The benefits and harms of barley coffee, recipes and reviews

What is barley coffee

Barley coffee is a drink made from an ear of malted barley. It has a pronounced tonic effect and can be used as a plant-based coffee substitute. Many people believe that its taste and smell are vaguely reminiscent of coffee. The main advantage of the described drink is the absence of caffeine. Many also see this as a disadvantage, since it is not capable of providing such an invigorating effect as natural coffee.

The described coffee substitute is produced by roasting barley grains. Today on sale you can find several types of drinks made from ears of barley. They can be instant or require cooking, grain or ground. There are also pure drinks and those containing various impurities, for example, chicory, rose hips, cereals, cardamom, echinacea.

Benefit

In the last century, it was proven that a drink made from this ingredient has a strengthening effect on the body. This product does not contain caffeine, therefore, even hypertensive patients can drink it to stimulate immune defense.

Barley coffee is an indispensable medicine for people under stress. Its use normalizes central nervous activity. If you brew it regularly, you will be able to get rid of increased excitability and nervousness.

Therapists advise patients to drink an invigorating cereal drink not only for medicinal, but also for preventive purposes.

1. Barley is often used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as duodenal ulcers, gastritis and pancreatitis. The product has a cleansing effect on the stomach and intestines. It also stimulates the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with beneficial microflora.
2. Eating grains does not overload the pancreas, so they are often prescribed to treat diabetes and relieve internal inflammation.
3. It is also useful to drink barley coffee if there is cardiac dysfunction. The product is rich in potassium, magnesium, vitamin B and other substances necessary for the body for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Their absorption by the body strengthens veins and capillaries, making them more elastic.
4. Barley has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Therefore, it is recommended to brew it for colds and viral diseases.

You should not deny yourself the pleasure of hot cereal coffee, even if you are completely healthy. Stimulating the immune defense has never harmed anyone. In addition, the drink has a pleasant aroma and taste.

Distribution history

Barley drink appeared to replace coffee. At first, residents of Italy began to use it. But they didn’t start brewing it to avoid the health risks of caffeine. The fact is that coffee was too expensive, and not everyone could afford it. In addition, it was very difficult to acquire.

Did you know? The first drink that was made from barley was beer. The foamy liquid quickly became popular and at one time was even used as currency - it was used to pay hired workers in ancient Mesopotamia.

The Italians nicknamed the barley coffee substitute Caffe d'orzo. From their territory, the drink spread throughout Europe during World War II. He was especially loved in Spain. Already in the post-war years, about 20 companies producing it appeared here.

Taste

This drink tastes like cappuccino, especially if it contains hot milk. With brewing, a thick and high foam and bready aroma appear. If chicory is also present, the coffee smell intensifies. When a product contains only barley, it will not emit the aroma of coffee beans.

Barley coffee is perfect for pregnant women, children, and those who are contraindicated for caffeine. It will improve your well-being without causing harm to your health. You can use any recipe, including those with the addition of additional components. Each of them tastes great and has many benefits. The drink can be consumed regularly.

Composition and calorie content of the drink

To understand what effect barley coffee can have on the human body, you should look at its composition.

It contains almost all known vitamins:

• A (0.1% of the recommended daily allowance for humans);
• beta-carotene;
• lutein;
• B1 (32.5%);
• B2 (10.4%);
• B4 (1.1%);
• B5 (9.4%);
• B6 (13.8%);
• B9 (5.2%);
• E (5%);
• K (3.3%);
• PP (13.5%).

The drink is rich in minerals.

Find out the difference between rolled oats and oatmeal.

It contains:

• potassium (13.5%);
• calcium (2.3%);
• magnesium (20.6%);
• sodium (0.5%);
• phosphorus (24.6%);
• iron (12.5%);
• manganese (77.4%);
• copper (35.4%);
• selenium (50.1%);
• zinc (17%).

The described drink also contains sugars, essential and non-essential amino acids, sterols, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The calorie content of barley coffee is 357.1 kcal/100 g (21.2% of the recommended daily intake for humans).

The energy value of 100 g is as follows:

• proteins - 11.1 g (14.6%);
• fats - 2.1 g (3.8%);
• carbohydrates - 74.9 g (34.2%).

Cooking recipes

Cereal coffee is easy to brew at home. To do this you will need a coffee grinder (mill). First you need to select high-quality raw materials. Then prepare it according to all the rules.

Let's look at a few simple variations of brewing a cereal drink.

Classic coffee drink

Traditional cereal coffee is brewed in a cezve or Turk. Step-by-step technology for its preparation:

1. Prepare a frying pan with a thick bottom. Heat it, but do not add oil.
2. Prepared barley must be ground using a mill.
3. Use a coffee pot. Fill it with brown dough, granulated sugar (optional) and purified water.
4. Place the container over low heat and wait until its contents boil. This usually takes no more than 2 minutes.
5. Infuse the drink, covering it with a lid.

To obtain a more interesting and rich taste, it is recommended to mix barley with chicory.

