Thoroughly smitten with chocolate as we are, we also know that nothing quite ruins a splendorous meal like a poorly matched chocolates and coffee.
As such, we've tapped on coffee consultancy Bettr Barista’s resident trainer Natasha Shariff for some tips on how to best pair your post-meal cuppa with after-dinner chocolates, and suggest three easy combinations you can try at home, too.
If you’re having a Sumatran coffee, look for any bittersweet cocoa bar with about 53 per cent cocoa content. The sweet accents found in the chocolate paired with the earthy spice notes and bold flavors of the Sumatran coffee should make for a really delicious combination, and hints of spice in coffee, if done well, can really take things up a notch. You can make your Sumatran coffee with a French press, a classic method that most people would use in their households. Alternatively, if you have access to an espresso machine, a classic long black or americano would work just as well.
“Want to try your hand at your own chocolate and coffee pairing? Natasha will be conducting a free coffee and chocolate pairing session, on 12 June (4 to 5pm) at the #LiveBettr Lab within the Singapore Coffee Festival. Held at F1 Pit Building from 10 to 12 June (11am to 9pm), the Singapore Coffee Festival is Singapore's first coffee-centric festival offering interactive multi-sensory experiences and a unique platform to showcase local craftsmanship in specialty coffee. Tickets are on sale from SISTIC and at the door. Visit www.sgcoffeefestival.com.sg for event and ticketing details.”