Start With Good Beans

Before we get into recipes, one rule applies across the board: the better your base coffee, the better the result. Recipes can dress coffee up, but they can’t fix a stale or low-quality bean. Start with fresh whole bean coffee, ground just before you need it, and everything downstream will taste better for it.

Iced Vanilla Oat Latte

A café-style favorite that’s easy to make at home.

What you’ll need:

• 2 shots of espresso, or ½ cup strongly brewed coffee
• ¾ cup oat milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp maple syrup or simple syrup (optional)
• Ice

How to make it: Brew your espresso or strong coffee and let it cool slightly. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the oat milk, vanilla, and sweetener, and stir well. Slowly pour the coffee over the top so it layers, then stir before drinking. Oat milk’s natural sweetness and creaminess pair especially well with a medium or dark roast.

Classic Affogato

One of the simplest, most elegant coffee desserts out there, needing just two ingredients.

What you’ll need:

• 1 shot of hot espresso, or 2-3 tbsp strongly brewed coffee
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream or gelato

How to make it: Place the ice cream in a small glass or bowl, then pour the hot espresso directly over it right before serving. The contrast between hot, bitter coffee and cold, sweet cream is what makes this dessert so satisfying, and no baking is required. A darker, bolder roast holds up especially well against the sweetness of the ice cream.

Cold Brew Concentrate

A weekend project that pays off all week long. Once you have a batch of concentrate on hand, you can build iced coffee, lattes, or even coffee cocktails in minutes.

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
• 4 cups cold or room-temperature water

How to make it: Combine coffee and water in a large jar or pitcher, stir to make sure all the grounds are saturated, and let it steep at room temperature or in the fridge for 12-24 hours. Strain through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. The result is a smooth, low-acid concentrate that you can dilute with water or milk to taste, over ice.

Coffee-Rubbed Grilled Steak

Coffee isn’t just for drinks. Used as a dry rub, it adds a deep, smoky, slightly bitter edge that pairs beautifully with red meat.

What you’ll need:

• 2 tbsp finely ground coffee
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder

How to make it: Mix all ingredients together and press generously onto steak before grilling or pan-searing. The coffee forms a flavorful crust as it cooks, balancing the char with a subtle bitterness that plays well against the sugar and spice. A darker roast works best here for a bolder, smokier flavor.

Pairing Coffee with Food

If you’re building a coffee bar for guests, or just want to elevate your own coffee break, keep these general pairing principles in mind:

• Light roasts, with their bright acidity and fruit-forward notes, pair beautifully with citrus pastries, fruit tarts, or light, flaky baked goods.
• Medium roasts are the most versatile at the table, so try them with banana bread, granola, or a simple buttered croissant.
• Dark roasts, with their bold, smoky, chocolatey notes, stand up well to rich desserts like brownies, dark chocolate, or caramel-based treats.
• Nutty, chocolatey coffees (like many Brazilian or Colombian beans) pair naturally with anything involving hazelnut, chocolate, or caramel.
• Bright, fruity coffees (like Ethiopian beans) work well alongside berries, citrus, or lightly sweetened yogurt-based dishes.

The general idea is to either match intensities by pairing bold coffee with bold food, or contrast them, like a bright, fruity coffee cutting through something rich and heavy.

Make It Your Own

These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Swap the milk, adjust the sweetness, or experiment with different roasts to see how the flavor changes. Half the fun of having good coffee on hand is discovering new ways to enjoy it beyond the basic cup.

Looking for the right beans to start experimenting with? Browse our whole bean selection to find a roast that fits whatever you’re making next.