Barley coffee: health benefits and harms

Refusing an invigorating and aromatic natural coffee is difficult. But some 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 a natural drink, but it is 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 millennia. This product is not in vain in demand, because it includes a rich set of chemical elements.

In ancient times, barley, which was the basis for the preparation of various dishes and drinks, was used to nourish the Roman gladiators and Russian heroes. From this cereal porridge and drinks were cooked, and bread was also baked.

Later, a new drink was made, which was prepared from roasted and chopped barley. Natural coffee began to be replaced with such a drink. But more often this did not happen for health reasons, but because of the high cost and difficulty in delivering coffee beans.

Taste

The taste of barley drink is almost nothing like natural coffee. In the process of preparation from him comes a pleasant bread flavor. If you add hot milk to the drink, the taste will become like a fragrant cappuccino. Often, to enhance coffee aroma, chicory is added at the rate of ½ teaspoon per 200 ml.

Composition and calorie content

All crops contain a large number of useful components. The same goes for barley. Fiber in cereals is a large amount - about 9%. Protein occupies a small fraction of the composition - 15.5%, and carbohydrates - 75.5%.

According to rough estimates, 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 a considerable number of useful components:

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

It is also known that barley grains include dietary soluble fibers called beta-glucans. These components help to eliminate toxins and other harmful components of the body, cholesterol, and also reduce the amount of sugar in the blood.

What is barley coffee good for?

General benefit

Even in the last century, thanks to the work of biologists, it was found that drinks created on the basis of barley have a strengthening effect on the nervous system. Therefore, the most active use of barley coffee is necessary for people who have experienced or are experiencing serious stress or other stresses on the body.

That is why at that time they began to include barley drink in food to restore the body. In addition, it is recommended as a tool in 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 for taking barley coffee. In addition, the drink helps fight caffeine addiction, which is harmful to health and contributes to the accelerated aging process. Also, the reception of coffee based on barley evens the hormonal background and maintains the condition of the skin, hair and nails at the proper level.

In addition to the listed beneficial qualities of the drink, there are several more that relate not only to the fair sex, but also to all people:

• supporting the work of the cardiovascular system at the proper level;
• reduction of painful sensations of a different nature;
• stimulation of metabolic processes;
• reduced risk of diabetes;
• bactericidal and tonic effect on the body;
• cancer prevention, especially breast cancer;
• relief of respiratory processes.

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

For men

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

1. Keeps the level of cholesterol in the blood at the required level thanks to the soluble fiber type, which also helps to maintain a slim figure.
2. Recommended for admission for the prevention of cancer.
3. It improves potency thanks to the nitric oxide and arginine contained in the composition, which help fight against dysfunction of the reproductive system and increase the production of testicular and sperm cells.
4. It supports the body in tone due to the high content of selenium, which improves the functioning of the heart and pancreas.

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

During pregnancy

Of course, during the period of bearing a child, you should not drink real coffee. This is due to the fact that caffeine removes the necessary calcium and magnesium from the body during this period. In addition, kidney function can be impaired and the heartbeat may become very severe. That is why it is worth paying attention to substitutes for your favorite coffee. Barley drink is ideal for this. His work will be aimed at replenishing energy that does not harm the health of the body as a whole.

When breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, the use of coffee is prohibited. Also, at this time, do not abuse tea. Barley-based coffee substitute is a good alternative for breastfeeding women.

This drink does not harm the health of a weakened female body and a developing baby. It will not disturb the child’s sleep, will not lead to an excited state and will not cause allergic manifestations. When honey and milk are added in moderation in moderation, it also improves 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 positively affect the nervous system of the child, without exciting it, but rather, calming it. In addition, such coffee will help replenish the children's body with the reserves of vitamins and minerals necessary for the development.

When losing weight

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

Harm and contraindications

As has already become clear from the foregoing, barley coffee has a number of positive properties. As for contraindications, the drink practically does not have them. 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 case of detected diseases of the small intestine. These pathologies lead to the fact that the protein contained in gluten does not break down, and therefore is not absorbed. This can lead to many health problems.

Please note that many experts recommend drinking no more than 4–5 cups of barley drink per day. All the rest of the drunk amount can negatively affect your health.

How to choose and store

In some stores, barley coffee is sold in a ready-made form suitable for direct preparation, namely, roasted and ground. It remains only to properly cook in a Turk.

The manufacturing technology of raw materials for the drink comes down to the selection of large-sized grains, thorough washing and full drying. The following is the frying step.

You should not procure or purchase a large amount of raw materials for the preparation of the drink. Keeping it fit without unnecessary trouble will not be easy.

Types of Barley Coffee

In order to get a drink, just go to the departments of diet food. Not only insoluble preparations in the form of roasted barley can be sold there, but also soluble drinks, sometimes even supplemented with other components, such as medicinal herbs, rose hips, natural coffee, cardamom or chicory.

The most famous ready-made drinks of the soluble type are:

1. “Old Mill” is a caffeine-free product, but it includes many positive qualities. The disadvantage of this product is poor solubility, due to which lumps remain after brewing.
2. "Barley spike" contains not only chopped barley, but also chicory. Sold in convenient packaging with a reusable clasp. It has a bread flavor and in the process of brewing forms a lush foam on the surface, which disappears after a while.
3. Happines is made from selected barley grains. It does not harm the body, nor is it addictive. The taste of the drink is pleasant, it invigorates and fills the body with energy. Helps in the fight against overweight.
4. "Health" has a pleasant taste, slightly reminiscent of natural coffee. It is completely dissolved in hot water.
5. Golden Spike is an excellent substitute for natural coffee. The composition of the drink includes crushed barley and rye grains. The finished drink has a pleasant bitter taste, which can be removed by adding cream, condensed milk or sugar to the drink.

