CELEBRATING WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY, EVERY DAY

Did you celebrate World Chocolate Day? Don't stress if you missed it, coz Nespresso's Coffee Ambassador, Mitch Monaghan, is sharing his personal guide for chocolate and coffee pairings! With all the coffee blends being sourced through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Coffee Program, you can feel good while you indulge.

Mitch's guide to pairing coffee and choc

If you're craving white chocolate....

Because white chocolate is creamy and sweet, it pairs best with a lighter roast coffee as they are more fruity and floral! Mitch says that if you're in the mood for some white chocolate, the best coffee blends to pair with are the Master Origin Colombia Original Line Pairing and the Voltesso Vertuo Line Pairing. With notes of red berries and red wine, the Master Origin Colombia is from the Original range, and pairs perfectly with a piece of white chocolate - making the cream of the chocolate and the lightness of the coffee harmonise. For something slightly fruitier, the Voltesso is lightly roasted Espresso with a Brazilian and Colombian origin. You can up the ante of this pairing by opting for a white chocolate that has raspberries in so that the notes of the coffee and chocolate match.

If you're craving dark chocolate....

Since dark choc can be quite bitter sometimes, it's best paired with a coffee blend that is balanced and smooth. Mitch recommends the Genova Livanto Original Line Pairing and the Decaffeinato Intenso Vertuo Line Pairing. As one of Mitch's all-time favourites, the Genova Livanto has been roasted so precisely that the natural acidity and bitterness of the coffee are equal, which means you have an incredibly balanced and smooth coffee to go with a square, or block, of dark chocolate. With a similar balanced smoothness, the Decaffeinato Intenso makes for a seriously indulgent after dinner coffee moment.

If you're craving milk chocolate....

If you're a lover of milk chocolate, you should be reaching for a more intense coffee. The creaminess of the milk chocolate will pair perfectly with something a bit stronger, and is a great way to get your sweet-tooth fix in. Mitch suggests pairing milk choc with the Firenze Arpeggio Original Line Pairing - an intense yet smooth coffee blend from Central and South America with a seriously smooth Arabica. Mitch also recommends the Altissio from the Vertuo range. With an intense yet smooth roast, this is one of Mitch's favourite pairings because it is classic, delicious and real crowd pleaser.

If you're looking for the ultimate treat to have with your afternoon coffee, Mitch's favourite recipe for decadent Nespresso choc truffle balls are calling your name! The perfect blend of coffee and chocolate, you'll be dreaming of these for weeks - check out the recipe below.

NESPRESSO CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE BALLS

INGREDIENTS

1 x 40 mL espresso extraction of a Nespresso capsule 1 x tsp of vanilla extract 90 mL of thickened cream 1 x block of cooking dark chocolate 2 x tbsp cocoa powder Coffee grinds from an unused Nespresso capsule

METHOD

_ FINELY CHOP or grate the chocolate into a mixing bowl

BRING cream to a light simmer from low heat

POUR cream, espresso and vanilla extract over the chocolate pieces and mix until combined and smooth TRANSFER chocolate mixture to a wide dish and place in the fridge to set for 2 hours SCOOP out 1 tbsp of the mixture and roll with your hands until round, add to a plate and put back in the fridge for another hour to set shape REMOVE from fridge and roll with your hands again to smoothen the ball’s surface ROLL in a mixture of 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and the coffee grind from the Nespresso capsule

_ If you love coffee and chocolate as much as us - this is your ultimate guide to the perfect pairings! Enjoy and check out the rest of the Nespresso flavours here.