Barley coffee drink: useful properties and contraindications

It is difficult to refuse the invigorating and fragrant natural coffee. But some people have to give up this drink for many reasons, especially because of contraindications associated with various diseases. As a substitute, you can use barley coffee. Its aroma and taste, of course, is far from the natural drink, but it's better than nothing. In addition, it has a number of positive characteristics.

What is barley coffee?

As a food crop, barley has been used for thousands of years. This product is in demand for a reason, as it includes the richest set of chemical elements.

In ancient times barley was used to feed Roman gladiators and Russian heroes, and was the basis for a variety of dishes and drinks. This grain was used to make porridge and drinks and to bake bread.

Later, a new drink was made that was made from roasted and ground barley. Natural coffee began to be replaced by such a drink. But more often it was not for health reasons, but because of the high cost and difficulty of delivering coffee beans.

The taste of

The taste of barley beverage is almost nothing like a natural coffee. It has a very pleasant bread aroma while it is being brewed. If you add hot milk to the drink, it tastes like a fragrant cappuccino. Often, to enhance the coffee flavor, chicory is added at the rate of ½ teaspoon per 200 ml.

Composition and calories

All cereals contain a large number of useful components. The same applies to barley. There is a large amount of fiber in the grain - about 9%. Protein occupies a small share of the composition - 15.5%, and carbohydrates - 75.5%.

According to approximate calculations, one cup of barley coffee contains about 20-25 kcal, as well as within 5 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of protein.

Also the drink includes in its composition a considerable number of useful components:

1. B vitamins, represented by B1, B2, B3, B4, B6, B8, B9.
2. Vitamins of the fat-soluble type, such as A, D, E.
3. Micronutrients and macronutrients such as silicon, magnesium, iodine, fluorine, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc.

Barley grains are also known to contain dietary soluble fiber called beta-glucans. These components contribute to the removal of toxins and other harmful components of the body, cholesterol, as well as reduce the amount of sugar in the blood.

How is barley coffee useful?

General benefits

Back in the last century, thanks to the labors of biologists, it was found that drinks created on the basis of barley have a strengthening effect on the nervous system. This is why barley coffee should be most actively consumed by people who have experienced or are experiencing serious stress or other stresses on the body.

That is why at that time began to include barley drink in the diet for the recovery of the body. In addition, it is recommended as a means included in the complex therapy in the treatment of a huge number of different diseases.

For women

First of all, the weakened state of the female body is a signal to take barley coffee. In addition, the drink helps to fight caffeine addiction, which is harmful to health and contributes to the accelerated aging process. Also, taking barley-based coffee evens out the hormonal background and maintains the skin, hair and nails at the proper level.

In addition to the listed beneficial qualities of the drink, you can highlight a few more, which concern not only the fair sex, but also all people:

• support of the cardiovascular system at the proper level;
• reduction of painful feelings of different nature;
• stimulation of metabolic processes;
• reducing the risk of diabetes;
• bactericidal and tonic effect on the body;
• Prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer;
• relief of respiratory processes.

The most useful quality of the drink is that it helps reduce blood sugar. That is why it is recommended to be consumed by patients with diagnosed diabetes. Due to its directed bactericidal action, its use is recommended for flu and colds. This is due to the fact that the drink strengthens the immune system and promotes its resistance to infections and diseases of the viral type.

For men

For men, barley drink is also very useful. Its positive characteristics here are as follows:

1. It keeps blood cholesterol levels at the required level thanks to the soluble fiber content, which also helps maintain a slim figure.
2. Recommended for the prevention of cancer.
3. Improves potency due to the nitric oxide and arginine contained in the composition, which help combat the dysfunction of the sexual system and increase the production of testicular cells and sperm.
4. Keeps the body toned because of the high content of selenium, which improves the heart and pancreas.

In addition to these positive effects of barley coffee, it is also worth noting that it actively participates in the digestive process. This is facilitated by the beneficial bacteria present in the drink, which not only support intestinal function, but also minimize the risk of diseases such as hemorrhoids and rectal cancer.

In pregnancy

Of course, you should not drink real coffee while you are pregnant. This is due to the fact that caffeine removes from the body the calcium and magnesium necessary during this period. In addition, it can impair the functioning of the kidneys and seriously increase the heart rate. That is why it is worth paying attention to substitutes for your favorite coffee. Ideal for this is barley drink. Its work will be aimed at replenishing energy, without harming the health of the body as a whole.

When breastfeeding

It is forbidden to drink coffee during breastfeeding. Also at this time should not abuse the consumption of tea. Coffee substitute, prepared on the basis of barley, for women breastfeeding, will be a good alternative.

