Drinks & liquids · Coffee alternatives
Roasted ground barley (orzo)
Barley grains roasted dark and ground, brewed in a moka pot or saucepan as caffè d'orzo, a caffeine-free coffee alternative.
Also called: orzo, caffè d'orzo grounds, barley coffee, roasted barley, mugicha barley
Around the world: orzo tostato, caffè d'orzo (it)
What it is
Whole barley roasted until deep brown, then ground like coffee. In Italy it is brewed as caffè d'orzo, in a moka pot, a pot on the stove or from a soluble powder; East Asian roasted barley tea uses whole roasted grains steeped in water. It has no caffeine but, as barley, it contains gluten.
How it’s used
- Caffè d'orzo in a moka pot or saucepan
- A caffeine-free base for milk drinks
- Blended with chicory
Characteristics
- Taste
- Toasty, malty and gently bitter, lighter than coffee.
- When cooked
- Swells and foams when it meets hot water; fill moka baskets loosely.
- Sold as
- ground, whole, powder
- Cooking uses
- Commonly cooked
- Common in
- Italian
Storage
Cool, dry and dark. Airtight, away from moisture; use within a few months.
Diet, allergens and safety
Contains Gluten.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Caffeine-free
- Contains gluten (barley); not suitable for coeliac disease.
Substitutes
Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.
- Roasted ground chicory root — Darker and more bitter; also caffeine-free and gluten-free.
Related ingredients
Recipes with roasted ground barley (orzo)
Caffè d'orzo (roasted barley coffee)
Italian · 7 min · Vegetarian