Brown beef, garlic, and onion in oil.  Move to a slow cooker; add oil, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, water, coffee, and broth.  Cook covered on low heat for at let 1 hour.  Remove meat and cut into small pieces.  Return meat to the slow cooker; turn heat to high and add pepper, salt, thyme, tomatoes, sugar, celery, and mixed vegetables.  Cover and cook for 1 to 2 hours.  Add cabbage and barley in the last hour of cooking.  Cook for 4 hours.  Makes 6 servings.