coffee beans. The company carefully roasts their beans at their own roasting facility located in Covington, Louisiana.
However, using Arabica doesn’t answer our question directly. In 2022 PJ’s announced it began using a new lighter roast Arabica blend in all locations nationwide. However, PJ’s didn’t update their Chicory policy during this rollout. It is noted that PJ’s does blend a French Roast light, dark and chicory ground coffee in their blend line so possibly certain ground products would have some chicory in the fine grind offering. Some PJs locations offer either express hot chicory in small quantities in your drinks or put ground chicory in your cups for special requests from most customers.
<h4－What We Discovered From PJs Employee’s</h4－
From our conversations with PJ’s Coffee employees and general customer feedback, we discovered that not all PJ’s locations have the ability to make true Chicory coffee. PJ’s offers brew methods to traditional but it limits their employees’ training on coffee. Notably in, there doesn’t seem to be an openly published guide that details specific company policies on quality brewing methods and grind quality control along with Arabica Roast chicory products ground coffee. Although at the launch they committed to high Arabica sourced beans. One concern on customers being 100% transparent with their coffee beans grind is crucial in controlling taste, and truly the product sold under PJ’s marketing, including Chicory Roast Arabica offerings has fine grind on those exact blends mentioned previously will truly define fresh coffee and PJ’s coffee shop style.
Does PJ’s Blend Chicory in Coffee On Certain Coffee Beans Products
Our exploration of PJ’s menu revealed that some products may contain chicory while others may not. Some of their darkest roasts contain coffee sources with a “hint of chicory”, When you look at PJ’s Online Product line offerings. It lists their coarse-grind medium through very dark blend roasted ground coffee offers but indicates they sourced it with one hundred percent Arabica and there does not appear to be added products containing roast chicory beans, other than French Dark.
In conclusion PJ’s offers true Arabica using coffee sources – but the products can vary depending on selection of roast by the customer along with locations.
What is PJ’s Coffee and where does it originate?
PJ’s Coffee is a specialty coffeehouse with over 100 locations in the United States and internationally. The brand was founded in 1978 by Phil Jones in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a commitment to serving high-quality coffee made from select Arabica beans and carefully roasted to perfection. Since its inception, PJ’s Coffee has grown rapidly, expanding its presence in various countries across the globe.
PJ’s Coffee takes pride in its Louisiana heritage and incorporates it into its brand image, store designs, and products. The brand has adapted to modern tastes while still staying true to its New Orleans roots. Today, PJ’s Coffee continues to innovate, exploring new flavors and blends while remaining committed to sourcing the finest Arabica coffee beans from around the world.
What is Chicory, and how is it related to coffee?
Chicory root, derived from the blue dandelion flower native to Europe, has been used for centuries in various culinary and medical applications. In the context of coffee, chicory root is often added to coffee blends due to its similarity in taste and its roasted, earthy flavor. Some coffee makers and roasters add chicory to coffee grounds or coffee substitutes due to its bitter notes, which can add a distinct taste to the coffee.
In New Orleans coffee culture, adding chicory is a traditional practice that goes back to the 18th century when France controlled the city. This tradition continued long after France ceded control, as local roasters found that adding chicory helped to mask imperfections in their coffee beans and provided an extra boost of caffeine to coffee lovers. Many coffee brands still continue this local tradition by adding varying proportions of chicory to their blends.
Does PJ’s Coffee contain chicory?
PJ’s Coffee, drawing its roots from Louisiana coffee traditions, originally featured blends with the characteristic taste of chicory root. During the early years, some of PJ’s coffee blends were made with chicory. However, this practice may have evolved as the brand expanded its offerings to cater to a more diverse global market.
Today, PJ’s Coffee states that their Arabica beans do not contain chicory additives. The coffeehouse focuses on showcasing distinct nuances of the finest Arabica beans worldwide, without any added ingredients like chicory. That said, the extent of chicory presence might have differed historically or in specific blends from the coffeehouse. Therefore, checking current product descriptions and knowing specific blends are the key to confirming their composition.
What distinguishes PJ’s Coffee from other brands?
PJ’s Coffee sets itself apart through a strong commitment to high-quality Arabica bean sourcing, unique blends that capture distinct flavors worldwide, and innovative proprietary blends inspired by the company’s rich Louisiana heritage. PJ’s offers a diverse selection of coffee blends, each crafted to provide distinctive taste profiles. Notable among these blends are PJ’s in-house developments like their well-known King Cake and the Southern Pecan coffee.
At PJ’s Coffee, customers can also expect an elevated coffeehouse experience, thanks to expertly crafted beverages and elegant store designs paying homage to the brand’s historic roots in Louisiana. These physical stores serve as upscale gathering spots and quiet retreats where locals and tourists can appreciate expertly brewed coffee from a carefully chosen selection of international Arabica coffee beans.
Can you still taste Chicory-flavored coffee from PJ’s Coffee?
PJ’s lovers of the brand who miss the unique taste imparted by the addition of chicory need not despair. This chicory flavor occasionally makes a seasonal return, such as the limited release of certain specialty blends. Visit PJ’s stores or explore the PJ’s Coffee website to discover more about current flavors and the specific ingredients used in each roast.
While Arabica coffee remains PJ’s core focus, with growing consumer preferences to more natural ingredients PJ’s are more transparent about ingredients. However, it is likely that they retain chicory coffee traditions through occasional blends or limited recipes drawing from their Louisiana coffee culture roots. For those craving that authentic experience or taste reminiscent of chicory within the PJ’s lineup, watching their in-store announcements or website offerings should help with this search.
How can I still experience the unique taste of chicory at PJ’s Coffee?
Anyone eager to relive the original aromatic taste imparted by the addition of chicory at PJ’s can still pursue the option of ordering PJ’s unique coffee flavor combinations that typically will continue the combination during seasonal blends. If local PJ’s restaurant are not available to customers then online visits through PJ’s various ordering websites should aid customers of the brand in uncovering information.
Visiting PJ’s seasonal or holiday-themed website releases should become key priorities or continue monitoring. Further assistance or requests for any ingredients may be requested talking through social outlets PJ’s sites with current help to retain loyal PJs customer communication link channel inquiries related feedback