Cafe D’Orzo
Currently in Italy on a whirlwind business trip with little time to post. (due in part to a hectic schedule and in part to Italy’s limited internet connectivity).
Ran across something this trip that I have heard of, even tasted before, but never really thought much about it until I got asking some Italians what the hell it is. Most places that sell coffee in Italy have an easily overlookable item on the menu called Cafe d’orzo. First, let’s clarify for those that have not been to Italy that “cafe” in Italy is just espresso. You can’t get an American Coffee in most places in Italy. I like espresso, but it’s no sustitue for a big cup of freshly ground…. WAIT, I degress…
From the name, an educated English speaker might think Cafe D’orzo is made of, well, orzo (the small rice-like pasta). No. Wrong.
In fact, “orzo” in Italian has nothing to do with pasta. “Orzo” means barley. Yes, the very common “Cafe D’orzo” is a no-caffeine substitute for espresso that is absolutely everywhere in Italy now. It’s popular especially among the “health conscience” who think coffee isn’t good for you, but still want to pay €1 to stand around a gas station and sip a 1oz hot black drink from a ceramic cup.
It does look like espresso. But it does NOT smell or taste like espresso.
Since Cafe D’orzo is from barley, it does have a hint of pre-fermented beer wort flavor, minus the sugars. The roast the barley, but don’t malt and mash it like you would for beer production. Instead, they just grind it up so it even looks like espresso and they run it through their regular espresso machines (although, I have seen some dedicated machines that may or may not do something different).
That’s all for now. Ciao.
barley, cafe, cafe d'orzo, coffee, orzo wort
May 15th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
sounds strange! i have to try it.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:07 am
YEAH! you taught me some coffee schtuff. I had no idea what cafe d’orzo was.
take me with you on your beverage journies around the world. I will be your squire…or your squirrel.
A.
June 8th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I love orzo! I discovered it while recently traveling in Italy, and purchased some instant orzo that I brought back with me. I’m trying to find how to purchase it now that I’m back in the US - do you have any online resources for purchasing the product?
June 8th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I was able to find one place (not to say there aren’t more).
Hausbrandt Coffee in Philadelphia
http://shop.hausbrandtusa.com/catalog/display.php?product_id=79
These are in pods, which might be a little annoying, but it is available.
You know, if you could figure out what type of barley it is, you could probably buy something similar at a local homebrew beer supply store. It would be VERY cheap to try it. Buy the darkest roasted barley you can find, grind it with a pestel, and give it a shot.
If you do, please post a reply… I’d be interested to see how that goes.
June 8th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Thanks very much! I’ll let you know if I ever experiment with doing it myself.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I love cafe d’orzo too!. Growing up in a Italian family instant orzo was given to us as children for breakfast in the morning or when adults were having their coffee after dinner. Since I have given up caffeine, I have started to drink orzo once again.
However, the espresso d’orzo that they are now selling in cafe’s in Italy is new. It seems that they are making the orzo in such a way that you can make it into an espresso or use in your mocha too at home. The one I had growing up as a child and still use now was more in the form of your instant coffee mix. The new espresso form is, in my opinion, much better. However, unfortunatly I can’t seem to find the orzo for the mocha machine here in the states. If I knew I would have brought some back from my last trip.
Lastly, for those coffeenistas out there, orzo does not compare to a really good espresso but for me, its a good nostalgic substitute that reminds me of my childhood. For those of you that enjoy postum would love this as much as I do.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
dranktank thanks for the info. Still finding one that I can use with my mocha though.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I’ve recently discovered orzo too. A tea store called Lupicia has several flavors of it including Chai and Carmel and honey. Check it out at lupiciausa.com they also have stores in the Bay Area and LA.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:05 am
We have been working for 2 years with a small organic farm cooperative in Central Italy and just launched “Cafe Orzo” (as we call it) into the US market. It is available on our website www.cafeorzo.com and at www.twoleavesandabud.com.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:38 am
For more information on Cafe Orzo, check out www.facebook.com/cafeorzo
Cheers!