Nowadays when coffee has become so popular and widespread that is so common that there are espresso machines best for home use almost in all kitchens and everybody knows different kinds of coffee sorts such as Arabica, Robusta, Kona and the like. When we have so huge opportunities to choose from different real coffee sorts it is hardly to imagine that just about fifty or sixty years ago there were very many people who drink different kinds of coffee substitutes.

Most likely there are still fairly enough people who remember those peaceful and nice childhood mornings when our grandmas prepare in the morning some kind from these surrogate coffee beverages especially in the countryside. Taste of that coffee with sugar and fresh morning milk is absolutely incredible. As you can imagine the time after the Second World War especially in the Europe was fairly poor and people were very modest but still want to have some joy at least in food.

If you will check several books of recipes of that time you will find very many advices how to make good substitute coffee. Substitutes were many and even very unbelievable. For example, such substitutes are almonds, roasted peas, corn, cotton seed, carrots and very many others. However the most popular are chicory, barley, dandelion roots and acorn coffees. Now most likely you are very amazed how people can drink such coffee. Human minds are very creative and even in very awful and poor circumstances we want to have pleasure and enjoy life.

Chicory coffee is most common and wide spread coffee substitute. To prepare chicory coffee is used roots of the plant. To prepare coffee, roots have to be dry, roast and then grind. Taste of chicory coffee is the most similar with taste of the real coffee.

Dandelion coffee is made also from the roots of these plants. Process of preparation is the same as for chicory coffee. Roots are dried, roasted and ground. You can be curious about the plant of dandelion. Blooms of the dandelions can be used to prepare honey. Exactly, you don’t mishear, people prepare honey using blooms of dandelion and adding sugar. Taste of this “honey” is just a little bit sour but anyway taste of dandelion honey is very similar to a real honey.

Barley coffee is made from the grain of barley. They are dried, roasted and then ground. Process of preparation is similar with other coffee substitutes. Barley coffee is sometimes mixed with chicory coffee to get more decent and strong taste. Taste of the barley coffee is very much like a weak real coffee and in comparison with chicory coffee barley coffee don’t have the sour after-taste.

These coffee substitutes can be good for people who must not drink real coffee because of caffeine. Till nowadays you can find places where to buy chicory or barley coffee. However if you will want to try the taste of dandelion roots or acorn coffee in that case the most likely the only way will be to make it by yourself.

Tags: barley coffee, chicory coffee, coffee, coffee substitutes, dandelion coffee