Sweets to pair with coffee
What kind of food do you enjoy with your coffee?
Chocolates, cakes, bread, and other sweets probably come to mind.
Actually, there are sweets that pair well depending on the taste of the coffee.
[First, about words that describe the taste of coffee]
Have you ever heard the following expressions to describe the taste of coffee?
- Bitterness
- Acidity
- Sharpness
- Richness
- Refreshing
- Mellow
etc...
In coffee commercials, you might hear slogans like "rich and refreshing taste." Bitterness and acidity are the easiest for anyone to notice, so it's a good idea to make them your first choices when selecting a coffee you like.
These flavors can be achieved by the way the beans are roasted and ground.
For example, to make a "bitter and rich coffee," it's best to brew with "deeply roasted (dark roast), finely ground beans."
Now, let's choose some sweets based on these differences in coffee taste.
For bitter coffee, sweet cakes or bitter chocolate
Chocolate flavor includes bitterness and richness in addition to sweetness. Therefore, coffee that harmonizes with the same bitterness and richness while mitigating the sweetness seems to be a good match.
Bitter coffee also reduces the sweetness of cakes, so it's also recommended.
For acidic coffee, fruits also pair well!
Acidic coffee pairs well with the acidity of dried fruits and other fruits. Its refreshing taste enhances the fruit flavor.
Did you know that wagashi (Japanese sweets) also pair well?
The best pairing is wagashi made with anko (red bean paste). One of the charms of anko is the bitterness and richness that comes from cooking it. This is said to go well with coffee.
When eaten with a strong black coffee, yokan (sweet bean jelly) and manju (steamed bun) reduce the sweetness and leave a refreshing aftertaste.
Wagashi containing nikki (cinnamon), like fruits, also seems to pair well with acidic coffee.
Now, which sweets will you enjoy with your next coffee break?
Why not start by choosing delicious coffee at TAISETSU Coffee?