Coffee and Chocolate Pairing Ideas

Treat yourself to a palate-pleasing experience with our coffee and chocolate pairing ideas! It’s no secret that coffee and chocolate are a heavenly combination. Both often share similar tasting notes, complementing or contrasting each other beautifully and bringing out subtle flavors that go undetected when enjoying one or the other independently.

You really can’t go wrong with this delectable duo. Even a cup of instant and a cheap candy bar are going to create a synergistic explosion of flavor! That said, choosing your coffee and chocolate coupling with intention is the key to synergistic gastronomic bliss.

Here at Ebru Coffee, we’re passionate about producing and roasting single-origin, specialty coffees, but that’s just the start. This guide to coffee and chocolate pairings is part of our grander mission—to be a reliable source of knowledge for fervent coffee enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Understanding the behind-the-scenes details empowers you to appreciate coffee on a deeper level. Every cup of coffee is part of a much larger story. From the unique terroirs of coffee-growing regions all over the world to the longstanding rituals and traditions passed down from generation to generation, coffee is thoroughly entwined in countless cultures and communities—just like chocolate.

Join us as we explore exceptional chocolate and coffee combinations.

How to Choose the Perfect Match

Before we recommend specific coffee and chocolate pairing ideas, we want to provide you with the knowledge needed to pick out your own pairings, too. Of course, these are just suggestions, not hard rules! The best pairing is simply the one that makes your taste buds happy.

In general, the easiest and most effective approach is to choose coffees and chocolates with similar strengths and flavor profiles. Although contrasting flavors can be compelling, you often run into flavor disparities between the two.

For example, a dark, Robusta espresso could easily overwhelm mild white chocolate. On the other hand, 99% dark chocolate would have the strong flavors to match a potent espresso. Similarly, a light coffee would be overshadowed by that 99% dark chocolate bar.

We recommend starting with these coffee and chocolate pairing fundamentals. You need to know the rules before you start breaking them!

Now, let’s get to the fun part—choosing coffee and chocolate companions. In the next section, we’ll highlight the three main types of chocolate—milk, dark, and white—and recommend coffee varieties, regions, and roasts that bring out the best qualities of each.

1. Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate is an ideal starting point, as it embodies classic chocolate flavors and isn’t overly mild or strong. The goal is to choose a coffee that has similar middle-of-the-road characteristics. Creamy drinks like cappuccinos and lattes work especially well.

Variety

Arabica coffees often pair well with milk chocolate. They typically have the quintessential flavor profile and aroma associated with coffee in the West. Arabica is excellent for inspiring moderate, balanced coffee and chocolate pairing ideas because it’s flavorful, but not overly so. Arabica’s well-rounded flavor profile often has notes of chocolate naturally, as well as nuts, fruit, and caramel.

Region

Again, we’re looking for balanced flavors to complement milk chocolate’s balanced flavor. We recommend starting with coffees from Central or South America. While this region’s coffee output varies widely, they’re typically well-balanced. Hallmarks of the region’s coffee include mild-to-moderate acidity and notes of chocolate, nuts, and citrus.

Diving deeper, we recommend looking into Columbian and Nicaraguan coffee beans. Both are known for being well-balanced. Look for coffees with fruity notes, as they can help to cut through milk chocolate’s richness. Nutty notes are also wonderful for adding richness and complexity.

Roast

Don’t overlook roast style when choosing your coffee and chocolate pairing. A mild coffee can quickly take on deep, bold flavors with a dark roast. For that reason, we recommend light to medium roasts to pair with milk chocolate.

2. Dark Chocolate

For dark chocolate, we’re looking for potent, dark coffees. While a milder coffee can tame strong coffees in a pleasant way, you lose the subtle flavors of the chocolate. Dark chocolates and dark coffees combine to create an exceptionally rich and decadent experience.

Variety

Robusta coffees bring the robust, dark, and deep flavors to match the rich, bittersweet flavors of dark chocolate. Or, if you’re interested in highly complex, rich, and potent coffee and chocolate pairing ideas, use Liberica coffee. It’s smoky, nutty, and woody with undertones of dark chocolate, floral, and spice.

Region

Asian coffees stand out as a perfect match for dark chocolate. Asian coffees tend to be full-bodied with an almost syrupy mouthfeel. They’re often smoky, earthy, and spicy.

Vietnamese coffees are especially bold and often have an earthy flavor and bitter finish that blends well with dark chocolate. Full-bodied Indonesian coffees are another great option, as they often have notes of dark chocolate, as well as notes of tobacco and spice.

You could also consider a Brazilian coffee and chocolate pairing. Often used in espresso blends, Brazilian coffees are rich, smooth, and full-bodied with notes of chocolate, caramel, and nuts. Try sipping our Stout coffee with a side of dark chocolate—it’s truly divine.

If you’d like to balance the bitterness and richness of dark chocolate with a hint of sweetness and acidity, consider coffee from El Salvador. The beans are typically mildly sweet with a mild-to-moderate acidity and notes of chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar. Our Bourbon variety is an outstanding option.

Roast

A dark roast is an ideal match for dark chocolate.

3. White Chocolate

If you’re seeking milder coffee and chocolate pairing ideas, consider white chocolate. Although the flavors of white chocolate aren’t usually as bold or complex as its darker counterparts, sometimes you just want a little sweetness and creaminess in the background. Like adding milk and sugar, white chocolate brings a dessert-like element to the experience.

Variety

We recommend sticking with milder Arabica varieties so you don’t overpower the delicate flavors of white chocolate.

Region

Light-bodied coffees with fruity and floral notes work particularly well with white chocolate. For that reason, we recommend African coffees. Zambian coffee is famously fruity, juicy, and sweet with notes of berries and citrus. Ethiopian coffees are fruity and floral with low acidity.

Roast

A light roast pairs well with the mildness of white chocolate.

Experience Farm-to-Cup Coffee

We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to coffee and chocolate pairings! This guide will put you on the right path, but feel free to get creative and experiment with different types of specialty coffee beans and chocolates. Start with our sustainable, single-origin coffees. As long as you’re using top-quality coffee, the chocolate is just icing on the cake! Find the perfect match for your favorite chocolates at Ebru Coffee.