A Culinary Adventure
As coffee lovers, we often find ourselves caught in a conundrum. On one hand, we want to savour the complexity and depth of our favourite specialty coffee. On the other hand, we want to indulge in the salty, sweet, and satisfying treats that make life worth living. But what happens when you pair the two? A culinary adventure to the dark side, that’s what.
So, what do you pair with a piping hot cup of coffee when you’re in the mood for junk food? Well, first of all, let’s just get one thing straight: we’re not talking about a kale salad and a green smoothie here. No, we’re talking about the real deal, the good stuff, the greasy, salty, and sugary treats that make life worth living.
Think about it. A rich and bold espresso shot paired with a warm, gooey donut. A smooth and creamy latte paired with a greasy slice of pepperoni pizza. It’s like two kids who were never meant to meet finally finding each other on the playground. And the result is pure magic.
Let’s start with the classic breakfast of champions: donuts. There’s nothing like a glazed donut to sweeten your day, and when paired with a rich and bold coffee. Millions of obese beat officers cannot be wrong. The sweetness of the donut contrasts perfectly with a bold Indian AA plantation coffee, creating a balance that will make your taste buds dance with joy.
Next up is a rich and velvety cappuccino paired with a warm, buttery croissant. The flaky, buttery layers of the croissant perfectly balance the creamy milk and bold espresso flavours. It’s like taking a trip to Paris but only cheaper.
And who could forget the classic pairing of a bold and intense espresso shot with a warm chocolate chip cookie? The sweetness of the chocolate and the bitter coffee flavours are like two old friends reuniting after many years apart. It’s a beautiful thing. We would suggest nice Colombian medium to dark roast for this one. We will save the juicy, light roasted Colombians for when we are snacking on hotdogs.
Next up, we have pizza. This might come as a surprise, but a slice of pizza and a cup of coffee are a match made in heaven. The salty and savoury flavours of the pizza are perfectly complemented by the smooth and creamy notes of a latte. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a slice of pepperoni pizza with a bold and syrupy Kenyan Nyeri drunk black of course. The bright acidity should cut through the cheesy fat and hopefully unblock some of your arteries.
And let’s not forget about burgers. Whether you prefer your burgers topped with bacon, cheese, or both, a burger and coffee pairing is a must-try. For this one I would go big, frothy and full of rich full cream milk. A Freezoccino with fresh whipped cream piled on top should hit the spot. The juicy and flavourful burger will bring out the nutty and chocolatey notes from a high grown Guatemalan coffee, creating a flavour explosion in your mouth.
What would a burger be without fries? Probably just a burger-and-hold-the-fries. But add a shot of condensed milk to an espresso over ice cubes and you have SWEET VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE WITH FRIES! Sounds kind of epic when I type it in bold letters. Traditional folks would say, wtf? But we say, use your Vietnamese robusta for this one. But maybe go no more than 50% with a blend of a nice Zambian coffee.
For rainy afternoons in front of televised game, we suggest dark roasted Sumatran beans paired with a cold beer and a pack of unfiltered cigarettes. The smoky, earthy notes of the coffee are the perfect complement to the bitter, hoppy flavours of the beer and contrasts perfectly with the sweet sting of cancerous smoke
We’ve all been there. It’s a late night, you’ve got the munchies and you want something to satisfy both your sweet tooth and your caffeine craving. What do you reach for? A bag of chips and a can of soda? How pedestrian. The nutty and chocolatey notes of a Brazilian Minas Gerais coffee pair perfectly with a bucket of Rocky Road ice cream and a lonely night in front of a movie.
Think of it like a foodie’s version of “Bad Boys”. A sweet, nutty coffee plays the role of Will Smith, while a rich, creamy dessert is the Martin Lawrence of the pair. Together, shoot up your cholesterol, and arrest your heart.
So enjoy your coffee adventure, and remember even you may one day become an undercover Michelin food taster.
