As much as Italians love espresso – the first espresso machine was created by an enterprising Italian, and espresso remains one of the most popular drinks within the country – a buzzy cafe culture has given rise to other beverages. Caffe D’Orzo, also known as orzo, is a coffee alternative that was first created in Italy. Instead of brewing up a warm mug of comfort with coffee beans, this drink is made using ground barley. Cups of orzo are served similarly to drinks made with shots of espresso. Beverages made with orzo can also be similarly brewed with standard coffee-making equipment and machines.
The use of orzo began during World War II when cafe workers had to get creative with ingredients due to restrictions and high costs of food items. Since coffee was limited, a few workers started roasting barley and brewing it in the same way as coffee beans. Though the appearance of brewed orzo may look similar to coffee in terms of color and thickness, however, a mug of orzo won’t offer the same kind of rich kick as a shot of poured espresso. Orzo tastes a bit more earthy with subtle bitter notes that may leave coffee lovers sliding this drink off to the side if not prepared correctly.
A tasty cup without the jitters
Making orzo with almond milk can add creamy richness to the dish, and cups of orzo can be sweetened with your choice of sweetener. Top your drink with honey whipped cream and dustings of cocoa powder or cinnamon powder for a recipe that borders on dessert. Some drinkers may choose to brew their barley beverage with spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, and ginger for extra spicy warmth, while others may get creative with their Amaretto and mix in orzo coffee for an enjoyable boozy sipper that can be equally served hot or cold.
One benefit of orzo is that this caffeine-free drink offers a less jittery cup of comfort. For this reason, this type of barley brew is ideal for those who are trying to reduce their caffeine intake. Orzo is also thought to aid in digestion, reduce blood sugar levels, and offer drinkers health-supporting vitamins and minerals. In addition to brewing up hot and cold beverages with orzo, both the ground ingredient and the instant version can be folded into dessert recipes, like cake and cupcake batters, be used to flavor buttercream, or add an earthy dimension to a homemade tray of fudgy brownies.
