Best Coffee and Healthy Breakfast Pairings to Try

Wine and steak aren’t the only match made in heaven. Combining the right flavor profile of coffee with the right breakfast foods amplifies the delectable flavors. Plus, combining coffee with balanced foods starts your day right by supporting energy needs, digestion and overall well-being.

To help you make delicious discoveries, we’ve compiled breakfast and coffee pairing ideas, from protein-packed breakfasts to on-the-go options for busy mornings. Bon appétit!

Why Pairing Coffee with a Healthy Breakfast Matters

A nutrient-dense breakfast is a better morning companion than the sugary pastries (muffins, cookies, cakes) sold at most cafés. This stems from how caffeine affects the body.

As a nervous system stimulant, the body quickly absorbs caffeine to make you feel more awake and alert.^[1] But once the effects of caffeine wear off, you may experience the symptoms of a caffeine crash, such as anxiety, jitteriness, heart palpitations and headaches.

The solution? A nutritious breakfast to balance out digestion and hunger. This makes you less cranky and unlikely to raid the fridge before lunch. Eating a low-carbohydrate breakfast is also key for stable blood sugar. More stability results in steady energy levels.^[2]

Best Healthy Breakfasts to Pair with Coffee

Pairing your daily brew with breakfast foods is the recipe for taking your taste buds to new heights. But this is contingent on eating the right breakfast foods. After all, what you eat can dictate how you feel the rest of the day.

A healthy breakfast is typically made up of plenty of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.^[3] Unsure what to eat with coffee? Read on for delicious recipes that ensure breakfast becomes your favorite meal of the day.

Protein-Packed Breakfasts

Protein is an all-day necessity, but emphasis is given to the A.M. for helping you feel satiated and more likely to make healthier food choices.

These delicious recipes make it easy to hit your protein goals, plus make your favorite brew taste even more irresistible.

Keto Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict is an iconic breakfast staple that pairs well with any and all coffee. Simply choose a roast for a different flavor experience. Medium roast? Well-balanced flavors smooth out any accidental over-toasting of the low-carb English muffins.

Dark toast? In this dish, the bold complexity makes the wild-caught salmon even smokier. Light roast? The bright flavors highlight the bright notes of the buttery sauce that coats the poached pastured eggs.

Triple Chocolate Cherry Protein

Chocolate for breakfast? Oh, yeah. Dark red cherries blend with chocolate protein for a shake that fires on all cylinders in terms of satisfying richness and a red velvet color. This bold dish is best paired with an equally complex dark roast coffee.

Fiber-Rich Breakfasts

Tired of the afternoon slump? A fiber-rich breakfast is the answer to powering through the morning without hunger slowing you down. Expand your food horizon with these coffee and fiber-filled pairings.

Low-Carb Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

This fiber-rich berry smoothie bowl has nourishing benefits by the spoonful. The quality fats and protein from avocado, coconut milk and berries satisfy you for hours. A light roast coffee is the perfect pairing that ensures the acidity of the fruit notes are tangy, not sour.

Breakfast Buddha Bowl

This high-protein, low-starch and ample fat breakfast is packed with a cornucopia of goodness, from poached pastured eggs to cauliflower rice to rich avocado. This hearty and creamy breakfast bodes well with a darker roast.

Low-Sugar Breakfasts

In terms of flavor, coffee and sugary pastries go together like two peas in a pod. But in terms of your health from daily consumption? Not so much.

These low-sugar breakfast ideas and coffee pairings prove that a little sweetness goes a long way in maximizing a sympathy of flavors.

Coconut Flour Pancakes

Healthy fats and low-carb coconut flour blend together to create a perfectly fluffy and moist hotcake ready for your favorite toppings. Serve with medium roast coffee to bring out the sweetness of the pancake without overpowering it.

Paleo Keto Cinnamon Rolls

Did someone say cinnamon rolls for breakfast? Thanks to paleo ingredients, sweet treats for breakfast are never off the table. Harmonize the dish with light to medium roast coffee. These brews elevate the texture of the fluffy macadamia nut dough and the flavor of the coconut cream glaze.

Best Coffee Pairings for Different Breakfast Types

Similar to how a red cabernet pairs better to a steak than a white Riesling, the same goes for roast profiles and breakfast food pairings. Try these different combinations and watch how the flavors in your favorite dishes come alive.

Light Roast Pairings

The fresh, subtle flavors of a light roast pairs well with either sweet or savory dishes. Consider Paleo Baked Apple Cider Donuts with a side of berries or orange slices. The natural sweetness in light roasts brightens up the tartness of the fruit without overpowering it with too much acidity. The delicate flavors amplify when paired together.

Medium Roast Pairings

The balanced flavor profile expands your foodie horizon. If savory is your jam, treat your taste buds to these Keto Breakfast Tacos with Bacon and Guacamole. This healthier take on a fast-food breakfast burrito uses simple swaps, like pastured eggs and bacon.

The crisp lettuce adds freshness, while the creaminess of the guacamole matches the complexity of a frothy coffee, whether that’s from milk, cream or quality fats, like MCT oil or grass-fed ghee.

Dark Roast Pairings

Like the other roasts, a dark roast complements sweet and savory. Woke up with a sweet tooth? Opt for smoothies, granola or overnight oats.

For savory meals, a dark roast’s rich, bold intensity can handle hearty dishes, like bacon and eggs (an All-American breakfast classic) or this healthier take of your favorite café-worthy brunch: Sweet Potato Salmon Avocado Toast.

Quick & Easy Coffee and Breakfast Pairing Ideas

You may be tempted to skip breakfast if mornings are busy, but this doesn’t serve your energy or grumbling stomach. Instead, try these quick on-the-go options that can be made ahead of time, batch-prepped and only take a few minutes to heat up!

Pasture-Raised Egg Bites

These protein-packed egg bites are a breakfast winner. They’re easy to meal-prep and freeze well so you always have the option of reheating a few before rushing out the door. They’re also great coffee snacks to enjoy for a quick protein bite.

Chocolate Noatmeal

Oatmeal is a breakfast staple, but it can always be tweaked to be healthier—and more exciting. This recipe nails both of those components with cauliflower as the star ingredient. The added coconut has essential nutrients that fuels your day and brings out the natural earthiness of your preferred roast.