Specialty Coffee and Gastronomy: How to Pair Your Coffee with Food

published on October 27, 2024 — by Marc-Alexandre Emond-Boisjoly — 15 mins of reading —


Passion for specialty coffee goes far beyond enjoying a cup in the morning. At 94 Celcius, we believe that each coffee offers a unique palette of flavors, aromas and textures, creating the potential for food pairings that magnify the sensory experience. To accompany the richness of our coffees, such as Les Audacieusesour dark roast with deep notes, and Le Covalentour round coffee with hints of almond, the art of pairing coffee and food is an exciting adventure.

In this article, we'll guide you through pairing specialty coffees with a variety of foods. Whether you're a chocolate lover, a cheese enthusiast or prefer fruity desserts, discover how each type of coffee can enhance your favorite dishes and vice versa.

Understanding Coffee Flavors for Successful Pairings

Specialty coffee is prized for its distinctive flavors, influenced by the origin of the beans, their roasting profile and preparation method. Before embarking on any pairings, it's helpful to understand these nuances:

  • Acidity: Provides a lively, refreshing note, ideal for light coffees with fruity notes, such as a floral Ethiopian.
  • Body: The texture of coffee varies from light to full, influencing its pairing with dishes with similar textures.
  • Sweetness and bitterness: Sweeter or bitter coffees lend themselves well to contrasting or complementary pairings depending on the dishes chosen.

This understanding makes it possible to optimize pairings by playing either on flavor similarities or on contrasts.

Sac de café étendu au sol

Coffee Pairings: An Exploration of Flavours

1. Les Cafés Légers et Floraux

Light coffees with floral and fruity notes, such as Ethiopian or Costa Rican, offer bright, lively flavors. They go wonderfully well with fruit desserts, such as citrus pie, pastries or fresh fruit. These floral and fruity coffees balance well with the tart sweetness of fruit, creating a refreshing experience.

Recommended pairings :

  • Citrus tart (lemon, orange)
  • Light pastries (almond croissants, fruit muffins)
  • Fresh fruit salads (strawberries, raspberries, oranges)

2. Les Cafés Aux Notes de Noisette et de Chocolat

Cafés like Le Covalentwith its notes of almond and hazelnut, is a perfect match for desserts rich in chocolate or nuts. This soft, warm flavor profile harmonizes with creamy textures and sweet flavors, reinforcing the coffee's depth and complexity.

Recommended pairings :

  • Chocolate cakes or brownies
  • Walnut cookies or almond financiers
  • Dark chocolates or cocoa truffles

3. Roasted and Robust Coffees

For those who appreciate a more advanced roast, such as Les AudacieusesThe full body and caramel and cocoa flavours of these coffees are particularly well-suited to foods rich in umami and strong flavours. The full-bodied, caramel and cocoa flavors of these coffees harmonize with umami-rich, full-flavored foods.

Recommended pairings :

  • Mature cheeses such as Brie or Comté
  • Cold meats (ham, dry sausage)
  • Desserts rich in caramel or crème brûlée

Café-Dessert pairings: Unmissable sweet pairings

Coffee and Chocolate: A Natural Affinity

Chocolate and coffee form a winning duo. The bitterness of dark chocolate is softened by the body of coffee, revealing deep, velvety aromas. An intense espresso like Orbitals is the perfect accompaniment to chocolate desserts. Try pairing a fondant brownie with espresso for a rich, bold experience.

Recommendations:

  • Dark chocolate or intense chocolate dessert
  • Chocolate mousse or opera cake
  • Artisan chocolates with complex flavors

Coffee and Caramel: Balanced sweetness

For a smooth, harmonious experience, coffees with notes of caramel or brown sugar, like some medium-roast profiles, pair well with caramel-rich desserts. Caramel enhances the coffee's sweetness without overpowering its flavors.

Recommendations:

  • Salted butter caramel
  • Caramel or sugar tart
  • Crème caramel or crème brûlée
Biscuits à la crème et chocolats

Exploring New Horizons: Coffee and Cheese

The marriage between coffee and cheese, although less well known, is a fascinating taste experience. The slightly acidic, fruity profile of an Ethiopian can lighten the fatty texture of a mild cheese like goat's cheese. Conversely, a full-bodied coffee like Les Audacieuses goes well with an aged cheese like Gruyère, offering a delicious contrast between bitterness and creaminess.

Recommended pairings :

  • Fruity coffee with fresh goat's cheese
  • Strong coffee with mature cheeses (Comté, Parmesan)
  • Chocolate coffee with Bleu d'Auvergne

Coffee and Savoury Dishes: A Universe of Discoveries

Although coffee is traditionally associated with desserts and sweetness, certain combinations with savory dishes offer pleasant surprises. Low-acidity coffees such as Les Audacieusesare perfect for umami-rich dishes. For example, an intense coffee can balance the flavor of a meat dish or accompany scrambled eggs for a rich, comforting brunch.

Recommended pairings :

  • Scrambled eggs and strong coffee for brunch
  • Red meats, like steak with a bold espresso
  • Melted cheese sandwiches with hazelnut coffee for a creamy-crisp combination

Preparation Methods and their Impact on Agreements

In addition to the type of coffee, the method of preparation also plays a role in culinary pairings. For example:

  • Chemex or filter infusion Produces a clear, delicate coffee, ideal with light pastries or fresh fruit.
  • French press Offers a coffee with intense aromas and rich textures, perfect with heavier desserts such as chocolate or caramel.
  • Espresso Intensity and richness that go well with creamy textures, such as tiramisus or affogatos.

Specialty Coffee Pairings: An Invitation to Experiment

The world of specialty coffee and food pairings is an invitation to explore, test and discover. At 94 Celcius, every cup is an opportunity to sublimate a dish or dessert, whether it's an almond pastry with Le Covalent or a creamy cheesecake with Les Audacieuses. Dare to experiment and discover how the complex flavours of each coffee can transform your taste experience.

Whether you're a novice or a seasoned connoisseur, take the time to explore these combinations and savor every sip by pairing it with foods that bring out all the depth and richness of your favorite coffee. For those who wish to go further, feel free to discover our full range of coffees on our site and be inspired by our unique flavor profiles.

Enjoy your meal!

Tags: Café de spécialité Café Montréal Recette
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