We all love a good cup of coffee, and for good reason. With over a billion people drinking coffee every day on average, in all kinds of different forms, it’s without a doubt one of the world’s most popular drinks. However, how many people venture outside of their morning mug and into their kitchen? There is so much potential with the flavour of coffee, with the rich, slightly acidic flavour complimenting so many different tastes. Plus, coffee infused products are on the rise! We’ve touched the surface already with our coffee granola recipe, but we’re expanding into a whole new world this time…
Although the classics are absolutely incredible, with chocolate and coffee being one of the most common combinations, we’re here to expand things a little and help you to think outside the box with your pairings. From a flavour enhancer to a tenderiser to a texture in your dishes, your whole world is about to open up with our unique and wonderful recipes, perfect for lovers of coffee and also those prepared to be converted!
Coffee and Citrus
First up, we’re starting with a winner, and it’s coffee and citrus. The freshness and zest that you get from lemons and limes is just wonderful when combined with the earth tones in coffee, bringing both of the two ingredients to life. Luckily, there are so many great ways you can bring these contrasting ingredients together to create true harmony.
No-Bake Cheesecake
There is no better dessert than a simple cheesecake, and we’ve got a great one for you. For the base, combine your classic pack of crushed digestive biscuits with a double shot of espresso, one tablespoon of melted butter and one tablespoon of maple syrup. Push down into your tin and leave in the fridge whilst you make the topping.
Then for the topping, combine mascarpone, whipped double cream and the zest and juice of one lemon. Whip until thick and spread onto the base! This is such a simple no-bake cheesecake recipe that is the perfect palette cleanser after a meal that combines the dreamy pairing of coffee and citrus perfectly.
Marinade For Fish
Next up, we all know that citrus and fish are a match made in heaven, but have you thought about throwing coffee in the mix too? Once you do this we know you won’t be looking back. Simply combine a double espresso shot with lemon zest, garlic, chilli, ginger, soy sauce and half a cup of orange juice. Add any fish of your choice, although white fish works incredibly well, leave to marinade for at least an hour or ideally overnight, then either pan fry or oven bake. This is also great on the BBQ! So simple but incredibly delicious.
Glaze For Duck
Citrus, particularly orange, is the most delicious pairing with duck. When you then tie that in with the coffee, it creates the stickiest aromatic finish that is so incredible. Plus, it’s so easy to make, as you just combine one shot of espresso with half a cup of orange juice and 3 teaspoons of sugar. Warm over a low heat until it begins to thicken. Dip a metal spoon into the mixture and when you can create a line in the back of the spoon with your finger and the glaze remains on the rest of the spoon. Drizzle over your pan fried duck and enjoy!
Coffee & Root Vegetables
We all know opposites attract, but sometimes, similarities really sing. That’s exactly why coffee and root vegetables go so well together. They both share the earthy quality, but the slight sweetness of the root vegetables with the slight bitterness and richness of the coffee work in harmony together.
Coffee-Glazed Carrots
First up we have such a simple dish, which is coffee glazed carrots. In a bowl combine two shots of espresso with maple syrup, sage, salt and black pepper, then add them to your raw carrots, add to a baking tray and roast for 40 minutes. The maple syrup helps to make them delicious and sticky. This is so delicious served with roast chicken and a sweet potato puree. For more of a substantial side dish, you could top your beetroot and mint hummus with the coffee glazed carrots as a real crowd pleaser.
Coffee & Root Veg Soup
Another recipe you need to try is a coffee and root veg soup. Take any classic root veg soup recipe, or literally throw anything you have in the fridge and cupboard into a big saucepan, cover with stock and your favourite herbs and seasonings, then cook until all soft. Blend and add in two shots of espresso, then enjoy! The coffee just brightens and lightens the soup and the flavours wonderfully.
Coffee & Berries
The combined acidity and sweetness of berries, paired with the depth of the coffee, is simply staggering. Cutting through the darker notes of the coffee perfectly, this combination is the perfect way to end a meal.
Coffee & Strawberry Sorbet
The most delicious ending to any meal, or a great palette cleanser, you’ve got to try this coffee and strawberry sorbet at your next dinner party. Plus it’s so easy to prep! All you need to do is combine 750g of strawberries (you can swap these out for any berries really and it’ll be equally delicious!) with 150g caster sugar, the juice of one lemon, a double shot of espresso and 250ml boiling water in a pan. Allow the strawberries to cook down and when they start breaking down, take off the heat, let it cool then blend until smooth. Push through a sieve and put into an ice cube tray and let freeze completely. Blitz the cubes in a food processor just before serving for a quick method! Or, if you have more time, freeze in a flat tray and mash with a fork every 30 minutes until fully frozen. Have a look at some of our other refreshing ice cream recipes if you love this one!
Cherry Espresso Martini
Onto the first drink of this article, and trust us, it’s a good one. To make two of these delicious cocktails, combine 100ml vodka with 20ml cherry syrup and 50ml of espresso. Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well and strain into a Martini glass to serve. Finish with a fresh cherry and some coffee beans as a garnish!
