The flavors that go with coffee are as wide ranging as the flavor of coffee itself.
By Andrew.
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From sweet and sugary desert foods to more savory flavors, coffee goes with just about anything.
Some examples of flavors that go with coffee are:
- Dried fruit
- Berries
- Vanilla
- Hazelnut
- Chai
- Chocolate
- Caramel
- Coconut
- Cinnamon
- Almond
- Pumpkin spice
But the options are endless!
Whatever Suits Your Fancy
Perhaps a traditional breakfast pairing like a croissant and coffee with cream and sugar suits your fancy.
Or maybe pair a cup of decaf after your dinner.
The choice is yours.
I encourage you to try as many different flavor combinations possible to find your favorite.
What to Serve with Morning Coffee?
Coffee is very energizing drink most often served in the morning and goes well with many breakfast foods.
Lighter roasts, which are naturally sweeter, go with sweet foods already mentioned such as a chocolate croissant, pancakes, or waffles with syrup, but bitter Robusta coffee can also go with these foods to complement the sweetness as you sip.
The citrus and tang of fruits can also offset the flavor of coffee and might be a healthier choice.
Really, it is up to your own personal tastes and preferences.
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What Flavors Go with Mocha
Mocha is a popular coffee drink that is made by mixing coffee and chocolate.
Because of its sweet flavor from the chocolate, it is a natural choice to pair a mocha with other sweet flavors, with chocolate and chocolate-based desserts being the most common paring choice.
But if you prefer a lighter choice, fruit flavors, such as orange might be a better choice for you.
Did you also know that there are traditions all over the world about what to pair with your coffee?
Coffee Flavor Combinations are Steeped in Tradition and History
Humble Beginnings
In Ethiopia, where coffee was first discovered, drinking coffee during religious ceremonies became the norm. And soon after it was discovered, people learned quickly that they could mix different flavors with coffee, most often sugar and yes, even salt, which I had not heard of before writing this article.
The Middle East
As sweet honey-based treats were and continue to be the Middle Eastern region’s specialty, these confections became synonymous with drinking mainly bitter coffee when coffee spread to the Middle East in the 16th Century.
In coffee shops across the region, eating sweets with coffee became the norm, but you could also mix your coffee with your favorite spices that were widely traded at the time, such as cardamom or cinnamon.
Europe
In the 17th Century, coffee made its way across Europe, but the bitter taste of coffee was not the continent’s favorite flavor.
The French were the first to add milk to coffee to make the world’s first café au lait. Drinking a café au lait for breakfast became the norm, as did pairing it with a warm, buttery, flaky croissant, often dipping the food in their coffee.
The Italians followed suit, and soon eating sweet pastries with café au lait became the norm.
But later in the day, when a caffeine boost was needed, the Italians began drinking strong espresso and it became an Italian tradition to eat dark chocolate while sipping this strong coffee drink.
In the Netherlands, it became tradition to eat a stroopwafel, a type of thin waffle with your coffee. It is traditionally placed on top of your coffee cup so that it curls slightly at the edges.
In Sweden, the term fika, or coffee break, became a popular term for drinking coffee while eating a kanelbule, or cinnamon bun.
United States
Flavored coffee became an option in the United States beginning in the 1950s. In fact, it was 1958 when flavored instant coffee first hit store shelves.
Thanks to effective advertising, 25 different flavors became widely available soon thereafter and became very popular.
Mocha is one such coffee drink that caught on quickly and has easily become one of the most popular flavored coffee drinks.
What to Try with Coffee Next Time?
- Interesting flavors that go with coffee to try with your next coffee include: (some traditional, some not so much)
- Salt (yes you read that right) Feeling courageous? This might be a good option for you.
- Baklava. A traditional Middle Eastern dessert that goes well with strong, bitter coffee. Bitter coffee? With something as sweet as Baklava, bitter coffee can offset that sweet taste and make it the perfect combination
- Cinnamon roll with light roast coffee. The sweetness of the two items will please the tastebuds in just the right way
Conclusion
Flavor combinations with coffee have been a thing for thousands of years.
Their origins go along with traditions from countries around the world.
The options are endless. So, get tasting already!
Photos by Larissa Farber, Karolina Grabowska and Shantanu Pal
