Sahaj Chopra, Co-Founder & Director, Fat Tiger, shows you how to elevate your favourite brew with the perfect snack.
People delight in coffee regardless of the season or occasion. Recently, India, traditionally known for its tea-drinking culture, has embraced the trend of coffee enthusiasts. In essence, India is transitioning from being a tea-centric nation to one that appreciates a freshly brewed cup of handcrafted and specialty coffee as much as its beloved cutting chai! Discovering the right blend of flavours can enhance your coffee experience, with your favorite foods perfectly complementing what’s in your cup. Coffee lovers are continually on the quest for the ideal pairing that can enhance the flavour experience. Each pairing is distinct, offering the potential to elevate your at-home coffee experience.
Something Sweet
The timeless combination of coffee and chocolate stands out as a classic pairing, evident in cafe menus. Options like brownies, chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, and chocolate mousse all make exceptional choices. The dessert category, in particular, proves to be effortlessly compatible with coffee, as the inherent sweetness, richness, and textures of these treats seamlessly complement the beverage. With coffee and chocolate, you’re sure to hit the right note, making it a fail-safe choice for indulgent enjoyment.
With an abundance of desserts and pastries available, understanding the art of pairing them seamlessly with your preferred cup of coffee can take your taste buds on a delightful journey. For example, a butter-rich croissant or a slice of almond cake harmonises seamlessly with the robust flavour of a cappuccino. A comforting cup of cappuccino or a creamy latte also pairs exceptionally well with waffles and balances the robust coffee taste with a touch of sweetness and texture.
Adding a new dimension to your coffee-food pairing is possible through experimentation with flavoured syrups and spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, or vanilla. While timeless combinations like chocolate and espresso are reliable crowd-pleasers, exploring novel pairings offers new and exciting taste experiences.
Something Savoury
Pairing coffee with savoury foods can be a surprisingly delightful experience if done thoughtfully. Opting for medium or dark roasts is key, as their robust flavour profiles complement savoury dishes exceptionally well. The boldness of these roasts helps them stand up to the strong flavours commonly found in savoury foods. Pizza, known for its versatility with a myriad of toppings, proves to be a versatile companion to various classic cold coffee options. The range of flavours in pizza can find harmonious pairings with different cold coffee variations such as Boba cold coffee and Oreo cold coffee, creating a unique and satisfying taste experience.
For higher-intensity dark roasts or espresso-based drinks such as lattes, roasted red meats, mushrooms, and cheeses are ideal matches due to their robust flavour profiles. The Americano, known for its bold and robust flavour, requires a pairing that can stand up to its intensity like risotto, earthy mushroom dishes or roasted vegetables. Opting for a hearty breakfast with a bacon and egg sandwich to complement the strength of the Americano also does the trick.
The Perfect Pair
Coffee possesses the ability to accentuate unique notes in certain foods, just as specific meals can elevate the subtle nuances present in different types of coffee beans. The ultimate objective in pairing food with coffee is to ensure a harmonious balance, where neither element overwhelms the other, but rather complements it, resulting in an exceptional taste experience.
