New Orleans (NOLA) Coffee and Culture
With a whole new generation that is aiming to ring the changes in coffee culture and coffee experiences, is the Crescent City really one for the coffee lovers bucket list? Read on to find out.
History of New Orleans Coffee
The port of New Orleans grew from an expatriate supply depot to the second largest port in the country United States, and to the fourth largest in the world, this was all during the 1840s.
Centuries-old worth of practices were brought over to New Orleans with the European explorers and traders. New Orleans began receiving its first cargos of green coffee beans from Cuba and other Caribbean Islands, in the eighteenth century, during the rise of its depot. As the city and their coffee identity grew, more coffee arrived from the Caribbean and South America. Around 241,000 tons of green coffee, 27.8% of the coffee that entered the United States in 1995, came into New Orleans.
The Civil War impact on the port of New Orleans was catastrophic. With New Orleans coffee shipments coming to a halt, they had to come up with a plan to keep going. They started mixing things into their coffee to stretch out the supply they had remaining. One of these being chicory.
While chicory alone cannot provide a caffeine buzz, the chicory grounds taste similar and can be sold at a lower rate, this was the birth of the roasted chicory root coffee that is famous to New Orleans. The chicory blend was embraced for the mellow caramel undertones and smooth texture it added to coffee. Now a deep routed tradition in the city’s culture, locals and tourists alike enjoy the unique and delicious blend of New Orleans chicory coffee.
New Orleans Coffee Culture
There are many multifaceted and varied coffee traditions of New Orleans, which derive from the city’s status as a maritime trading hub. Traditionally, in New Orleans the dark roast coffee has been suggested as the most popular coffee of choice. It is especially popular in the city as part of the classic New Orleans Café au Lait.
Older, more traditional coffee shops will likely serve a unique style of the Café au Lait. A classic chicory coffee recipe is with espresso, milk, and chicory. Roasted chicory root is bittersweet, and pairs well with dark roasted coffee.
Why New Orleans coffee is called NOLA coffee?
New Orleans coffee is sometimes called NOLA coffee because NOLA is a popular abbreviation for New Orleans, Louisiana (LA). It’s a shorthand that locals and brands use to represent the city and its culture in a catchy, recognizable way. So when you see “NOLA coffee,” it’s simply referring to New Orleans–style coffee, which traditionally includes dark roast coffee blended with roasted chicory root.
In short: NOLA = New Orleans, Louisiana. The coffee style is the same; the name “NOLA” is just a trendy, shorter way to say it.
Café Du Monde
In 1862, the original Café Du Monde coffee stand was established. The coffee stand was recognised in the New Orleans French market. In 1988, iced coffee and soft drinks were introduced to the café. The Café is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, closing only on Christmas Day or in preparation for an unwelcomed storm. The Café Du Monde remains an important part of New Orleans local culture, as new locations have spread further from the city into the suburban areas to reach new audiences.
Micro Roasters & Modern New Orleans Coffee Culture
These are speciality coffee shops that are in favour of political accuracy and social justice. Though many of these newer cafés are seemingly centralised in the French Quarter, they are rapidly expanding throughout New Orleans.
This younger generation of coffee shops are now featuring medium roast blended coffee beans that come from ethical coffee bean farmers. New Orleans has long been noticed as living life a lot different than most people do, yet this might be a whole new sign of the times.
Roasted Chicory Root Coffee
Following previous French practices, New Orleans locals turned to chicory to help satisfy their coffee cravings. Due to chicory being used multifariously, locals could drink it on its own or mix it in with their coffee as a flavouring.
Today, chicory serves as a decaf alternative to coffee and can still be found mixed in various hot drinks throughout New Orleans.
Step by step guide to make NOLA coffee?
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons dark roast coffee (or a New Orleans coffee blend with chicory)
• 2 tablespoons roasted chicory (if not already blended)
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup hot milk (whole milk or your preferred type)
• Sugar (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Blend
If you don’t have a pre-mixed NOLA coffee blend, mix equal parts dark roast coffee and roasted chicory.
Step 2: Brew the Coffee
• Use a French press, drip coffee maker, or pour-over
• Add the coffee-chicory mixture to your brewer.
• Pour hot water (just off the boil) over the grounds.
• Let it steep or drip until you have a strong, rich brew.
Step 3: Heat the Milk
• Warm milk in a saucepan or microwave until hot but not boiling.
• Froth it slightly if you like a creamy texture.
Step 4: Combine
• Fill your cup halfway with brewed coffee.
• Add hot milk to fill the rest (classic café au lait style).
• Sweeten to taste (optional).
Step 5: Serve
Traditionally served with beignets, but any pastry works!
New Orleans Café Noir
Another French tradition to remember when making your own café noir, is to use vanilla sugar instead of usual sugar. The sweetness in the vanilla compliments the tones of the chicory beautifully, without overpowering the senses.
That’s our little trip around the world to New Orleans complete, hopefully this article has given you some inspiration for your next coffee influenced trip. Want to continue travelling around the world with coffee? Why not read our article on Australian coffee next?
That’s our guide on Ethiopian coffee and the fascinating culture that comes with it! If you want to continue your journey around the coffee hotspots of the world, then why not read our guide on Colombian coffee next.
FAQ
NOLA coffee refers to New Orleans–style coffee, typically made with a blend of dark roast coffee and roasted chicory root. It’s smooth, bold, and slightly sweet.
Yes. They are the same thing. “NOLA coffee” is just a trendy, shorter name for New Orleans–style coffee.
The addition of roasted chicory root gives it a distinctive flavor — earthy, slightly nutty, and smooth — different from regular coffee.
Chicory was added during the Civil War when coffee was scarce. People loved the taste, so it became a tradition.
Traditionally as café au lait: half coffee, half hot milk, often paired with beignets (fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar).
Chicory itself is caffeine-free, but NOLA coffee blends chicory with regular coffee, so it still contains caffeine (just slightly less than pure coffee).
Yes! Use a dark roast coffee blended with roasted chicory (or buy a pre-mixed brand), brew it strong, and add hot milk for a classic café au lait.
It’s bold and rich in flavor, but chicory reduces bitterness and acidity, making it smoother, not necessarily stronger in caffeine.
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