Pairing Cheese & Coffee

What better cheese to pair with coffee than one that is coated in coffee grounds? Coffee grounds and lavender to be exact - the lavender buds give off a faint floral flavor that is surprisingly tasty with the sweet, nutty flavor of coffee. The coffee is ground into a fine velvety texture, covering this mild cheddar-like cheese in a completely edible and delicious rind.

The more aged the gouda is, the better. Young Gouda pairs well with coffee because it is so mild, but aged Gouda brings sweet, caramelized flavors that can stand up to and enhance the strongest cup of joe

Piave is an Italian cheese that tastes like a distant relative to Parmigiano-Reggiano. The texture of Piave is slightly softer and the flavor sweeter and even a little bit fruity.

You can't go wrong with milky, mild Ricotta. Follow the Italian theme and serve Ricotta with espresso and biscotti. Fresh or dried fruit also pairs well with Ricotta, as does a drizzle of honey.

The bite of a slightly sharp Cheddar matches the pleasantly bitter bite of coffee and espresso. Some Cheddars also tend to have nutty characteristics that further enhance the pairing.

Serving this sweet Norwegian cheese (pronounced yay-toast) with coffee is much like serving dessert with coffee; it's a natural pairing. The cheese is made by slowly cooking whey down until the milk sugars caramelize. Gjetost actually looks like a large square of caramel and tastes like one too.