I love coffee and do not feel the need to substitute it for a non-caffeinated liquid. However, I have had the pleasure of drinking Organic Barleycup, a delicious coffee substitute. It was introduced to me on my three month Wwoofing stint in the UK. For those of you not familiar with woofing or worldwide organic farming, it is a network of small or hobby farmers who provide you with food and shelter in exchange for your work. It usually entails mucking, cleaning, or hedge trimming.
One thing all the farms had in common was John Seymour’s work “The Complete Book of Self Sufficiency” and Barleycup. I was skeptical at first being a staunch lover of coffee. My husband, having a sensitive stomach, made me try it. It was ok, not real coffee, but it did have a nice smokey taste. Barelycup is a gluten-free product made from roasted grains (rye and barley) and the chicory root. It was found on all these farm because it is an Organic product. Being organic farmers themselves they were supportive of ethically produced products. Many conversations were had about how far coffee has to travel and how coffee farmers are taken advantage off even in so-called “Fair-Trade” schemes.
When we left the UK we shoved two jars of Barleycup into our luggage. I started to prepare it for him in the mornings very decandanly. Here is how to make my “decadent” version of barley cup: First add 2 tbsp of barley cup, 1.5 tbsp of vanilla sugar, cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, and two table spoons of raw whole milk or cream. Second mix these ingredients vigorously in your coffee mug until they form a thick paste, and third add boiled water. All of these ingredients can be altered to taste. You may like a sweeter, darker, or creamier version of Barleycup. This will be so delicious, you will not miss your regular coffee. If you need to use a coffee substitute, I suggest you start with decadence. It will be easier at first because what you make will be creamy, sweet, and delicious. You can scale back eventually when you have conquered you caffeine addiction. 
A boozy Barelycup is of course a better Barleycup. I have experimented with a cheap V.S.O.P Armagnac and all types of orange liqueurs. My favorite orange liquor is Da Mhile’s Orange 33, which is an Organic 25% spirit distilled with real oranges and coffee beans and aged in oak casks. This ethical boozy beverage will be a hit at your next Sunday Brunch. You may need quite a few if your discussion turns to Brexit or the Trump administration..
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