Everyone knows that a good glass of wine can be paired excellently with many types of food, but do you also know that you can pair different kinds of fresh roasted coffee beans with food? There are many different types of beans and roasts and different foods will bring out different flavours in the coffee, just as different beans will bring out different flavours in the food. There is one particular food that goes great with coffee and that’s chocolate.
Many people believe chocolate and coffee are a great pair because the caffeine, theobromine, and other feel good substances come together to make you feel great. However, there are instances when a good cup of fresh roasted coffee and a great piece of chocolate also enhance each other flavour wise.
When it comes to determining what kind of coffee goes with what kind of chocolate it is sometimes difficult to give recommendations because where you are they may not have the same beans and chocolates available as where we are and hence the advice ends up generalized. Some people argue that the lighter tasting blends work well with milk chocolates as the notes of honey ad vanilla resonate, others use milk chocolate with strong beans so that the tastes won’t become to strong. One thing is for sure though: your experience will greatly depend on how good the coffee and chocolate you use are.
If you read this blog chances are you are one of our clients, you may even own your own coffee shop and work for one. As you know we sell fresh roasted coffee beans. This means that if you buy it and grind it yourself, or just open a bag of our ground coffees, you will have one ingredient right: the coffee. The best way then to pair our coffee is to get hold of some really high quality chocolate, preferably from two different companies so that you can check how different kinds of cacao beans can bring out different tones of the coffee. Buy milk chocolate, dark chocolate and two kinds of pralines, or white chocolate, from each company. Try to get the same kinds of chocolate from the different companies so that for example you get a 35% milk chocolate from each company and 75% dark chocolate from each.
As for the coffee: get two or three different kinds of beans, potentially a light, medium and dark roast and brew some regular coffee. Make sure, as mentioned previously, that it’s fresh roasted coffee beans that you are using.
The best way to go about a tasting is to break the chocolate into small pieces and putting them in one small bowl each. Keep the pralines in one piece or divide them in half. Serve the different coffee in different cups, or keep the coffee in different coffee pots if you want to use just the one cup per person. Make sure to have pen and paper at hand. Then simply smell a bowl of chocolate, take a small piece and taste it – let it cover your tongue and then have a sip of coffee and note how the taste changes. Use the same kind of chocolate from the other company and do the same. Afterwards sip just the coffee and notice the difference in taste. As you go along keep taking notes
This is a great thing to do with a bunch of people to find out how different taste buds experience different things and, of course, to find your own perfect chocolate and coffee pairing! Enjoy!
