Canton, Mass. (December 15, 2004) - For many Americans, the holiday season is time well spent with family and friends, sharing traditional meals, like turkey with all the trimmings and the de rigueur desserts - from pumpkin, pecan and apple pies to cookies and rugalach. Indulging in delicious desserts is as much a part of holiday traditions as presents. To make those holiday desserts taste that much sweeter, consider serving coffee that complements the menu.
A Perfect Pair
Like wine, coffee can be paired with foods in a way to enhance all flavors. The general rule is that darker coffee roasts complement heavier foods while light-roasted coffee pairs with more delicate delectables. Flavored coffees, like Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and Cinnamon and Spice, are light-roasted to give prominence to the flavor.
Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend is a smooth and delicious blend that harmonizes with breakfast and brunch treats, just as easily as cookies and pastries. Cafe Blend, a robust and slightly darker roast, is a match for rich chocolate desserts. Serving an apple pie? The rich aroma of French Vanilla coffee will balance the sweetness of the fruit for a combination that is sure to wow the entire dinner table. Hazelnut coffee is a delicious foil for pumpkin pie and nothing complements the complexity of pecan pie like Cinnamon and Spice coffee.
Brew it Up Right
A great cup of coffee is the ideal way to signal the end of a delicious meal and the beginning of the rest of an enjoyable evening. "Dunkin' Donuts makes it easy for consumers to enjoy delicious coffee at home by offering whole beans and ground coffee in convenient one-pound bags," says Ellen Walker, Product Development Manager for Dunkin' Donuts. "Brewing that perfect pot of coffee is easy, but there are a few tips, and tricks, to keep in mind."
- Always start with the highest-quality coffee beans. Look for "100% Arabica" beans.
- Store unused coffee in an air-tight container at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from heat and sunlight.
- Do NOT store unused coffee in a refrigerator or freezer. It will absorb flavors and aromas from the other foods and the flavor won't be up to par.
- Before brewing, clean your coffee brewer and carafe of any residue or oils.
- Always use fresh, cold water for brewing.
- Grind your coffee just before brewing; pre-grinding may cause your coffee to taste stale. The grind level should match your coffee brewer or individual taste. Fine grind coffee yields a stronger flavor, while course grind will yield a weaker flavor.
- Never allow your coffee to sit on the burner for more than 20 minutes. Continued cooking will change the flavor and aroma attributes, resulting in burnt, bitter, or harsh flavors.
- Never reheat your coffee. Use a thermal carafe if you plan on holding your hot coffee for more than 20 minutes before serving.
About Dunkin' Donuts
Founded in 1950, today Dunkin' Donuts is the number one retailer of coffee-by-the-cup in America, selling 2.7 million cups a day, nearly one billion cups a year. Dunkin' Donuts is also the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world and sells more donuts, coffee, bagels and muffins than any other quick service restaurant in America. Dunkin' Donuts has more than 6,100 shops in 30 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. and part of Allied Domecq PLC, a highly successful and dynamic global business in spirits, wines and quick service restaurants. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