This drink will not harm the health of the weakened female body and the developing baby. It will not disturb the baby's sleep, will not lead to agitation and will not cause allergic manifestations. If you add honey and milk to the drink in moderation, it will also improve lactation.

For kids

Barley drink can be useful not only for adults, but also for children. In addition, you can drink it not only in the morning, but also in the evening. It will have a positive effect on the child's nervous system, not exciting it, but on the contrary, calming it down. In addition, such coffee will help replenish children's bodies with the necessary vitamins and minerals for their development.

When losing weight

Barley coffee helps to eliminate toxins from the body. In addition, it is ideal for people who are watching their weight, thanks to the rapid saturation of the stomach. Because of the highest fiber content, the drink keeps the fluid level in the body at the required level. Therefore, the introduction of barley coffee in the daily diet will help to get rid of extra pounds.

Harms and contraindications

As it has already become clear from all the above, barley coffee has a number of positive properties. And as for contraindications, the drink has almost no contraindications. There are only two nuances, in which it is believed that this liquid can cause harm to the body:

1. As a result of abuse of the drink, in which you can gain a few extra pounds in a short period of time.
2. In the case of identified diseases of the small intestine. These pathologies lead to the fact that the protein contained in the gluten is not broken down and, therefore, is not assimilated. This can lead to many health problems.

Note that many experts recommend drinking no more than 4-5 cups of barley drink per day. Anything else drank can have a negative impact on health.

How to choose and store

Some stores sell barley coffee in a prepared form, suitable for direct preparation, namely roasted and ground. It only needs to be properly brewed in a carafe.

The technology of making raw materials for the beverage is reduced to the selection of coarse grains, their thorough washing and proper drying. The next step is the roasting stage.

It is not worth harvesting or acquiring a large quantity of raw materials for the beverage. It will not be easy to preserve it in a suitable form without too much hassle.

Types of barley coffee

In order to buy a drink, it is enough to go to the departments of dietary nutrition. There can be sold not only insoluble preparations in the form of roasted barley, but also drinks of the soluble type, sometimes even supplemented with other components, such as medicinal herbs, rosehip, natural coffee, cardamom or chicory.

The best-known ready-to-drink instant-type drinks are considered to be:

1. "Old Mill" is a product that does not contain caffeine, but includes many positive qualities. The disadvantage of this product is considered poor solubility, which leaves lumps after brewing.
2. "Barley ear" contains not only ground barley, but also chicory. It is sold in a handy packaging with a reusable clasp. It has a bread aroma and forms a lush foam on the surface while brewing, which disappears after a while.
3. "Happiness" is made from selected barley grains. Does not harm the body, and is not addictive. The taste of the drink is pleasant, it invigorates and fills the body with energy. Helps in the fight against obesity.
4. "Health" has a pleasant taste, slightly reminiscent of natural coffee. Dissolves completely in hot water.
5. "Golden Spike" is an excellent substitute for natural coffee. The drink contains ground barley and rye grains. The finished drink has a pleasantly bitter taste, which can be removed by adding cream, condensed milk or sugar to the drink.

Each of the above-mentioned drinks is in unprecedented demand among people for whom natural coffee is contraindicated.

Manufacturing Technology

Only organic barley is used in the production of barley coffee, which is grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. To begin with, the barley is thoroughly cleaned of all kinds of impurities. After that it is necessary to remove the hard shell of barley, which can spoil the taste of the future beverage. In Italy, a special kind of barley is cultivated which does not require any special treatment. This kind of barley is called holosereal.

The cleaned grains are roasted in special cylinder-shaped drums. The temperature in them does not exceed 200°C. After that the raw material undergoes the cooling process with the use of specially designed for this purpose apparatuses. And then the finished product is packaged in hermetically sealed bags.

Many companies produce various types of barley coffee. These may be whole grains, ground or prepared according to a special technology, in capsules. When making instant barley coffee, almost the same technology is used as for instant natural coffee.

How to prepare barley coffee beans: Recipes

There are quite a few different options for making barley coffee. Each preparation option is good in its own way, but only if it is done correctly.

In order for the finished drink to have a good taste, aroma and color, it is worth using a combined method of roasting selected barley beans. To do this, you will need to do the following steps:

1. Select large grains of barley, wash them well, and then equally thoroughly dry them.
2. In a dry frying pan pour the prepared grains and fry over medium or minimum intensity, stirring constantly for 20-30 minutes.
3. Divide the amount of roasted grains into two parts. Pour one part of the kernels into a bowl and fry the other part in a similarly dry pan on a low heat for 15 minutes.
4. Stir the beans and grind them using a coffee grinder. Barley coffee for cooking is ready.

