How to Properly Pair Cannabis and Coffee
Nothing goes together quite as well as fresh coffee and cannabis. Much like the classic pairing of cheese and wine, cannabinoids and caffeine complement each other’s flavors and aromas, making their combination a rich and enjoyable experience. In the West, the trend of consuming coffee with now-legal marijuana has even become a phenomenon in its own right, jokingly referred to as the “Colorado speedball.”
The connection between caffeine and cannabis has long been recognized in global cannabis culture. For example, the first legal shops in the Netherlands were called “coffeeshops” because their owners always offered coffee alongside cannabis, knowing that both recreational substances enhance each other. Coffee is also great for energizing the body in the morning or late at night, which can improve the body’s ability to absorb cannabinoids. And let’s not forget the social aspect: it’s always nice to sit with close friends, share a joint, and sip on hot, fresh coffee together.
In this article, we’ll explore the science of pairing cannabis with different types of coffee to match and enhance their flavors. While you can estimate the flavor of your cannabis buds based on the roast level of your coffee beans, there are several other nuances to consider that will help you find the perfect combinations.
Choosing Strains Based on Coffee Flavor Profiles
The taste and aroma of cannabis buds depend on factors like strain, plant phenotype, climate and growing environment (indoors or outdoors), harvest time, drying and curing methods, and storage conditions. All these factors influence the terpene profile—aromatic compounds responsible for the flavors and scents of various plants, including cannabis.
For example, the Lavender strain is named for its distinct lavender aroma, thanks to a high concentration of the terpene linalool, which is also found in lavender flowers. Similarly, Mango Kush has strong mango notes due to myrcene, a terpene also present in mango peels.
By understanding the flavors your cannabis strain offers, you can select coffee varieties that will complement and highlight those qualities. For instance, Mango Kush with its tropical flavor pairs wonderfully with coffee that has pronounced fruity notes.
It’s worth noting that, unlike wine, coffee contains a much wider variety of terpenes. These are released from the beans depending on factors like the origin and cultivation method of the plants, as well as the brewing time and temperature. Like cannabis, coffee comes in countless varieties and strains: Bourbon, Kona, Ethiopian Sidamo, Sulawesi, and many others are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to coffee’s flavor diversity. Even within the same variety, beans grown in Latin America will taste noticeably different from those grown in Kenya or Rwanda, due to differences in minerals, climate, altitude, and rainfall.
The processing method of the coffee cherries also affects flavor. Dried and washed beans will taste different from those left in their natural state. Roasting and grinding methods further influence the chemical composition and, therefore, the final taste of the coffee.
To find the ideal coffee and cannabis combination, trust your intuition. For example, if you have Sumatran coffee with a rich, earthy flavor, you might notice it pairs well with something sweet, like a piece of candy or milk chocolate. In this case, try pairing it with a joint of Chocolope, a strain known for its strong chocolate flavor and a hint of bitterness. Taste your coffee, identify its notes and aromas, and then look for a cannabis strain that complements any missing flavors.
Once you’ve chosen your products, consider how you prepare and consume them. Using concentrates in a vaporizer or dabbing cannabis resin allows you to extract the maximum amount of cannabinoids and terpenes, making the flavors and aromas even more pronounced. Similarly, freshly roasted and hand-ground coffee beans, brewed in an Aeropress or espresso machine, will have a much richer and clearer flavor than pre-ground coffee concentrates.
Pairing Cannabis and Coffee for Their Effects
Beyond flavor, you can also pair coffee and cannabis based on their effects on the body. The strength of coffee is measured by its caffeine content, while the effect of cannabis depends on the concentration of psychoactive THC in the buds. Generally, the darker the roast, the higher the concentration of stimulating compounds in the coffee; lighter roasts contain less caffeine and produce a milder stimulating effect.
Choose a cannabis strain that matches the energy level you want from your combination. For example, pairing a sativa strain with a light coffee like an Americano produces a noticeable stimulating effect that doesn’t interfere with focus—great for people who just want a quick pick-me-up. If you need an energy boost but want to fall asleep in a couple of hours, try mixing strong coffee or espresso with indica buds. Of course, you can also use coffee and cannabis to balance each other’s effects: strong coffee can counteract the heavy “couch lock” of potent indicas, while those same indicas can help you relax after too much caffeine.
Ultimately, the best way to discover great coffee and cannabis pairings is through your own experiments. Keep the basic principles of flavor and effect in mind, try different combinations, and remember your favorites. There are no hard and fast rules here—just your personal tastes and needs.