Searching for coffee that pairs with cheesecake. A tasting experience with Ethiopian coffee

What kind of flavor goes well with cheesecake?

Thinking about what kind of coffee to pair with a sweet, rich cheesecake,
the time spent considering coffee pairings is actually quite fun.

This time, I went to a cafe in front of Shinjuku Gyoen, looking forward to enjoying a coffee that pairs well with an Oreo cheesecake.

At times like this, I can't help but have a little bit of expectation.
Thinking, "Maybe today I'll find the perfect combination."

What I encountered here was a natural process Ethiopian coffee...

Flavor characteristics of Ethiopian coffee (natural process)

Today's coffee is a natural process bean from Ethiopia.

Ethiopian coffee ischaracterized by a fruity and floral aroma.
When it's a natural process,a berry-like sweetness and juicy fruitiness spread softly.

(I have a feeling this might be a bit fruity...)
I thought to myself, but since I was there, I went ahead and ordered it.

Impressions of drinking Ethiopian coffee

The first sip.
"The acidity is... 😵"
It had a much more pronounced acidity than I expected.

And then, the third sip.
"Oh, this is delicious ✨"

Little by little, I began to feel the mellowness and sweetness,
and as a coffee on its own, it was a flavor I really liked.

Does Ethiopian coffee go well with cheesecake?

Finally, with the cheesecake.

......Hmm.
It wasn't a "This is a perfect match!" moment.

Even though each was delicious on its own, together they felt a little lacking...
Perhaps it was because my expectations leading up to this were so high.

When pairing Ethiopian coffee with a rich cheesecake,the acidity felt a bit out of place.That was my impression.

The difficulty and realizations of coffee pairing

What I realized again this time is that
"delicious" and "a good match" are different things.

Ethiopian coffee is very delicious.
It might have been a "perfect match" if paired with a tangy rare cheesecake or a light soufflé cheesecake.However,

if I were to pair it with this cheesecake, a coffee with a bit more body would have been a better fit.
I suppose.

The story of being indecisive and unable to choose my coffee

Actually, this shop had a variety of coffees to choose from, but people started lining up behind me.

I felt a bit rushed and didn't have the luxury of properly looking at the menu, so I just ordered.

My indecisiveness, activated ⚡️

Which coffee goes well with cheesecake?

For rich desserts like this baked cheesecake,

・Medium to dark roast
・Nutty or chocolatey flavor profiles

Coffees like these seem like they would be
more balanced and enjoyable.

Summary | Coffee pairing is fun to experiment with

Pairing is something where even a small difference can change the impression.
That is exactly why it is interesting that there is not just one right answer.

Next time, I think I will choose my coffee properly and try to find the perfect match for my cheesecake.

……maybe, anyway☕️