No less popular than the version described above is coffee made from barley and rye. This drink appeared in the days of ancient India, it was considered a means of achieving eternal youth. The preparation of coffee consists of the following steps:

1. Select large grains of barley, as well as rye. Wash them thoroughly, then pour them into a suitable container and pour cold water. Leave for 24 hours to infuse.
2. Now proceed with the heat treatment of the wet type. To do this, cook the grains on the fire of minimum intensity until they begin to crack. After that, rinse them again thoroughly in cold water.
3. Leave them in a sieve to let the excess moisture out, and then roast the grains. This will take a small amount of time, but it requires a lot of care. In the process, watch for even heating, as well as roasting. Readiness will be indicated by a change in the color of the cereal - the color should change to dark brown.

After this, you can proceed to the direct preparation of the drink.

How to make barley coffee: recipes

The simplest variant of barley coffee is called classic. Its preparation consists in the following:

1. Prepare a turkey, in which you need to pour 3 tablespoons of prepared and crushed barley grains.
2. Pour purified water (280 ml) and send the turkey to the fire of minimum intensity.
3. Wait for the beginning of boiling, remove from the stove and pour into cups.
4. Let it steep for 5 minutes and you can enjoy this aromatic drink.

You can make barley coffee not only with water, but also with milk. To do this, the following steps are performed:

1. In a turkey, mix milk in the amount of 200 ml and water in the amount of 100 ml.
2. Add 4 tablespoons of prepared and crushed barley grains.
3. Bring it to the boiling point on the minimum heat and cook for 2-3 minutes more.

This variation has a taste reminiscent of our favorite cappuccino. We are pleased with the subtle aroma of bread and a thick, high foam. To complement the taste of the drink, you can use honey, cinnamon, cream, sugar, lemon or even ice cream.

Preparation of barley coffee with rye consists of the following steps:

1. Pour the prepared powder of barley and rye in the amount of 1 tablespoon into a turkey.
2. Pour 100 ml of purified water.
3. On a fire of minimum intensity bring to a boiling point and boil for another 2 minutes. At the same time you can add 1 teaspoon of chicory, which will enhance the coffee flavor of the drink.

There is a recipe for making a drink based on rye, barley and pearl groats. This drink is called "Aromatic". Step-by-step preparation of coffee is as follows:

1. Barley, rye, pearl groats in equal proportions put in a suitable container and pour cold water above the level of cereals for 2 cm. Leave to infuse for 12 hours.
2. At the end of the given time, drain the remaining liquid and rinse the cereal composition thoroughly.
3. Boil water on the stove and pour into it the prepared grains, which boil until they begin to crack.
4. Pour the grains in a colander, rinse and leave for a while to release excess moisture. Then dry the grains well.
5. Put them in a dry frying pan, roast, cool, and then use a coffee grinder to turn them into a homogeneous powder.
6. Pour the powder into the water, bring to boiling temperature on the stove and cook for another 3 minutes.
7. Pour into a clean container and add instant chicory. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

To enhance the useful properties of the drink, you can add to it 2 teaspoons of natural honey.

Each of the prepared drinks can be consumed at any time of the day, because they do not affect sleep and do not excite the nervous system.

Helpful hints

1. In the process of roasting barley beans, you can experiment. The more the cereal is roasted, the richer the color and flavor of the drink. It will also give a kind of bitterness, which may please gourmets.
2. You can buy instant barley coffee in stores. This will save time and save a long preparation of beans.
3. To make the color and flavor of the drink richer, you can add ½ teaspoon of chicory while brewing the coffee.

Interesting facts about barley coffee

Barley coffee first appeared in Italy back in the 1930s of the 20th century. At that time there was an invasion of Ethiopia by Italian troops, so trade sanctions were imposed on the country. Food products were supplied to the country in limited quantities, and coffee stocks ran out very quickly. Therefore, lovers of the fragrant drink had to look for alternatives.

In order to make the coffee substitute more like a natural drink, ground barley was added in larger quantities, and milk was used to dampen its bread flavor. It was the Italians who called such a novelty "barley coffee". The drink's popularity was increasing day by day thanks to propagandists' calls for a rejection of imported goods.

During the Second World War and for a long time after the war barley coffee was actively sold in almost all Europe. In Spain, the drink was popular for much longer than in the rest of the continent.

Today, the barley beverage also enjoys considerable popularity. This is due to people's desire for a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays you can find barley coffee in Italy even in coffee machines and in many restaurants or bars.

It is unlikely that barley coffee can replace a natural, aromatic drink, because it not only lacks the beautiful coffee aroma, but also does not give a proper invigorating effect. But this drink is actively recommended to drink by nutritionists, who believe that it is an excellent remedy for adherents of healthy lifestyle due to its high content of vitamins and minerals necessary for the body.