Coffee and Company: Easy Recipes and Food Pairings

Looking to up your coffee or your cocktail game? We asked the experts at Melitta Coffee for their best tips, including how to set up your own coffee bar at home and a few recipes for pairing.

Café Especial con Temperamento

1 cup (250 ml) hot coffee (the stronger, the better)
1 cup (250 ml) hot cocoa
¼ cup (50 ml) coffee liqueur

Stir hot coffee with hot cocoa and the coffee liqueur. Serve in cups or mugs.

Pair with: Coffee-Rubbed Slow Cooker Pork Sliders

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes (+ 15 minutes standing time)
Makes: 6 servings

2 tbsp (30 mL) finely ground Melitta 100% Colombian Whole Beans
1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder
1 tbsp (15 mL) brown sugar
1 tbsp (15 mL) each salt and pepper
1/2 tsp (2 mL) garlic powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp (2 mL) smoked paprika
1 boneless pork shoulder (about 3 lb/1.4 kg)
3/4 cup (175 mL) barbecue sauce
12 slider buns

Stir together ground coffee, chili powder, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne and paprika. Rub all over pork shoulder. Place pork in slow cooker; pour 1 cup (250 mL) water over top. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or High for 4 to 6 hours or until pork is tender. Transfer pork to cutting board. Let stand for 15 minutes. Shred pork using two forks. Return to slow cooker and toss with cooking liquid. Set on warm to serve.

Assemble pork and add a drizzle of barbecue sauce.

Tip Add coleslaw or pickles to sliders if desired. Alternatively, serve in regular-size buns or as a filling for tacos or burritos.

Butter Praline Coffee

5 oz (150 ml) Melitta Classique coffee, brewed hot
1 tbsp (15 ml) heavy cream
1-1/2 tsp (7 ml) dark brown sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
1-1/2 tbsp (22 ml) praline syrup

In a small saucepan, combine coffee, cream, sugar and butter. Simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring often. Add the praline syrup, stir to blend and serve warm.

Pair with: French Vanilla Italian Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a popular dessert of Italian origin. It traditionally includes ladyfingers soaked in coffee, zabaglione cream, mascarpone cheese and bitter chocolate. This recipe includes all of the important elements, including Melitta French Vanilla coffee, for delicious results. 

Makes: 6 servings

12 ladyfingers

Custard:
8 large egg yolks
¼ cup (50 ml) granulated sugar
2 cups (500 ml) whipping cream
2½ tsp (12 ml) pure vanilla extract

Syrup:
5 oz (150 ml) Melitta French Vanilla coffee
¼ cup (50 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
1 tsp (5 ml) crème de cacao liqueur

Toppings:
1 cup mascarpone cheese, softened
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Custard: Combine egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until batter is thickened and pale yellow, 4 to 5 minutes. Add whipping cream and vanilla; beat just until mixed. Set aside.

Place 2 ladyfingers in the bottom of each of 6 buttered ramekins.

Brew a 5-ounce cup of Melitta French Vanilla coffee.

Syrup: Combine sugar, water, liqueur and 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the coffee in a measuring cup and mix well. Pour syrup evenly over the ladyfingers. Divide and spoon the prepared custard evenly among the ramekins. Place ramekins in a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan and place on centre rack in 300 F oven.

Pour very hot water into the baking pan, filling the pan to within 1/2-inch from the top of the ramekins. Bake the tiramisu until each is set around the edges but still slightly soft in the centre, 40 to 50 minutes.

Remove pan carefully from the oven and allow the tiramisu to stand in the water for about 2 hours, until the centres are set. Remove ramekins to a cooling rack. When the tiramisu is cooled, spread mascarpone cheese over each and dust with cocoa powder.

 

Setting up an easy at-home coffee bar

Start with high-quality ground coffee and then use the following checklist.

1. Find a corner of your house, just a small flat counter space designated for your items.
2. Set up your coffee system, pot and carafe in a spot that encourages conviviality and suits the surrounding decor.
3. Get the necessities. You’ll need premium ground coffee, assorted coffee syrups, 6 to 8 decorative mugs, 6 to 8 matching spoons, a good-quality milk steamer and garnishes (chocolate syrup anyone?).
4. Let your creativity shine with your favourite holiday accessories and festive baked goods.
5. Now that you’re all set up, you can use your coffee bar to encourage your guests to experiment with their coffee and even try the above recipes.

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