Coffee & Blackberry Crumble
The perfect Sunday dish to keep you awake for a Sunday afternoon film is a coffee and blackberry crumble. Blackberries have a beautiful floral note, and when that’s combined with the coffee, it just works. The coffee helps to enhance the flavour of the blackberry without sugar too! So, all you need to do is combine 250g of blackberries with a double shot of espresso. Cook until the blackberries break down and the mixture starts to thicken slightly, then add to a baking dish. In a bowl, combine 1 part sugar with 2 parts cold cubed butter, 3 parts flour and 1 part oats. You can adjust this to make as much or as little as you’d like (this is super easy to freeze so you could make a batch and also batch make the fruit for a quick last minute dessert!). Crumble between your fingers until you get a fine mixture, add to your baking dish and bake for 25 minutes.
Coffee & Cheese
Now this is one of the more unique ones, but it’s also a hidden classic combination. The two main ingredients in the iconic Italian dessert tiramisu, we’re taking inspiration from that and putting a twist onto it with coffee and cheese pairings! The bitterness cuts through the creaminess in the cheese, for a delicious combination.
Cream Cheese and Coffee Balls
If you’re wanting something to create a talking point at your next gathering, you’ve got to make these. All you do is combine cream cheese in a bowl with very finely ground coffee, a pinch of chilli powder, a squeeze of lemon juice and chopped up pecans. Mix well and spoon onto a piece of cling film, wrap the edges around the cream cheese and create a ball. Twist at the top and place in the fridge for an hour, and whilst it’s chilling, chop up some fresh rosemary with more pecans to create the crust. Take the cream cheese out of the cling film, roll in the crust mixture and serve with some black pepper crackers. This is incredibly delicious!
Savoury Coffee and Blue Cheesecake
Savoury cheesecakes on restaurant menus as starters are getting increasingly popular, and we’re here with one of the best, as we’re also introducing coffee into the mix. Start by making a base for your cheesecake by combining a pack of digestive biscuits (bashed into a fine crumb) with 50 grams of coffee grounds and 50g melted salted butter. You can use either fresh or used grounds as a great way to be more sustainable. Press into a cheesecake tin and leave in the fridge to set whilst you work on the topping. In a pan, add one chopped red onion to a pan with a tablespoon of sugar and cook until delicious and caramalised.
In a new bowl, combine 150g of creamy blue cheese with 250g of mascarpone cheese, the zest and juice of half a lemon and your caramlised onions. Spread onto your cheesecake base and then finish with a grating of lemon zest on the top. Allow it to set in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight and enjoy this delicious and unique starter. Serve with a few grapes for an extra hint of sweetness.
Coffee & Beef
Last but certainly not least, we have coffee and beef. We know by this point that the slight bitterness, acidity and richness of coffee is a flavour that pairs well with so many different things, but did you know it can also alter the texture and tenderness of meat? When you add coffee into your beef recipes, the acidity can help to tenderise the beef, to bring out a whole new experience and remove chewiness! So, give these coffee and beef recipes a go and your beef recipes are about to enter a whole new level…
Coffee Steak Rub
First up, you can use remaining coffee grounds to make a delicious coffee steak rub! Combine coffee grounds with garlic granules, smoked paprika, mixed herbs, salt, black pepper and onion powder, then pat onto your steaks and allow to marinade for at least an hour, but can be up to overnight to get the most out of it. Brush off any excess rub, then cook as you’d normally cook your steak. This is just such a delicious way to transform your steak and help to tenderise it!
Coffee Chilli Con Carne
Another super simple way to add coffee to your beef recipe to help take it to another level is with your chilli con carne. Follow your usual chilli con carne recipe (typically browned beef mince, 1 red pepper, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato puree, then chilli powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and cumin to taste), then add two double shots of espresso into the mix. Leave to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour, then serve with rice and soured cream.
What Coffee Shall I Use For These Recipes?
So, the coffee that works best in general across these recipes is fresh espresso. Getting yourself a good quality coffee grinder, like the DF54 grinder, will help you to get the most out of the beans and just set your recipes up for success. With your coffee grounds, if you have an espresso machine then that’s great, but if you don’t, then an AeroPress is a great alternative that generates an espresso style brew. You can then also use the grounds in some of the recipes as shown above. No matter whether you’re using instant coffee or great quality fresh coffee, you’ll get some great flavour into your food, so it just all comes down to the equipment you already have and whether you want to buy anything new.
Final Thoughts
Whilst some of these flavour combinations might be a bit unique, give them a go and we’re sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised! There is so much you can do with coffee and hopefully we’ve helped you to think outside the box when it comes to your recipes. From savoury cheesecakes to coffee steaks and cherry coffee cocktails, your opportunities are truly endless, so have fun on your coffee tasting journey!
