You probably wouldn’t serve a light Chardonnay with a piece of steak, or a heavy Merlot with your tilapia, but many people do the equivalent by serving coffee that doesn’t properly compliment the food served alongside it. Even the pastry you choose to accompany your morning coffee or the breakfast options you include as you start your day can be thoughtfully chosen to bring out the best attributes in each.

When pairing food with coffee, you want to consider flavor, texture, and temperature of both the coffee and the food. You can choose to either compliment or contrast each component of the gustatory experience, meaning having like with like or choosing options with disparate profiles.

For example, a bright and fruity Ethiopian coffee, like our Ethiopia Basha Bekele, might taste amazing with a lemon bar to highlight the citrusy flavors of the coffee. The buttery crumble crust of the pastry will also contrast with the zing of the coffee to mellow out the acidity. A robust coffee, like a Sumatran, stands up well to rich treats like a pumpkin bread while the spice notes in each will compliment each other.

Pairings can also highlight savory foods. A dark blend like our Vienna has a heavy body and smokiness that stand up to ham or roasted potatoes. Compliment your morning toast with a balanced Colombian offering that provides gentle acidity to cut through the butteriness of avocado or an over-easy egg.

Along with considering flavor, it’s fun to think of the texture and temperature when making pairings. A Kenyan coffee with a light, crisp mouthfeel will contrast nicely with the cream cheese on a bagel or rich omelet. Pour your espresso over vanilla ice cream for a hot/cold combination or match your afternoon cold brew with a warm chocolate chip cookie.

Coffee pairings are an opportunity to maximize your experience of both your beverage and the food you enjoy alongside it. Be intentional when you make your choices and consider flavor, texture, and temperature. If you have questions, talk to a barista and get their recommendations, or just take a coffee you already know you enjoy, and start exploring on your own!