Coffee Pairings: Foods That Complement Your Brew

The perfect coffee and food pairing provides a blissful culinary experience. The bold, complex flavors and aromas of coffee can beautifully accentuate, intensify, and even transform what you’re eating, turning an ordinary snack or meal into something truly special.

From classic breakfast coffee flavor pairings to harmonious coffee and dessert pairings, we’re here to share some of our favorite delicious duos.

And, not only are we going to highlight the best coffee companions, but we’re going to help you understand why these pairings work and learn how to seek out complementary foods that perfectly match specific coffee beverages, regions, varieties, and roasts. Let’s begin!

How to Pick the Perfect Pairing

Before we get into specific foods, let’s talk about the thought processes behind coffee and food pairing. Here are some tips to help you select the right coffee for your food (or vice versa).

Consider the Coffee’s Region

The flavor and aroma of coffee can vary widely depending on many factors, including the beans’ origin, the terroir in which they were grown, and the farmers’ growing, harvesting, and processing methods and rituals.

For example, African coffees tend to be bright, acidic, fruity, and floral. On the other hand, Asian coffees are often full-bodied with earthy, spicy, smoky notes. Naturally, choosing foods that match or complement those flavor profiles will make for a more successful coffee and food pairing.

Pick the Right Coffee Variety

Beyond the distinct flavor profiles of coffee growing regions, you can use the flavor profiles of coffee bean varieties to inform your coffee flavor pairings. For example, Arabica coffee is usually mild, smooth, and slightly sweet with notes of fruit, chocolate, and caramel. Robusta coffee is typically strong, deep, and bold with notes of dark chocolate, wood, and nuts. Pair accordingly!

Choose a Matching Roast

There are three main coffee roasting styles—light, medium, and dark. Light roasts pair well with brighter, acidic, and delicate dishes. Dark roasts pair well with robust, hearty, and savory foods. Contrasting light and dark flavors can make for a compelling coffee and food pairing, but we recommend starting simple by matching the intensity of the dish with the intensity of the roast.

Select the Perfect Beverage Style

There’s a big difference between hot, black coffee and a creamy and sweet iced latte. For example, if you have a sweet tooth, you may want to try sweet coffee and dessert pairings. Or, you may find that black coffee helps to tame sweet desserts. Similarly, you could contrast a savory dish with a sweetened coffee or go in the other direction with bolder coffee.

In addition to the coffee’s flavor, its texture can also enhance certain foods. For example, a creamy cappuccino and biscotti is a classic coffee and food pairing that works wonderfully because the rich, creaminess of the cappuccino brings balance to the crispy dryness of the biscotti. Similarly, a moist, rich dessert like a donut could pair nicely with a thinner black coffee.

Foods That Pair With Coffee

Now that you have a better understanding of the why and how of coffee flavor pairings, here are some suggestions to start you on your journey.

Breakfast Dishes

Coffee and breakfast is a match made in heaven! Hearty dishes like eggs, bacon, and sausage are so tasty washed down with a robust cup of coffee. Sweeter dishes like waffles, pancakes, muffins, and crêpes pair wonderfully with lighter coffees. Fruits offer a pleasant contrast with bright acidity that cuts through the coffee.

Pastries

If you’re struggling to pick a coffee and food pairing, you can’t go wrong with a pastry. Biscottis, donuts, croissants, danishes, eclairs, strudels, cinnamon buns, brownies, and tarts are all great choices. And, of course, a slice of pie or cake (or a cupcake) is divine with coffee!

Breads

If you’re not in the mood for sweet coffee and dessert pairings, high-quality bread is a delightful alternative. Flavored breads like banana bread or pumpkin bread offer rich flavors and textures, while toast offers more of a subtle flavor that really lets the coffee shine. And, of course, a bagel is a coffee staple for a reason!

Savory Foods

Don’t forget about savory coffee and food pairing options. You could munch on pretzels, cheeses, or nuts while sipping your coffee. A cup of decaf is lovely after any hearty dinner, pairing especially well with roasted or smoked meats.

Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the most iconic coffee flavor pairings. Coffee often has chocolatey notes, so it’s no surprise that the combination works so well. From brownies to ice cream, virtually anything with chocolate is sure to please. Treats with caramel and/or nuts can also bring out similar tasting notes from your coffee.

Experience Farm-to-Cup Coffee

In order to achieve the best possible results with your coffee and food pairing, you need to start with exceptional coffee. At Ebru Coffee, we offer the finest single-origin coffees that are sustainably and ethically sourced from all over the world. Shop handpicked specialty coffee beans to find your new favorite. Delight your palate with top-quality coffee that brings out the best in your food!