What goes well with speciality coffee? Discover the best snack pairings!

Sometimes, a cup of aromatic coffee just isn't enough. You want more – something that will highlight the flavour, bring out hidden notes or simply help you savour the moment. But the question is... what should you pair with speciality coffee? Exceptional quality calls for exceptional company. What are the best snack pairings for coffee? In this guide, we’ll show you what works best – whether you're in the mood for something sweet or a bit more sophisticated.

Here you’ll find culinary inspirations tailored to specific coffees from our selection – from citrus and chocolate notes to plum-and-nut profiles with hints of marzipan. Along the way, we’ll share a few tips, recipes and – as always – aromatic excuses to order your next batch of speciality coffee!

Summary:

1. Sweetness first: classic desserts for coffee
2. Chocolate, nuts and caramel: year-round coffee companions
3. For the bold: fruit, cheese and savoury pairings
4. How to pair speciality coffee with snacks: a practical guide

Sweetness first: classic desserts for coffee

It’s no coincidence that most of us instinctively reach for something sweet when sipping coffee. The natural bitterness and acidity in the brew are perfectly balanced by sugar, chocolate or baked goods. When it comes to speciality coffee, the flavour profiles are so rich that they practically beg for the right type of sweet pairing… just not any sweet.

So what goes best with coffee? Simple rule: the dessert should complement the coffee, not overpower it. Match the flavour notes in your brew with what you have on your plate – the result? Pure joy in every bite and sip.

Coffee with sweet treats – here’s what we recommend:

• 🍰 Coffee Broastery Colombia Medellin – with its sweet, fruity notes of redcurrant, orange and caramel, it pairs beautifully with a light raspberry tart or shortbread biscuit topped with fruit mousse.
• 🍰 Coffee Broastery Guatemala Peña Roja – offers warm notes of marzipan, caramel and plum. Try it with almond biscuits like marzipan florentines or a cheesecake with a nut crust.
• 🍰 Coffee Broastery Costa Rica San Rafael – works wonderfully with chocolate fondants and a touch of homemade jam to bring out the cherry and plum notes in the coffee.

No pastry skills? No problem! If you don’t feel like baking, that’s absolutely fine – your local artisan bakery, a good-quality store-bought treat or even homemade jam will do the trick. What matters is quality ingredients that complement your favourite cup of coffee.

Remember, speciality coffee isn’t just any ordinary espresso from a machine. Its aroma and flavour offer subtle nuances – which is why the right dessert pairing can act like a magnifying glass: intensifying everything that’s delightful and intricate in the cup.

When choosing sweet snacks for your coffee, pay attention to:

• ✔️ acidity and sweetness of the coffee – the dessert should balance both;
• ✔️ the dominant flavour notes (e.g. chocolate, nuts, fruit) – when echoed in your snack, they enhance the entire experience;
• ✔️ overall sweetness – too much can overpower the coffee, while gentle sweetness complements it beautifully.

No matter the season, some flavours go with coffee all year round. Chocolate, nuts and caramel bring a warming comfort, but when paired well, they shine in summer too – with ice cream, delicate biscuits or dried fruit. In the next section, we’ll explore how these classic flavours can pair beautifully with speciality coffee – all year long!

Chocolate, nuts and caramel – year-round coffee companions

There are certain flavours that never go out of style – and for good reason. A rich chunk of melt-in-the-mouth chocolate, crunchy roasted nuts, and the smooth sweetness of caramel are timeless classics when it comes to coffee pairings. Why? Because they enhance what we love most about coffee – its creaminess, natural sweetness and subtle bitterness.

Not just for cosy winter evenings! While these ingredients are often associated with cold weather, with a bit of creativity they can also be a brilliant complement to warm-weather coffee moments.

What goes with chocolatey, nutty coffee profiles?

Some of the coffees in our offer practically call for chocolate and nuts on the side. These are rich, full-bodied profiles that work great with bold, flavour-packed desserts.

Try these pairings:

• 🍫 Coffee Broastery Brazil Mogiana – sweet and milky with notes of chocolate and hazelnut. Pairs beautifully with handmade pralines, vanilla ice cream with chocolate, or a simple square of dark chocolate.
• 🍫 Coffee Broastery Cuba Sierra Maestra – rich and deep with spicy, dark chocolate and toffee notes. Ideal with chocolate cake with salted caramel, nut truffles or desserts with vanilla infusions.
• 🍫 Coffee Broastery Brazil Guaxupe – soft milk chocolate, hazelnuts and orange notes are a perfect match for a light brownie or Italian tiramisu with a hint of orange zest.

Quick tip: You don’t need to bake a full cake! A single square of milk or dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa is enough to elevate your brew and turn it into a mini moment of indulgence.

In summer? Go for ice cream, semifreddo and light cold desserts!

