We know a cup of coffee is good on its own, but pairing it with certain foods can elevate its flavours much more. Continue scrolling to find out the different foods you can pair with your daily cuppa to change up your coffee routine!
Sweet
Chocolate
Chocolate and coffee is a classic pairing. Dark chocolate makes an excellent pairing with dark roast coffee due to its rich, deep flavour. Milk and white chocolates go well with medium-roasted coffee as it intensifies the creaminess of the coffee.
Tip!
For those with a coffee machine, place a small square of chocolate in your cup before dispensing the shot. The hot coffee will melt the chocolate, making a sweet cup of mocha!
Pastries
Buttery, soft pastries. They pair so well with the creamy, deep and rich notes of coffee. The buttery layers help to bring out and elevate the sweet and smoky flavours of coffee.
For stronger coffees, try pairing it with a chocolate pastry. This helps to balance out the sweetness of the pastry and richness of the coffee. Coffee with more nutty notes pairs exceptionally well with buttery pastries.
Fruits
For the health-conscious and busy bees, opt for fruits to pair with your cup of joe for a quick on-the-go snack! Sweet fruits like berries and bananas pair well with coffee and give you a nutritional boost in the middle of your busy day.
Fruits also contain high nutritional value for our bodies and can help improve our digestive system. This is a good pairing to consider for those looking for a healthier option. Make sure to avoid pairing coffee with citrus fruits as they can change and ruin the flavour of your coffee.
Savoury
Cheese
We love a wine and cheese pairing, but have you tried a coffee and cheese pairing? As long as you pick the right cheeses to go with your coffee, you’ll find that the rich taste of espresso can bring out the complex flavours of cheese! The hidden flavours of both the cheese and coffee will also be brought out.
We recommend opting for a shot of espresso or espresso-based coffee when having cheese with it. A soft creamy cheese like brie will pair well with lighter coffee brews. Stronger cheeses like aged cheddar taste better with dark roasted coffee for a richer pairing.
Meat
Sounds weird? Not at all! Coffee can help to really enhance the flavours of different meats. This pairing is all about choosing the right flavours that go well together.
Red meats like beef, pork and mutton are a perfect match with coffee of a darker roast. On the other hand, white meats such as chicken and turkey pair well with coffee that has fruitier tones. Pairing coffee and meat together will also help to bring out the subtleties of flavours in the meal.
How do I know which coffee and food pairing to pick?
Not sure where and how to start? The first thing to do is to know your coffee! This helps to narrow down and identify the food that matches the best with your brew. Here are two simple things to note:
1. Coffee origin
This helps you to understand the flavour profile of your coffee to make things much easier. Click here for a full guide to the different coffee origins and how they all taste differently.
2. Roast intensity
A good rule of thumb to remember – darker roasts go with stronger and deeper flavours; lighter roasts go with refreshing and fruitier flavours.
Already have your favourite coffee and food pairing? Share it with us in the comments below!