We’ve featured a lot of cakes here at Bakers Bodega – check this article and also this one. Cakes are supposed to be a complete gustatory experience by themselves. However, there’s one food addition that can perfectly complement your cake eating experience, and that is coffee.
Reasons to Enjoy Coffee with Cakes
If you haven’t tried sipping coffee with your slice of cake, here are some reasons why you should start today:
Balance
Most cakes are sweet to the taste, and drinking coffee while eating your cake can change the sensations in your palate. For starters, the bitterness of coffee can highlight the sweetness of the cake. Meanwhile, other people sip coffee in order to dampen the sweetness level of each cake morsel.
Moisture
The best cakes are moist and soft to the palate, but a sip of coffee can elevate the moisture in your mouth. It creates a satisfying feeling that allows you to swallow the cake properly and easily, even if your cake is dry and crumbly.
Warmth
A cup of joe literally brings warmth to your mouth in every sip. This creates a play on temperatures, especially if your cake is cold or at ambient temperature.
Complementary Flavors
Cakes generally come in many flavors, but coffee may be served with other flavors as well. Gone are the days when you can only enjoy black or brewed coffee. These days, most coffee shops and machines can conjure up flavorful cups such as cappuccino, mocha, caramel macchiato, and even matcha coffee.
When you pair up your cake slice with a particular coffee variant, it can create a memorable eating experience.
Perfect Coffee and Cake Pairings
Coffee and cakes come in different flavors, each with their distinct flavor profiles and textures. Here are some recommended pairings for cakes and coffee:
Cinnamon-based Cake and Freshly Brewed Coffee
There’s something heavenly when cinnamon and coffee flavors combine in your mouth. In fact, some baristas add a dash of cinnamon in some coffee preparations. The best way to enjoy these two flavors is to eat a slice of cinnamon-flavored cake with freshly brewed coffee.
Carrot Cake and Caramel Macchiato
Most carrot cakes are not too sweet, and so they’re perfectly paired with coffee that’s prepared on the sweet side. Caramel macchiato offers a distinctly burnt sweet flavor that works amazingly with carrot cake.
Cheesecake and Dark Roast Coffee
Two strong flavors may sometimes clash, but not this particular pair. The saltiness and tartness of cheesecake may be complemented with the bitter flavor of dark roast. This match made in heaven also feels amazing, as everything melts and coats the mouth.
Chocolate Cake and Espresso
Another classic combination is a shot of espresso together with a slice of chocolate cake. Sweetness paired with something bitter is always a great mix. You can make things a bit exciting with iced coffee instead of the usual hot variant.
Coffee in Your Cake
Did you know that coffee can elevate the yumminess of your cake? Here’s a creative tip: Add some coffee into your next cake recipe! This is perfect if you’re planning to bake a chocolate cake.
The ingredients for making a chocolate cake with coffee is pretty much standard fare – except for the addition of freshly brewed coffee. Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt), and mix in the wet ingredients (oil, eggs, coffee, and vanilla extract). Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
The coffee portion can bring out another depth in the flavor of your chocolate cake. You won’t be able to taste the coffee, as long as you keep the proportion of coffee not more than 1:1 with cocoa powder.
Final Word
Cakes should already be delicious by themselves. However, if you want to experience another way to enjoy your cake, a cup of coffee may be your new best friend.
