[manoDev]

Roasted barley is also appreciated in Italy prepared like an espresso (Caffe d'Orzo), and in Peru as a kind of cappuccino with brown sugar (Pinol).

[big_toast]

Is it well regarded in either place?

I've somehow not come across these preparations. I like barley tea and have made it via other coffee methods. (cold brew/french press.) So I guess espresso makes some sense.

(Also thank you doodlebugging for the other link. I love sora news. I don't know if it's the cadence or playful sincerity or what.)

[sborra]

Caffè d'Orzo can't be made in an espresso machine like normal coffee. If you use ground kernels, depending on grind size, It will either clog the portafilter or be too weak.

Instead, most barley coffee is sold in instant coffee form. Most coffee bars will do it with instant barley coffee pods and a pod adapter portafilter.

You can find actual roasted barley coffee (kernels) in supermarkets though, and make it in a moka pot or a french press

[sph]

I believe barley coffee in Italy became popular during WW2 with coffee shortages, it retains a tinge of 'poor man's drink', but there are still fans of it and you can find it in any supermarket. I enjoyed it when I was younger, it has a nice full-bodied taste, though it lacks the kick of caffeine.

[lostlogin]

> though it lacks the kick of caffeine.

Us weaklings can’t handle espresso after lunch, or we don’t sleep.

I’m tempted to try roasting some barley myself.

[eps]

This weakness is most likely due to slow caffeine metabolism.

That was the only practical thing I learned from my 23andme test results and it explained crappy night sleep quality when drinking coffee after 3 pm. Switching to decaf beans helped.

[doodlebugging]

YW. I got stuck for a bit there reading some of those articles. Very fun. Good writing about things that I need to know more about. Like you I love the sense that they are trying to have fun with their writing.

[Rendello]

I appreciated it when I was in Italy and the group would order a round of espresso after dinner. It's 9 PM! I have enough trouble sleeping as is!

[sentientslug]

Similar in Portugal, Nestle makes one called Pensal (cevada) and it’s marketed as a coffee substitute.

[epolanski]

> Roasted barley is also appreciated in Italy prepared like an espresso (Caffe d'Orzo)

During fascism Italy was under embargo and couldn't import coffee.

So barley became a surrogate.

But I would not call it "appreciated", the only people drinking it do it to avoid caffeine in the afternoon, and generally they are very old.

[lostlogin]

Do you grind it like you would coffee?

[riffraff]

Yes, It is also sold in every supermarket in soluble form, there's a Nestle owned brand (orzoro) and a few smaller ones (orzobimbo) which are quite popular.

I should avoid caffeine for health reasons and I usually drink milk with barley, it's quite a decent replacement for caffelatte