Its unique, fragrant flavor is recognizable in any preparation or recipe. Coffee has unmistakable organoleptic characteristics that emerge alongside any other food. But if purists love to taste their cup and only grasp the aroma of the coffee, there are, on the contrary, many people who always prefer to taste new combinations with coffee.
This is not a challenge between two factions on which is the best way to drink espresso. The coffee can be drunk as soon as it is extracted, without any added aroma, capturing all the flavor of the blend, the barista’s skills, and the perfection of the service.
Or it can be served with milk, sugar, spice syrups, or ice cream. In short, coffee lends itself to many combinations and it is really difficult to decide the best combination.
Sweet breakfast is very common in Italy. So together with coffee we usually eat a croissant, a piece of cake, panettone, or biscuits.
For a healthier start and for those who like to stay fit, espresso can also be accompanied by fresh fruit and yogurt.
On the other end, some love savory combinations with coffee. It often happens, for example, that in the middle of the morning people take a break with a sandwich or a piece of focaccia and a steaming cup of coffee.
So, although espresso contains a great deal of energy and taste even on its own, it does not mean that the combinations with coffee are bad.
Rather!
As our ancestors used to teach, de gustibus non est disputandum (there is no dispute about tastes).
But what are the best foods to combine with coffee?
In this article, we will give you some delicious ideas on foods to combine with coffee. We are sure that even the most radical purists will want to try some of our suggestions.
Best food that goes with coffee? Sweet or savory?
Coffee has unique taste characteristics. It stands out in any recipe and keeps its aromatic scents next to any type of food.
It is a bit like a sunny day: you can spend it with pleasure both by the sea and in the mountains, depending on your preferences.
In many regions of Italy, espresso is the undisputed king of sweet breakfast, in which it is served with chocolate or together with a croissant.
Who would be able to resist the temptation of an Italian-style donut (bombolone) with espresso?
But breakfast does not necessarily have to be a high-calorie meal, full of sugars and particularly caloric foods.
Even at the end of a sumptuous lunch, it seems that the combination of sweet and coffee cannot be affected. A cup of coffee always takes the place of honor next to cakes, spoon desserts, and dry pastries.
When you go on vacation, you often find many healthy and light dishes next to the coffee machine for bed and breakfast to start the day. In hotels, as well as in farmhouses and B&Bs, on the breakfast table, in addition to brioches, there are also yogurt, cereals, muesli, and dried fruit. These foods are excellent to consume with coffee, they can give you a unique boost of energy. After this brief review of desserts, don’t think that savory combinations with coffee are less appealing.
Coffee goes very well with salty foods too.
Think of those who consume espresso at the bar next to a sandwich, or those who enjoy mid-morning focaccia with a cup of coffee. Savory breakfast is a must for many people who do not give up the sprint of coffee even next to sandwiches and pizzas.
Now we will give you some suggestions on the best combinations with coffee.
Coffee pairings with fruit
Fruit and coffee for breakfast are a nice mix of taste. Dried fruit, as well as spice syrups, can enhance the taste of espresso to make it truly sublime.
But in this case, you have to learn to choose the right mixes so that the pleasant sensation is lasting and rich.
The combinations we recommend are:
- dried fruit: have you ever tried to taste walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds after the espresso? This is a great combination. Coffee releases its organoleptic notes on the palate, making the fruit exalt the taste even more. Dried fruit is very pleasant both enjoyed alone after espresso and in sweets such as scones or muffins;
- banana: in Italy, the combination of coffee and banana is not very widespread. But it is a very good taste combination, as the flavors of the two foods balance each other. In Costa Rica it is easy to find bananas and coffee even in savory dishes;
- orange: this union is spreading more and more. The citrus notes mitigate but at the same time enhance the hints of coffee to make it unique. You can also try mixing orange marmalade with coffee: you will be pleasantly surprised;
- lemon: excellent to be consumed as a digestive, coffee with lemon peel has a very pleasant aromatic taste;
- coconut: coconut milk has a sweet fragrance that goes perfectly with coffee. If you prefer black coffee with a coconut flavor, you can pour a few drops of coconut oil into the espresso. You can also replace chocolates or chocolate biscuits with dried coconut-based pastries;
There are other combinations of fruit with coffee that create a harmony of fabulous scents: cherries, strawberries, dates, figs, and pears.
Pairing coffee with pastries
When thinking about breakfast, one wonders what to eat with coffee. But not because the alternatives are few. Far from it!
The most popular drink in the world is so versatile that it’s really hard to choose just one pairing.
Some of the most rooted combinations are those with pastries. In Italy and the United States, it is difficult to think of coffee without biscuits. While the coffee and donuts association seems to be the most popular in Canada and many other American states.
