Which Milk to Pair with My Espresso Drinks

We have 2 roasts of Espresso that will make your coffees spectacular. Now we need to make sure we pick the right one that pairs best with the dairy or non dairy milks of your choice. Here are some

Medium Roast (The Drive Espresso)

  • This will have brighter acidity, more complex flavor notes, and less bitterness than your dark roast.

With dairy:

  • Whole milk: Excellent pairing that preserves the coffee's complexity while softening acidity

  • Half-and-half: May be too rich and mask some of the medium roast's nuanced flavors

With non-dairy:

  • Oat milk: Outstanding with medium roasts; its natural sweetness complements without overwhelming

  • Almond milk: The lighter body allows The Drive's complexity to shine through

  • Coconut milk: May compete with the more delicate flavor notes

Dark Roast (East Village Espresso)

  • This will have more pronounced bitterness, less acidity, deeper caramelized/chocolate notes, and a heavier body.

With dairy:

  • Whole milk: Classic pairing that balances the roast's intensity

  • Half-and-half/cream: Works particularly well here as the richness complements the bold flavors

With non-dairy:

  • Oat milk: Good, but may make the overall drink too sweet with very dark roasts

  • Soy milk: Its stronger flavor profile stands up well to dark roasts

  • Coconut milk: Can create interesting mocha-like flavors with dark chocolate notes

Specific Recommendations:

  • For The Drive (Medium): Pair with whole milk or oat milk to maintain flavor clarity

  • For East Village (Dark): Excellent with whole milk, half-and-half, or soy milk for a balanced drink

The key principle is that lighter roasts benefit from milks that don't mask their complexity, while darker roasts can stand up to and benefit from richer, more flavorful milk options.

Commercial Drive Coffee Company is proud to be a 100% Canadian Owned and Operated Coffee Company. We roast and pack our artisanal coffees in BC!

Kenny Vannucci