Coffee with rye

This drink turns out to be very aromatic. Step by step recipe:

1. Take barley, pearl barley and rye in equal quantities. Rinse everything with running water.
2. Place the wet cereal mass in a deep container, fill it with purified water and leave to steep for 10 hours. It is advisable to do this at night.
3. Drain the liquid and rinse the mixture again.
4. Pour it into boiling water to boil for 15 minutes.
5. Strain the cereal mass before frying it in a hot frying pan.
6. Use the mill to grind the raw materials.
7. Scald it with boiling water and leave for 5 minutes.

To improve the taste of coffee from cereals, you can add honey.

Barley drink “Aromatic”

To ensure that coffee has not only a natural taste, but also a pleasant aroma, it is advisable to include cinnamon and cardamom in the composition. These are classic coffee spices.

First, prepare the base of the drink - barley. The grains must be carefully selected, washed and fried. For the final prep step, use a mill to turn them into powder.

Mix the cereal mixture with ground cinnamon and cardamom. Fill the mixture with water and place it in a Turk on the stove. After a couple of minutes the liquid will boil. Then remove the container from the heat and strain its contents. Pour aromatic barley coffee into cups.

Coffee "Tender"

In this coffee drink you need to add dairy products, preferably low-fat cream. Prepare your ingredients. The barley must be selected, washed, dried and roasted over a fire.

Fill the cooking container with cereal, granulated sugar (to taste) and water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add warm cream to a hot drink. Mix well.

Making barley coffee is a simple and very interesting process. Be sure to include it in your daily diet. We assure you that very soon you will feel healthier.

What does it taste and smell like?

The described coffee substitute has a peculiar taste. It has a hint of toasted bread. The taste can be described as soft, with a slight bitterness. When properly prepared, a high, dense foam forms on the surface of the drink.

Did you know? Barley, together with wheat, is the most ancient cereal crop, evidence of its cultivation dates back to 10 thousand years ago. Scientists suggest that its cultivation first occurred to the inhabitants of the Middle East.

Beneficial properties of barley coffee

The rich chemical composition determines the benefits of the described drink. It can be consumed by almost all people - children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly. It is not contraindicated for such serious diagnoses as diabetes, pancreatitis, gastritis. Its use is also recommended for people who want to lose weight or who carefully monitor the condition of their body.

Overall health benefits

• In general, barley coffee can have the following beneficial effects on the human body:
• Increase the excretion of fluid in the urine.
• Have a cleansing effect from toxins.
• Strengthen the body's defenses.
• Activate the excretion of bile.
• Tone.
• Have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
• Calm and normalize the activity of the central nervous system.
• Improve the functioning of the digestive system.
• Stabilize hormone and blood glucose levels.
• Restore strength.
• Promote weight loss.
• Make your skin and hair better.
• Help to recover faster from infectious diseases.

For children

Barley drink can be useful for children due to the fact that it has a rich vitamin and mineral composition. With regular use, it is able to saturate the growing body with the missing elements.

We advise you to find out whether buckwheat is an allergenic product.

In addition, such drinking calms the nervous system and improves brain activity. The beneficial effects of the drink, such as maintaining fluid levels at the proper level and strengthening the immune system, are especially important for children.

When losing weight

Barley has antioxidant properties. This means that its regular use will help cleanse the body of toxins. The presence of fiber in the coffee substitute leads to the fact that it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, including regular bowel movements, as well as metabolism. All these actions together help to get rid of extra pounds.

Is it possible to drink

There are a number of health problems, as well as periods in people’s lives, when certain drinks and foods are prohibited from being consumed, since they provoke a deterioration in the condition and cause harm. For example, diabetics, ulcer sufferers, and those who suffer from disorders of the digestive tract should not drink coffee.

You will be interested to know how to lose weight using oatmeal jelly.

It is also prohibited for pregnant and lactating women. But barley coffee is considered a healthy drink. However, before introducing it into the diet, you should make sure that there are no contraindications to its use.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy and lactation are those important periods in a woman’s life when she must take special care of what goes into her body, since the health of the baby directly depends on the quality and properties of foods and drinks. Pregnant women should not use it, as it can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure, which is dangerous because it leads to termination of pregnancy or untimely delivery.

Everyone knows that drinking coffee is strictly prohibited at this time. There are no contraindications for barley drink in women bearing children. The main thing is not to abuse it. Drinking barley coffee is not contraindicated for women who are breastfeeding. It is believed that it is completely harmless to either mother or child. It does not provoke allergic reactions, stimulation of the nervous system, or sleep disturbances.

Important! Adding honey and milk to a barley drink can lead to improved lactation.

For diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is not a contraindication for drinking barley coffee. Fiber, which is included in large quantities, can slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. And this, in turn, leads to blood sugar levels stabilizing. The described drink is even recommended to be consumed to prevent the development of diabetes.

For pancreatitis and gastritis

Barley coffee substitute is allowed and even recommended for use by people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It is not contraindicated even for such serious diseases as pancreatitis, gastritis, and ulcers.

Learn how to prepare oatmeal jelly for use with pancreatitis.

This is explained by the fact that barley is able to provoke cleansing and toning of the epithelium of the stomach and intestines, removal of bile, and relief of inflammation. The elements it contains provoke the growth and maintenance of healthy microflora in the intestines.

