16 culturecheesemag.com DRINKS WITH CHEESE 202 3
O T H E R
Co
fee
C H E E S E A N D … C O F F E E ?
It's not as crazy as it sounds. As anyone
who's sipped a piping brew between bites
of ricotta cheesecake or a mascarpone-
stuffed confection can tell you, coffee
and cheese can sing, sing, sing. Coffee
and cheese are a natural match, because
many of the nuances found in roasted
coffee beans—nuts, caramel, chocolate,
flowers, f ruit—are also found in cheese.
As with a wine or beer pairing, neither
coffee nor cheese should overpower the
other. Mild roasts complement easygoing
cheeses; deeper roasts bond with more
assertive cheeses. In general, milky, creamy,
fatty varieties play well—especially with
earthy Indonesian coffees or f ruity, citrusy
Ethiopians, which recall classic cheese
accouterments such as jam and stone f ruit.
Unlike happy hour beverages, coffee adds
a unique dimension: temperature contrast.
Pop a piece of cheese, sip hot Joe, and
savor a textural transformation. Oh, yeah,
we melt with you.
A M A N DA R A E B U S C H , C heese+ 2 014
PHOTO:
Ramil
Gibadullin,
Adobe
Stock
PHOTO:
Katie
Schall
