"Barley Roasted to Taste Like Coffee?"... The Fake Coffee 'Orzo' [Delicious Stories]

Italy's Coffee Alternative, Orzo
A Coffee-Like Taste from Roasted and Charred Barley
A Comfort for Ordinary People Through Two World Wars

Editor's NoteIt is said that the first confectionery was discovered in ancient Mesopotamian civilization. In other words, confectionery has been part of every moment in human history. Biscuits, chocolate, and even ice cream—the stories behind the treats we love are just as rich and delicious as the snacks themselves.

Orzo, the 'fake coffee' made from barley, is surprisingly similar in taste to real coffee. Today, it has become established as a health food for those sensitive to caffeine, but originally, it was developed out of the ingenuity of Italians who could not give up coffee even during times of war. This article explores the journey of Orzo from a humble coffee alternative to a beloved modern brand.

Roasting Barley Brought Out the Taste of Coffee

Coffee brewed with orzo. Bubbles similar to the crema of regular coffee are visible. Instagram capture

In Korea, Orzo is known as a caffeine-free coffee substitute, or as a coffee drink suitable for pregnant women. It is a coffee alternative made by roasting and charring barley. Orzo from the Italian food company Crastan is commonly found in imported food sections.

Orzo means 'barley' in Italian. As a result, in Italy, coffee made with Orzo is called 'Caffe d'orzo.' This barley-based coffee is very similar to regular coffee in both taste and aroma. It even develops bubbles similar to coffee’s signature ‘crema,’ making it much closer to real coffee than other substitutes.

The Ingenuity of Italians Who Couldn’t Give Up Coffee Even During War

Benito Mussolini (left) and Adolf Hitler during World War II. Photo by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

So when was Orzo invented? According to the official website of decaffeinated coffee specialist “Grana,” in Italy, artisans have been roasting grain powders to make coffee-like teas as early as the 15th century. Orzo is believed to have been one of several 'roasted grain teas' developed at the time.

However, Orzo’s popularity exploded in the 19th century due to the “Continental Blockade” imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France. During the height of the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, Britain used its naval power to blockade European seas, and Napoleon responded by cutting off trade between Britain and the European countries he controlled.

Green coffee beans, which were considered a luxury at the time, were supplied to continental Europe by British merchant ships. When access to British raw materials was suddenly cut off, coffee prices soared. Italians, unwilling to give up coffee even in wartime, turned to roasted grains in search of an alternative. Orzo, with its taste most similar to coffee, became especially popular.

After the war, Orzo’s popularity waned for a time but resurged in the 1940s with the outbreak of World War II. Once again, Italy, this time aligned with Germany against the Allied Powers including Britain and the United States, suffered from supply shortages due to Allied naval blockades. Luxuries like coffee were, needless to say, hard to come by.

Now Established as a Health Food

Today, Orzo coffee is sold as a product similar to general instant coffee, such as capsule coffee and bagged coffee. Krastan website

Orzo, which once served merely as a comforting wartime substitute for coffee among common people, has now become a celebrated health food in Italy. With coffee now established as a beverage consumed worldwide, the contemporary concern for many is not its price, but rather excessive caffeine intake. Crastan, the manufacturer of Orzo, emphasizes, “There are people who love the taste of coffee but are sensitive to caffeine or have health concerns that prevent them from enjoying it. Orzo coffee is ideal for such customers.”

Today’s Orzo coffee is also a healthful food made exclusively from crops grown organically in Italian barley fields. Crastan adds, “Orzo is not only an excellent coffee substitute but also recommended to those seeking new tastes. It can be brewed strong and enjoyed like coffee, or lightly brewed to produce a flavor similar to Korean barley tea.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.