The Amazing Coffee & Food Pairings You Need to Try Today
Beyond Your Morning Brew
Coffee and food pairing is more than dunking a biscuit in your flat white (no judgment here). It’s about creating a moment where your brew and your bite just work , opening up deeper flavours and richer textures. A bitter brew can balance sweetness, a creamy latte can soften something crispy, and when you get it right? Damn, it hits different.
Quick Guide to Coffee & Food Pairing at The Nines:
- Match complementary flavours: Pair chocolatey coffee with sweet treats like our pancake stacks.
- Create delicious contrast: Balance rich, savoury dishes like our Eggs Benedict with bright, fruity coffee.
- Consider texture: Creamy lattes soften crispy hash browns, and bold espresso cuts through buttery pastries.
- Trust your palate: The best pairing is the one that makes you happy.
At The Nines, we've spent nearly a decade perfecting feel-good food that pairs beautifully with our locally roasted Vintage Black blend by Tim Adams. From our famous Benny Trilogy to fluffy pancake stacks, every dish is designed to complement your coffee ritual, not compete with it.
I'm Janice Kuz, owner of The Nines, and after 20+ years in hospo, I obsess over the details. I know that the right coffee and food pairing can lift your entire cafe experience. Let's explore the combos that'll change how you brunch.
The Art of the Perfect Match: Mastering Coffee and Food Pairing
Here's the thing about coffee and food pairing : it's not for food snobs; it's for everyone who loves good flavour. Think of it like curating the perfect playlist for your taste buds. We've seen it at The Nines. Nailing the combo can make a meal go from "good" to "damn, I need that again." The goal is harmony, sometimes matching flavours, like a chocolatey coffee with our pancake stack, and other times creating contrast, like a bright coffee cutting through the richness of our Eggs Benedict.
It Starts with the Brew: Pairing by Roast & Flavour
Every great coffee and food pairing starts with understanding what's in your cup. Just like wine, coffee has a massive spectrum of flavours , and knowing your brew is half the battle. Here at The Nines, we're pouring the fantastic Vintage Black blend by Tim Adams, a local legend, so you know you're starting with quality.
Light roasts are bright and vibrant, with notes of fruit, citrus, or flowers. Pair them with delicate foods that won't be overpowered, like fresh fruit or lightly sweetened treats.
Medium roasts are the balanced all-rounders, with nutty, caramel, and cocoa notes. They're versatile and play nicely with everything from buttery pastries to our Aussie Burg.
Dark roasts are bold and intense, with deep, smoky, or dark chocolate flavours. They need food that can match their intensity, like rich desserts or hearty, savoury dishes. If you're keen to dive deeper into our coffee philosophy, check out why we think our coffee is so good, it's a whole mood.
Sweet Pairings That Hit Different
Let's be real: coffee and something sweet is a match made in heaven. When you get it right, a sweet pairing can seriously lift your coffee experience, making it smoother and richer.
Our fluffy pancake stack is a statement, loaded with maple bacon bits, grilled banana, candied walnuts, and vanilla ice cream, all drenched in maple syrup. This sweet and salty combo is perfect with a medium roast coffee, whose nutty notes complement the walnuts and slight bitterness cuts the sweetness. Our blueberry waffle with poached pears and lemon curd is another great example, as it sings with a lighter, citrusy coffee that makes both components pop.
Our monthly specials are where we get creative, with past hits like rich chocolate pancakes. These rich specials scream for a dark roast or espresso to balance the intensity. A fruitier special, like our "Pancakes My Eyes" with strawberry compote, pairs perfectly with a lighter, berry-forward coffee. The magic is in finding that sweet spot where both the coffee and the food shine brighter together. If you're looking for more ways our menu embodies the "classic with a modern twist," check out Why Dine at The Nines: Classic Menu with a Modern Twist.
Next-Level Savory Coffee and Food Pairings
Who says coffee is just for sweets? Some of the most epic coffee and food pairings happen when you bring savoury into the mix. It's all about finding that balance or contrast that makes your taste buds do a happy dance.
Let's talk about our pride and joy: The Benny Trilogy . The Eggs Benedict Bacon is a legend: crispy bacon, poached eggs, creamy hollandaise, avo, and a hash brown on sourdough. This rich, umami-packed dish needs a medium-to-dark roast to cut through the richness. My personal go-to? A Bacon Benny with an oat latte. Heaven. The Eggs Benedict Smoked Salmon is fresh and delicate, pairing beautifully with a balanced medium roast. Our vegetarian hero, the Eggs Benedict Mushroom , has earthy garlic-thyme mushrooms and pesto hollandaise that shine alongside a medium roast with nutty undertones.
Our famous Aussie Burg is a full-send of savoury, sweet, and tangy, with a beef brisket pattie, grilled pineapple, and a fried egg. It needs a bold dark roast or a cold brew to stand up to its big flavours. Lighter dishes like our fresh Corn Fritters or vibrant Pumpkin Salad pair best with brighter coffees whose acidity complements the fresh veggies. The trick is matching intensity, so the coffee becomes part of the flavour, not just an afterthought. Come explore more of our incredible food at The Best of Sunshine Coast: Must-Try Dishes at The Nines and More info about our food.
Don't Forget Texture & Brew Method
Flavour is huge, but texture and brew method are total game-changers in coffee and food pairing . It's not just what you taste, but what you feel.
Texture is a game-changer. Think about the creamy versus crispy dynamic. That golden, crispy hash brown with our Benny Trilogy is pure luxury next to a smooth, velvety latte. The contrast is a hug for your mouth. A bold espresso is perfect for cutting through the richness of a buttery pastry or chocolate brownie. And our signature cold foams , like the Ube Taro special, are lush and velvety. They're amazing with something crunchy, like a biscotti, for that cool-creamy-crisp contrast. Even the brew method matters. A full-bodied coffee suits rich pastries, while a cleaner cup is better for delicate foods. If you're not a coffee fan but love a good chill, you need to check out our cold foams, smoothies & more at The Nines.
Your Ultimate Pairing Guide at The Nines
We've talked roasts and flavours, but the real secret is that there's no single "right" way to do coffee and food pairing . It's all about personal preference and having fun with it. At The Nines, we're all about creating those moments of pure joy.
How to Experiment with Coffee and Food Pairing
So, how do you actually do it? Easy peasy.
- Trust your palate. First and foremost, the best pairing is the one you love. There's no wrong answer here.
- Start simple. Grab a pastry or some toast. Take a sip of coffee, a bite of food, then another sip. Notice how the flavours change? Even the basics can be a revelation.
- Ask our team. We're obsessed with this stuff and love to chat about what pairs well with our Vintage Black blend or our latest monthly special. We've got insights! Find more local faves at Behind the Counter: Local Faves You Need to Try at The Nines.
- Mix and match. Don't be afraid to try unexpected combos. Remember my go-to? A Bacon Benny with an oat latte. That creamy oat milk cutting through the salty bacon is pure bliss, fo sho.
- Develop your senses. Take a moment to really smell and taste your coffee and food. The more you practice identifying notes, the better you'll get at pairing.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Match?
So there you have it, a guide to the delicious journey of coffee and food pairing . At The Nines Emporium, we live by our philosophy: 'We Don’t Do Boring.' From our famous Benny Trilogy to our fluffy pancake stacks, every dish on our all-day menu is designed to create a perfect moment with our locally roasted Vintage Black blend.
We're open 7 am to 3 pm daily in Maroochydore, ready to help you find your perfect match. Swing by and let's make your next brunch a flavour-packed experience.