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

Manufacturing technology

In the production of barley coffee, only organic barley is used, which is grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. To begin with, barley is thoroughly cleaned of all kinds of impurities. After this, the hard shell of the cereal is removed, which can spoil the taste of the future drink. In Italy, special varieties of barley are grown that do not require special processing. This type of cereal is called holoserine.

The cleaned grains are fried in special cylindrical drums. The temperature indicator in them does not exceed 200 ° C. After this, the raw materials undergo a cooling process using specially designed devices.And in the future, the finished product is packaged in hermetically sealed bags.

Many companies produce barley coffee of various types. It can be whole grains, crushed, as well as prepared using special technology - in capsules. In the manufacture of instant barley coffee, almost the same technology is used as soluble natural.

How to make grains for barley coffee: recipes

There are many different options for making coffee from barley. Each cooking option is good in its own way, but only if everything is done correctly.

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

1. Select large grains of barley, wash them well, and then dry them at least thoroughly.
2. Pour the prepared grains into a dry frying pan and fry over medium or minimal intensity heat, stirring constantly for 20-30 minutes.
3. Divide the number of beans to be fried in two. Pour one part in a suitable dish, and continue to fry the second for 15 minutes also in a dry frying pan and a fire of minimal intensity.
4. Mix the grains and grind using a coffee grinder. Barley coffee is ready for cooking.

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

1. Select large grains of barley, as well as rye. Wash them thoroughly, and then pour them into a suitable container and pour cold water. Leave for 24 hours to insist.
2. Now proceed to the heat treatment of the wet type. To do this, cook the grains on a fire of minimal intensity until they crack. After that, rinse them thoroughly again in cold water.
3. Leave for a while in a sieve to release excess moisture, and then proceed to frying the cereals. This will take a small amount of time, but will require special care. In the process, monitor the uniformity of heating, as well as frying. The readiness will be evidenced by a change in the color of the cereals - 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 version of barley coffee is called classic. Its preparation is as follows:

1. Prepare a Turku, in which it is necessary to pour 3 tablespoons of prepared and crushed barley grains.
2. Pour purified water (280 ml) and send the Turk to a fire of minimal intensity.
3. Wait for the boil to begin, remove from the stove and pour into cups.
4. Insist for 5 minutes and you can enjoy a fragrant drink.

You can make barley coffee not only on the basis of water, but also milk. To do this, the following actions are performed:

1. In Turk mix milk in an amount of 200 ml and water in an amount of 100 ml.
2. Add 4 tablespoons of prepared and ground barley grains.
3. On a fire of minimal intensity, bring to a boiling point and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes.

This option reminds everyone of their favorite cappuccino. Delicate delicate bread flavor and thick high foam. In order to complement the taste of the drink, you can use honey, cinnamon, cream, sugar, lemon or even ice cream.

The preparation of barley coffee with rye consists of the following steps:

1. Pour prepared powder from barley and rye in an amount of 1 tablespoon into a Turk.
2. Pour 100 ml of purified water.
3. On a fire of minimal 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 aroma of the drink.

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

1. Put barley, rye, pearl barley in the same ratio in a suitable container and pour 2 cm cold water above the cereal level. Leave to infuse for 12 hours.
2. After the set time, drain the remaining liquid and thoroughly rinse the cereal composition.
3. Boil water on the stove and pour prepared grains into it, which they cook until they begin to crack.
4. Pour the grains into a colander, rinse and leave for a while to release excess moisture. Then dry the cereals well.
5. Put them in a dry pan, fry, cool, and then use a coffee grinder to turn into a homogeneous powder.
6. Pour the powder into water, bring to a boiling point on a stove and cook for another 3 minutes.
7. Pour into a clean container and add soluble chicory. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

In order to enhance the beneficial properties of the drink, you can add 2 teaspoons of natural honey to it.

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

Useful Tips

1. In the process of roasting barley grains, you can experiment. The more cereal is roasted, the richer the color and taste of the drink. It will also give a kind of bitterness that gourmets may like.
2. Instant barley coffee is available in stores. This will save time and eliminate the long grain preparation.
3. In order to make the color and aroma of the drink more saturated, you can add ½ teaspoon of chicory in the process of brewing coffee.

Interesting facts about barley coffee

Barley coffee first appeared in Italy in the 30s of the 20th century. At that time, the Italian troops invaded Ethiopia, so trade sanctions were imposed on the country. Food was supplied to the country in limited quantities, and coffee supplies ran out very quickly. Therefore, lovers of a fragrant drink had to look for alternatives.

In order to make the coffee substitute more like a natural drink, ground barley was added in an increased amount, and milk was used to muffle its bread taste. It was the Italians who called such a novelty "barley coffee." The popularity of the drink grew every day thanks to the calls of propagandists about the rejection of imported goods.

During the Second World War and during the long post-war period, barley coffee was actively sold in almost all of Europe. In Spain, the drink was popular much longer than in other countries of the mainland.

Today, barley drink is also very popular. This is due to the desire of people for a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, barley coffee in Italy can be found even in coffee machines and in many restaurants or bars.

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