Benefits and possible harms of barley coffee

The main advantage of the product is the complete absence of caffeine, so the substitute can be drunk by people for whom regular coffee is contraindicated.

Beneficial features:

• Helps lower blood sugar, which is useful for diabetics;
• does not contain cholesterol, is safe for metabolic disorders and excess weight;
• acts as an antioxidant and strengthens the immune system;
• relieves intestinal problems;
• treats inflammation of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx;
• increases hemoglobin due to high iron content.

Barley drink is recommended for young children due to its high content of vitamins and microelements. For women during pregnancy, the substitute will serve as an alternative to regular coffee.

Barley drink can be brewed in an espresso coffee maker

Despite many beneficial qualities, excessive consumption of the drink can also be harmful. Roasted beans contain acrylamide, a toxic compound that is formed during cooking. The percentage of harmful substances in soluble varieties is especially high.

Caffè d'orzo is contraindicated for people prone to allergic reactions to grains, and is also dangerous for those with celiac disease - gluten intolerance.

How to use it correctly

Barley drink can be drunk at any time of the day. It is good to consume it during breakfast. It is also suitable for dinner and snack time. To make the taste better, you should add sugar and its substitutes, milk, cream, ice cream, lemon, cinnamon, and honey to the coffee substitute.

After adding milk, the drink is vaguely similar to cappuccino. When prepared correctly, it has the same thick and high foam. The aroma becomes more subtle. To bring the smell closer to coffee, add chicory.

Making your own cereal coffee

There are many instant and ground varieties of barley drink on store shelves . The first is enough to fill with hot water, add sugar, milk, cream if desired. The second boil and insist.

What and how to cook from

For cooking, take 3 tbsp. l. barley and rye .
The largest grains are chosen, without signs of spoilage or mold. They are washed thoroughly until the water turns clear. The second step is fermenting the grain. This procedure gets rid of phytic acid in cereals, which leads to mineral deficiency. To do this, the grains are completely filled with water and left for a day. Afterwards, the liquid is drained, fresh is added and boiled until the cereal shell bursts.

The next stage is washing the raw materials and frying them in a dry frying pan. It is important here to prevent the beans from burning, otherwise the coffee will be bitter and will not please you with its delicate taste. The roasted grain is ground in a coffee grinder or blender.

When making a drink at home, you choose the degree of roasting yourself and add additional ingredients.

Cooking recommendations

After the brewing mixture is ready, take 150 ml of water and 1 tbsp. l. with a pile of received raw materials . The composition is brought to a boil and boiled over moderate heat for 2 minutes, then infused for the same amount. Instead of 1/3 of water, you can add milk, then the taste will be similar to cappuccino. 1 tsp. chicory in the composition will make the taste and color of the product more saturated and add a piquant note.

By the way! To make a coffee drink taste sweet, sugar is added to it, but such sweetening reduces the beneficial qualities of coffee. Therefore, sugar is replaced with honey, stevia or natural syrups.

How to choose and store the product correctly

Which drink to choose - instant or insoluble, grain or ground, pure or with additives - depends on the person’s personal preferences and whether he has the time to prepare the recipe correctly. It is better to buy barley coffee produced by well-established brands.

Also read about whether you can eat buckwheat at night.

The product must be sold in a sealed container. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the expiration date. Typically it is 12–18 months from the date of manufacture . The product should be stored in hermetically sealed original packaging. It should be stored in a dry place, away from substances with a strong odor.

Contraindications

Barley coffee is a unique drink, since there are almost no contraindications to its consumption. It can only cause harm if a person abuses it—drinks it too often, in large quantities, and in strong strength. Uncontrolled use threatens to increase body weight.

It is forbidden to drink the described coffee substitute for those who suffer from celiac disease - a disease of the small intestine. This disease causes the body to be unable to break down and absorb cereal gluten. As a result, a person may experience indigestion.

Find out how long it takes for buckwheat to be digested in the stomach.

So, barley drink is an excellent alternative option for those who cannot drink natural coffee, as well as for people who prefer to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids and can have a number of beneficial effects on the human body. It is indicated for restoring strength and immunity after illness and in the treatment of certain diseases.

Useful and medicinal properties of barley decoction

Benefits of barley decoction:

• the protein-carbohydrate product ensures complete saturation, restores strength after hard work and training, supports a weakened body after illness and surgery;
• microelements stimulate brain activity, increase performance, improve blood flow;
• a diuretic restores the functioning of the urinary system, removes excess fluid, reduces blood pressure, and relieves swelling;
• vitamin A, potassium, magnesium support kidney function and prevent the formation of stones;
• silicon, magnesium, B vitamins improve the detoxification function of the liver;
• young grains stimulate immune processes and provide energy exchange;
• fiber and vitamin composition normalize intestinal function, restore beneficial microflora, absorb and remove salts and toxins;
• tocopherol – the vitamin of youth and energy – prevents premature aging;
• For nervous disorders, depression, anxiety and insomnia, a cup of hot drink will calm and relax.