When temperatures rise, it’s worth reaching for cooler, lighter desserts – still based on those delicious chocolatey and nutty notes. Caramel and cocoa-laced coffee profiles go brilliantly with:

• 🍨 Homemade vanilla and nut ice cream – delicious paired with Coffee Broastery India Karnataka, which combines nut, chocolate and citrus notes. A refreshing combination with an elegant twist.
• 🍨 Semifreddo with chocolate shavings – this frozen Italian dessert pairs wonderfully with Coffee Broastery Brazil Mogiana. Its milk chocolate character and hints of roasted nuts enhance the creamy, chilled texture of the dessert.
• 🍨 Elegant panna cotta with caramel and almond flakes – serve it with Coffee Broastery Guatemala Peña Roja. The marzipan, caramel and plum notes in the coffee make this a dessert pairing with flair.

In the next part of this guide, we’ll look at the more unconventional side of coffee pairings – because let’s face it, coffee doesn’t always need sugar. It’s time for cheese, fruit and savoury touches that might just surprise you – and your palate!

For the bold: fruit, cheese and savoury coffee pairings

While speciality coffee is most often associated with dessert, restricting it only to sweet pairings would be a real missed opportunity. Thanks to its complex flavour and aroma profiles, it pairs surprisingly well with savoury bites, cheeses and even fresh fruits. If you want to take your coffee ritual to the next level – now’s the time to experiment! Coffees with pronounced acidity, fruit or tea-like notes pair beautifully with flavours you’d normally find on a cheese platter or brunch spread.

What pairs well with fruit-forward, acidic coffee profiles?

Coffees available at Coffee Broastery, such as Kenya Nyeri, Colombia Medellin and Nicaragua Colibrí Azul – with notes of blackcurrant, grapefruit, orange and tea – go particularly well with additions that either emphasise their lively acidity or balance it with buttery textures.

Here are some pairings that might surprise you:

• 🧀 Coffee Broastery Kenya Nyeri – pairs perfectly with a mature cheese board featuring honey, figs and walnuts. The coffee’s black tea and maple syrup notes resonate beautifully with the sweet, slightly caramelised flavours of aged gouda or the creamy richness of a good cheddar.
• 🧀 Coffee Broastery Colombia Medellin – goes remarkably well with soft cheeses like camembert or brie, especially when paired with raspberry or plum preserves. The redcurrant acidity of the coffee offers a perfect contrast to the creamy, buttery consistency of these cheeses.
• 🧀 Coffee Broastery Nicaragua Colibrí Azul – try this with a mild goat cheese or manchego (a semi-hard Spanish sheep cheese). Its notes of grapefruit and black tea create a surprising yet harmonious contrast with the salty, buttery texture of the cheese. You can also complement it with seasonal fruits such as pear or orange.

Savoury snacks with coffee? Why not!

What actually works best with speciality coffee? You might be surprised! If you’re in the mood for something salty, try pairing your coffee with:

• 🥨 Crunchy bread with avocado and nut spread – a great match for coffees with creamy, nutty profiles like Brazil Mogiana.
• 🥨 Mini bruschetta with tomatoes, olive oil and basil – an interesting pairing with citrusy or herbal coffees like India Karnataka.
• 🥨 Savoury crackers with aged cheese – create a contrast for mellow, chocolate-forward coffees such as Brazil Guaxupe.

Embracing more adventurous coffee snack pairings opens the door to an entirely new world of flavour. And while it might seem a little experimental at first, it’s actually a return to the essence – because coffee is a drink that thrives both in dessert and savoury company.

In the final part of this guide, we’ll summarise the key tips for matching coffee with snacks – and share a practical reference for pairing based on the most common flavour profiles. Everything you need to master your daily coffee ritual!

How to pair speciality coffee with snacks: a practical flavour guide

Choosing the right snack for your coffee isn’t just a pleasant side activity – it’s a way to unlock more of the brew’s aroma, character, contrast and harmony. By understanding the flavour profile of your speciality coffee, you can pair it with additions that either complement it naturally or contrast it in an interesting way. Both approaches can be equally delicious!

To make things easier, we’ve put together the most important guidelines – plus example combinations – to help you build pairings not only at home, but also during tastings, meetings or mindful coffee breaks.

Sample pairings – based on coffee flavour profiles

As you can see, answering the question “what goes well with speciality coffee?” isn’t always straightforward – and that’s a good thing! Flavour variety is what turns a simple coffee moment into a mini culinary journey you can enjoy every day.

Speciality coffee opens the door to exploration – whether you’re pairing it with a classic biscuit, a rich chocolate dessert, or a cheese board with crunchy breadsticks. Every cup can taste different – and that variety is the real magic.

So next time you reach for your favourite coffee from Coffee Broastery, add a thoughtful twist. Maybe it’s a slice of bread with cashew paste, a piece of parmesan, a fresh strawberry – or even just a piece of good dark chocolate. Give yourself permission to experiment, and savour every sip.

After all, coffee isn’t just a drink. It’s a moment to pause – and explore flavour.