I’ve been smoking cigars for a long time, and for most of that time, I’ve always smoked my stogies with some sort of alcoholic beverage. But back in May of 2022, while at the Harlem Cigar Lounge in NYC, I was offered a cup of coffee while I smoked my cigar (sorry, I don’t remember which one it was, but I think it was a Plasencia Cosecha). I took a puff from my cigar, then washed down the finish with a sip of coffee. To say my mind was blown by that pairing is an understatement!
The look on my face prompted the salesperson I bought my cigars from to say, “That’s good, right?” I replied, “I had absolutely no idea that this was a thing. I’ve always smoked my cigars with a great wine or some kind of whiskey or cognac. I’m blown away by how good this pairing is!”
She laughed, and her associated in the shop quipped, “Yeah man, that’s my drink of choice with a cigar – especially in the morning.”
So here I am in my backyard, drinking an incredible cup of single-origin Ethiopian coffee, and absolutely savoring the smoky goodness of a Black Works Studio Hawaiian Hornet. Fuck! I’m in my happy place! And for me, there’s no better pairing with practically any cigar I smoke than with a good cup of coffee.
Of course, I enjoy other pairings, especially whisky(ey). but there’s something indescribable about drinking coffee with a cigar. It enhances the flavor of any stick almost as if God mandated that it would be the perfect pairing for cigars, even more so than a good bourbon or scotch.
Some might suggest that I try a coffee-infused cigar. For as long as I’ve smoked cigars, I haven’t tried an infused cigar yet. And to be honest, I’m not in a rush to do so.
Unco B's Stogie Diary 