With Valentine’s Day around the corner, towns are filled with pop-up shops with fancy chocolates and flowers, all so pretty and exciting just to browse around the shops.
It’s one of those times of the year when you eat/gift/think about chocolate the most, and one of the best things to do when you have a lot of chocolate on you, is to pair them with coffee!
But the questions are:does any kind of chocolate go well with any coffee? Is there a better combination than the other?
To find the answer to those questions, our baristas and roasters gathered together with chocolates and coffee beans in hand and tested all kinds of combinations.
To make the experiment easier to recreate, we limited our chocolate choices strictly to what is available throughout Japan, which we can get from any supermarket in Japan.
For this pairing test we chose a bar of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and sweet chocolate (sugared but without milk blended in.)
Our baristas brewed their favorite Kurasu coffee using their best recipes, and voted for their top pairing.
If you have a bit of chocolate and our coffee at home, do try pairing them and compare them back to back- you may discover a completely new flavor note from your cup!
Seasonal Blend Fuyu Moe 2024 [Medium Roast]
Fuyu Moe x Milk Chocolate
"Milk chocolate was the best one to pair with the fruitiness Fuyu Moe has. Pairing with the sweet milk chocolate boosted many different flavors in my mouth. Medium roast is also a good choice to pair with chocolate in general in my opinion."
by Barista (Ebisugawa) Kuri
- Dripper : FLO Dripper (Med2 screen) FLO recipe (8:36~)
- Drink type: Filter
Fuyu Moe x Milk Chocolate
"I made a cafe au lait with Fuyu Moe and paired it with a milk chocolate. I loved it, but a rum raisin chocolate I had at home was also amazing to pair. A fruity chocolate for a fruity and fermenty coffee I'd say."
by Barista (Kyoto Stand) Karin
- Dripper: AeroPress
- Drink type: Latte
Many voted for the milk chocolate to pair with Fuyu Moe. The rich fruitiness of the blend seems to be elevated by the mild and sweet milk chocolate.
>> Check out Fuyu Moe 2024 [Medium Roast]
House Blend Dark [Dark Roast]
House Blend Dark x Dark Chocolate
"It may be an obivous choice, but this pair is the best for a cold winter day. The hint of orang peel like acidity compliments the complexity of dark chocolate. A sophisticated pairing for grown-ups"
by Barista (Kyoto Stand) Lisa
- Dripper: Orea V3 (Lisa chose this dripper to highlight the delicate flavor of the blend.) Watch Yozo's Guide to Orea V3（Recipe from 08:37~）
- Drink type: filter
>> Check out House Blend Dark [Dark Roast]
House Blend Medium [Medium Roast]
House Blend Medium x Dark Chocolate
"I enjoyed pairing a black coffee with the chocolate, but adding some milk and have it as a cafe au lait would work even better. The roasty coffee balances out the intense cacao in the dark chocolate, and making the drink more mild and milky completes the pair. Using a our decaf also would be a great idea"
by Barista (Ebisugawa) Runatsu
- Drink type: Brew with higher coffee to water ratio + hot milk
Dark chocolate was their favorite choice for our staple house blends. The orange peel and cacao in the coffees' flavor note create a synergy with dark chocolate's sophisticated flavors.
>> Check out House Blend Medium [Medium Roast]
Costa Rica Marespi [Medium Roast]
Costa Rica Marespi x White Chocolate
"While the coffee is still hot, you will find a layered, full-bodied almond-like note and also some delicate floral note in the cup, and the white chocolate completed the harmony. As the coffee cools down a hint of raspberry-like acidity emerges, which pairs really well with white chocolate. It is the best combination for those who like to enjoy their coffee slowly. If you are a quick drinker, dark chocolate may also be a great choice"
by Barista (Kyoto Stand) Amiri
- Dripper: Hario V60 （Our Standard V60 recipe)
- Drink type: Filter
White chocolate has a distinct sweetness and mild, fruity acidity. Pairing with a coffee that has sweet and tart, raspberry-like notes was everyone's favorite!
>> Check out Costa Rica Marespi [Medium Roast]
Colombia Sebastian Ramirez [Light Roast]
Colombia Sebastian Ramirez x Sweet Chocolate
"The citrusy flavor of this coffee like grape fruits and orange pairs so well with single origin chocolate and dark chocolate! They bring the bright, refreshing flavors of the coffee out even more"
by Barista (Ebisugawa) Akane
- Dripper: FLO Dripper (Med2 screen) FLO recipe (8:36~)
- Drink type: Filter
Our team felt that light roast coffee with bright flavor notes pairs well with non-milky chocolate like sweet chocolate and dark chocolate.
>> Check out Colombia Sebastian Ramirez [Light Roast]
Ethiopia West Arsi Decaf [Medium Roast]
Ethiopia West Arsi Decaf x Sweet Chocolate
"Sweet chocolate paired very well with the tart, peach-like acidity and the spiciness this decaf has. A perfect bedtime treat."
by Roasting team Maya
- Drink type: Filter
When you need a decaf, like before going to bed, or want to cut down caffeine in general, an equally light-weight sweet chocolate is the best kind to pair.
>> Check out Ethiopia West Arsi Decaf [Medium Roast]
After trying so many combinations, we noticed that the key for a successful pairing is to find something in common or complementary in coffee and the chocolate. That way, the flavors open up, and even reveal some more notes that having coffee or chocolate on its own did not otherwise.
On this Valentine's Day, try pairing several types of chocolates with your favorite coffee (or the other way around!) to unlock the whole new palette of flavors they have to offer.
A Special Valentine's Event at Nishijin Roastery
We are opening Kurasu Nishijin Roastery on 2/15 (Sat)!
Introducing our limited February menu, perfect for when you’re craving chocolate!
Nishijin Roastery opens to the public on the third Saturday of each month! ☕️
This month, we’ll be open on the 15th (Sat) from 10:00 - 16:00
Our February special features an exclusive set menu:
Chocolate Terrine & Costa Rica Marespi Espresso
We’ll also have a selection of filter coffee available, so if you are in the area, drop by and be sure to enjoy them as well! ☕️
💭 We are also planning to hold a sample roasting workshop during business hours. Details will be shared soon.
Let’s stay warm this winter with a great cup of coffee!
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Date & Time: 2/15th (Sat) 10:00 - 16:00
Location: Kurasu Nishijin Roastery
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