4 types of fruit you can add to your coffee
There is truly more than meets the eye with the coffee you drink everyday. Coffees from around the world are so unique to each region with their own sets of flavors and levels of acidity. Depending on the origin of the coffee beans you are enjoying, you will notice there are certain familiar fruity notes you can taste that range from tangy citrus to dark berries. A new trend we are noticing is adding fruit to your coffee to enhance the flavor of your daily brew. Come with us on this journey as we share some ways to pair fruit with coffee to create a special coffee experience.
Types of fruit you can add to coffee
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CitrusHigh in vitamin C and antioxidants, citrus fruits are one of the healthiest fruits you can enjoy daily. Depending on the coffee you are brewing, adding a wedge of orange, cara cara, mandarin, or grapefruit will highlight and enhance a dimension of tangy flavor. Be careful not to add too much, otherwise, your coffee may taste bitter due to the acidity overpowering the natural sugars in the fruit. |
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StonefruitStonefruits are a great source of vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, and K, and are also great for immunity and heart health. Peaches, plums, and nectarines will add a delicate floral sweetness to your coffee. When selecting a stonefruit, remember that white varieties of stonefruits will carry over more of the floral notes, while the yellow varieties will yield a sweet acidic taste. |
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BerriesBerries are chock-full of everything your body needs for a healthy heart, cholesterol, and regulating inflammation thanks to high levels of antioxidants and fiber. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries will add an extra layer of juicy sweetness to your coffee without any added sugar. Kiwi and gooseberries will add less sweet and more tart notes potentially highlighting a zing in your coffee you hadn’t noticed before. |
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BananaGreat for heart health and digestion, bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium. When added to your coffee bananas can cut down on the coffee’s acidity, adding natural sweetness and a smooth creamy finish. |
Fruit and coffee pairings
Knowing what kind of fruit to add to your coffee is crucial to understanding how the flavors will complement each other. The objective is to highlight the unique flavors already in the coffee beans, the fruit is added to accent and enhance the overall taste of the coffee. Something we found interesting while researching was that a lot of the fruits that paired nicely with specific coffees happened to be fruits that were native to the areas in which the coffee beans were cultivated. Here are some suggestions for what types of fruit we recommend adding to your coffee based on the various coffee-producing regions from around the world:
East Africa
| Ethiopia | Kenya | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus, Peach, Plum, Blueberry, Strawberry | Blackberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherries, Currants, Grapefruit | Blackberry, Raspberry, Blueberry |
Ember Brews Recommendations: Galactic Standard Blend, Monarch, Play Nice
Central America
| Costa Rica | Guatemala | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Stone Fruits, Kiwi | Orange, Tangerine, Cara Cara, Strawberry, Raspberry | Blueberry, Blackberry, Mango |
Ember Brews Recommendations: Sightglass Owl’s Howl, Power & Glory, S.O. Blend
South America
| Colombia | Brazil |
|---|---|
| Peach, Nectarine, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherries, Currants | Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach, Nectarine, Kiwi |
Ember Brews Recommendations: Tropical Weather, Milk & Honey, Santa Barbara Estate
Asia
| Indonesia (Sumatra) | Indonesia (Java) |
|---|---|
| Grapefruit, Mandarin, Plum | Banana, Plum, Strawberry, Rambutan |
Ember Brews Recommendations: Everyday People’s Bali Blue Single Origin, Equator Blend
How to add fruit to your coffee
Now that you’re familiar with what fruit to combine with your coffee it's time to put it into action. Here are a few different coffee brewing methods and how you can effectively add fruit to these processes:
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Pour OverMuddle your fruit into the filter then put coffee grounds on top before beginning your first bloom. Check out our guide for mastering pour-over for more tips and techniques. |
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DripMuddle your fruit into the coffee filter then cover with ground coffee before starting the drip brew cycle. |
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EspressoMuddle your fruit into a small strainer over your Ember Cup and pull the espresso over the muddled fruit. For how to pull a great espresso here is our 101 on how to use an espresso machine |
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Moka PotBegin brewing coffee how you normally would in a Moka Pot. Muddle your fruit of choice in a ramekin. When the first bit of coffee begins to enter the upper chamber, pour about 1 tsp of the coffee into the ramekin with the muddled fruit. While the remainder of the coffee is brewing in the Moka pot, use a spoon to thoroughly mix the fruit muddle and coffee you added to the ramekin until it resembles a syrupy liquid. Strain the liquid into an Ember Mug or Ember Cup then add the rest of the coffee from the Moka pot and enjoy! |
We hope you feel inspired to try this new method of adding fruit to your coffee and have fun experimenting with various coffee and fruit combinations. If you are looking for your next coffee to try, be sure to head to Ember Brews to see our amazing selection of coffees from around the world.
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