Which one do you prefer? Here you’ll find a small list of the best combinations between espresso and pastries:
- Cookies: coffee and biscuits are the breakfast pairing par excellence. They exist in many varieties, it is just a matter of choosing the format and the favorite recipe to be satisfied. The best to enjoy with espresso are those with dried fruit or chocolate.
- Cakes: Grandma’s cakes are exceptional with coffee. Each type of recipe can be combined with a different coffee blend so that the flavor is harmonious.
- Coffee Cake: This dessert goes well with most coffees. To prepare it, you can also use the made in Italy coffee machine, but it is good to choose medium-roasted coffee beans.
- Croissant: our beloved cappuccino gives its best next to the croissant. The latter can be simple, with honey or, even better, with chocolate.
- Donuts: it is a much-loved food that comes in different tastes. In Italy, the most popular donuts are fried and sugar-coated, perfect to be paired with a bitter coffee. In America, everyone likes donuts because there is no limit to the variety. They are usually eaten with pleasure next to a cup of sweet and soft coffee.
Breakfast foods that pair well with coffee
In Italy, every bar has a display with croissants and donuts next to the professional coffee machine. In our country, the classic breakfast is the sweet one and the most popular combination is coffee and croissant.
In many countries around the world, from Central Europe to America, on the other hand, breakfast is a richer and more protein-rich, unmistakably salty breakfast.
Let’s see what are the most popular foods to eat for breakfast with coffee:
- Crepes: savory crepes stuffed with vegetables, herbs, cheese, and meat are often paired with the strongest blends. This food is also very popular in its sweet version, covered with chocolate or hazelnut cream.
- Eggs and bacon or sausage: in every American movie these ingredients are the basis of a plentiful breakfast. They are generally consumed together with medium-roasted coffee.
- Omelet with mushrooms, basil, and/or goat cheese: these are stuffed omelets that go very well with Indonesian coffees, from Java and Sumatra, strong and with a robust taste.
- Oatmeal: This cereal goes well with lightly roasted coffee.
- Pancakes with maple syrup: they are tempting for children and adults as they are a greedy and nutritious food. They should be combined with blends capable of contrasting the sweet taste of maple.
- Quiche: the typical quiche originating from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France is excellent when savored together with a full and intense coffee.
- Wholemeal bread: for a healthy, simple, and low-calorie breakfast, the combination of coffee and wholemeal bread is perfect. The perfect blends in this case are medium roasted ones.
Other combinations…
In addition to the foods that we have already shown to you and that probably have stimulated your appetite, several aromas go perfectly well with coffee. A creative barista, besides knowing how the lever coffee machine works, will also be able to advise you on the right coffee mix for your breakfast.
These combinations are really good, and if you haven’t tried them yet we recommend you try your coffee with:
- Ginger: the exotic and spicy notes of ginger enhance the properties of coffee, making its aroma even more intense. This combination is prepared by immersing the root in the freshly made espresso. To enhance the taste, do not skimp on sugar.
- Cinnamon: with a sweet and robust taste, cinnamon blends perfectly with coffee. A sprinkling is enough to enhance the characteristics of the mixture and make it even more pleasant. Alternatively, you can also use cinnamon syrup, always in small doses.
- Vanilla: sweet and strong at the same time, vanilla makes the coffee particularly fragrant and pleasant. It is very suitable for a winter breakfast, alongside freshly baked pastries. You can use vanilla beans or syrup.
- Chocolate: this is the most delicious way to enjoy a good coffee. Coffee and chocolate blend so well that they seem to be made for each other.
- Baileys: this liqueur already contains notes of coffee that are strengthened in combination with coffee itself. This drink is a balanced and powerful mix of coffee, whiskey, and chocolate flavor.
If you need some more ideas, you can also try other spices such as nutmeg, which is used like vanilla, or caramel. You will be amazed by this explosion of flavors.
Summary
Versatility and intense flavor are just some of the prerogatives of coffee that make it suitable for any type of meal. Espresso goes well with both sweet and savory foods. And in each country, you will find a new combination that must be tasted.
In Italy, the most popular combination is coffee and croissant. But even for a healthy breakfast with fruit and cereals, the aroma of coffee can give an extra touch of energy.
In the United States, on the other hand, as well as in Anglo-Saxon countries, it is the combination of coffee and salty foods that is the most popular. In these cases, the breakfast is based on eggs, bacon, and cheese.
In some Italian regions, coffee is consumed together with focaccia and pizzas of various kinds.
Adding aromas and spices to hot coffee also gives amazing results. The most pleasant mixes are with ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla, which enhance the taste.
But at the base of these extraordinary combinations with coffee, there must be a tasty and rich espresso, with unaltered organoleptic characteristics. And there is nothing better than a coffee prepared with the lever coffee machines of Pontevecchio. Discover the models in our store.