If you’re a coffee lover, chances are you drink a cup (or five) every morning. Depending on what you’re having for breakfast, you may find that there are some fruits that go with coffee better than others do. Here are 10 of the best you can incorporate into your daily routine.
1. Bananas
Bananas’ sweetness counterbalances coffee’s bitterness really well. Adding some sliced banana to your morning oatmeal, or having banana bread with your espresso are both great ways to combine these two. As a third option, try an iced mocha smoothie with coffee, cacao powder, banana, and a bit of agave or maple syrup.
2. Blackberries
These plump, delicious berries are just sweet enough to compliment coffee’s intense flavor. You can either eat them raw as you sip your Kenyan or Colombian brew, or incorporate them into your coffee ritual in pie form.
You May Also Enjoy: What do Blackberries Taste Like?
3. Blueberries
Just like blackberries, these blue morsels of delight are wonderful both raw and baked. In fact, having a handful of fresh blueberries, or a high-fiber blueberry muffin with your afternoon coffee will deliver some pretty intense antioxidants.
4. Strawberries
People generally either love or hate strawberries with coffee, so you’ll have to try this combo to decide for yourself whether you like it. Instead of using hot coffee, try making a “strawberries and cream” style iced coffee. Add strawberry syrup to your favorite coffee, and top with either a scoopful of vegan strawberry ice cream, or whipped coconut cream garnished with fresh berry slices.
5. Cherries
If you like deep, rich, dark roasted coffee, then be sure to try them alongside cherries. Eat them fresh, preferably at room temperature, to enjoy their flavor and texture to the fullest. Bonus points if you dip the cherries in chocolate first.
Related Post: 12 Fruits that Go Well with Chocolate
6. Peaches
Although many fruits on this list go well with coffee when raw, peaches are best in cooked form. You can either add peaches to slow-cooked oatmeal for breakfast, or have some peach cobbler with your afternoon brew.
7. Plums (or Prunes)
Plums are another type of fruit that combine well with rich, dark roasts. If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, then eat the plums raw. Otherwise, try baking them into plum cake. Alternatively, if you like sweet accompaniments to your coffee, aim for a couple of prunes instead. Just a couple, though.
8. Dates
Much like the prunes mentioned above, dates are amazing when paired with strong, bitter coffee. For example, if you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake and go for whole foods instead, dates are a great option. Their natural sugars are better for your body, and their super nutritious too. Try Medjool dates on their own, in nut and cacao power balls, or baked into date squares.
9. Figs
Figs, much like dates, are also packed with nutrients. Better still, they’re delicious both fresh and dried. Fig desserts compliment bitter coffee, but you can also use fresh figs in tiramisu to kick the flavor up a notch. If you’re eating fresh figs with your afternoon cup of deliciousness, try a latte or Americano rather than espresso or cappuccino. That way, the drink won’t overpower the subtle, creamy flavor these fruits have to offer.
Further Reading: 12 Fruits that Go with Almond Butter
10. Lychees
If you’re feeling adventurous and like bold flavors, then try some lychees alongside your next cup. Fresh, they’re refreshing and juicy, so they go well with a medium roast. Alternatively, if you’re eating canned lychees in syrup, try to enjoy them with unsweetened coffee. That way you won’t fly into a diabetic coma with every mouthful.
Avoid citrus fruits with coffee, as well as any fruit that’s too acidic, like kiwi or pineapple. Coffee is quite acidic as it is, and adding a tart or sour fruit into the mix may upset your stomach. The exception to this is if you use an orange-flavored liqueur like Cointreau (which is happily vegan!) to make a boozy coffee. Then top that with a generous glob of whipped topping and garnish with a chocolate-dipped orange slice.
Enjoy!
The Thrive Cuisine Team is dedicated to bringing you the best information on kitchen gadgets, food, garden veganism and much more. We’re a group of passionate food lovers that are dedicated to providing actionable guides and resources for our readers.
