From Coffee to Wine: How to Pair Dark Chocolate Orange Biscotti

Biscotti and coffee belong together.

That part isn’t exactly a revelation.

But our Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond Biscotti has a little more range than that.

In the morning, put it next to a good cup of coffee and the bittersweet chocolate becomes deeper and richer.

Pair it with black tea and something different happens. The orange starts coming forward.

Then there’s the pairing I think most people would never consider:

A chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Suddenly, the same biscotto that felt completely at home beside your Sunday morning coffee becomes an effortless after-dinner dessert.

What Goes With Dark Chocolate Orange Biscotti?

Here’s the short answer:

Why can one biscotto work with all three?

It starts with what’s inside it.

Why Dark Chocolate, Orange and Almond Work So Well Together

Our Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond Biscotti is made with real orange zest, whole roasted almonds and Belgian bittersweet chocolate, with just a touch of sea salt at the finish.

Each ingredient has a job.

The bittersweet chocolate brings richness without turning the biscotto overly sweet.

Fresh orange zest cuts through that richness and adds brightness and aroma.

The whole roasted almonds give it the deep, toasted flavor and crunch that belong in a classic biscotto.

Then there’s the salt.

You don’t get a mouthful of salt. That’s not the point.

It’s just enough to make the chocolate taste a little more intense and the orange seem a little brighter.

If you want the full story behind this particular flavor, including how it fits into our collection, read our Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond Biscotti Guide.

But for now, let’s pour something.

Pairing #1: Coffee

There is a reason this is the classic.

Dark chocolate, roasted almonds and coffee naturally speak the same language.

A good black coffee brings out the deeper roasted notes in the biscotto and makes the Belgian bittersweet chocolate taste even richer.

Then the orange comes through and keeps everything from feeling too heavy.

You don’t need flavored coffee here.

In fact, I wouldn’t use it.

There’s already plenty happening in the biscotto.

A straightforward black coffee, Americano or espresso lets the chocolate, almond and orange do the work.

That’s a pretty good Sunday morning.

Pairing #2: Black Tea

If coffee emphasizes the chocolate, black tea does almost the opposite.

It gives the orange more room.

Without the strong roasted flavor of coffee competing for attention, you begin noticing the citrus earlier.

Then comes the almond.

Then the bittersweet chocolate.

I’d keep the tea simple here too.

A straightforward black tea works beautifully. You don’t need a heavily flavored tea fighting with everything already happening in the biscotto.

And then we get to the pairing that changes the whole experience.

Pairing #3: Sauvignon Blanc

This is the one worth trying.

Serve Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc is the bottle we paired with it, but the larger idea is more important than the particular brand.

Look for a Sauvignon Blanc that is crisp, bright and citrus-forward.

Here’s what happens.

The wine pulls the orange forward.

Its acidity cuts through the richness of the bittersweet chocolate.

Then, at the end, that little touch of sea salt in the biscotto brings the flavors back together.

And that’s what makes this pairing interesting.

We tend to think that chocolate has to be paired with something equally dark, heavy or sweet.

Not necessarily.

Sometimes contrast is what makes a pairing work.

A bright wine beside dark chocolate and orange can make each part taste more distinct.

If you’d like to explore more combinations beyond this one, our Biscotti and Beverage Pairing Guide covers more ways to match biscotti with coffee, tea, wine and other drinks.

The Two-Minute After-Dinner Dessert

Here’s where this becomes useful.

You have friends over.

Dinner is finished.

Everybody is still sitting around the table.

You don’t need another complicated dessert.

You don’t need to bake anything.

It’s simple, but it looks intentional.

And that’s something I think biscotti does particularly well.

You can put it next to coffee in the morning and it feels completely natural.

Put the same biscotto on a small plate with a glass of wine after dinner and suddenly it feels elegant.

No frosting.

No sauce.

No elaborate presentation.

Just a very good biscotto and the right thing in the glass beside it.

One Biscotto. Two Sunday Moments.

The biscotto hasn’t changed.

The pairing changes the experience.

Coffee deepens the chocolate.

Tea brings out the orange.

Sauvignon Blanc turns it into an easy after-dinner course.

That’s the fun of pairing food.

You start noticing things that were there all along.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drinks pair best with dark chocolate orange biscotti?

Coffee, espresso, black tea and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are all excellent choices. Coffee emphasizes the chocolate and roasted almond, black tea allows the citrus to come forward, and Sauvignon Blanc creates a brighter after-dinner pairing.

Does wine go with biscotti?

Yes. Biscotti doesn’t have to be limited to coffee or tea. Nutty, citrus-forward and chocolate biscotti can work particularly well with wine when the flavors complement or contrast each other. For Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc is a surprisingly good match.

What wine pairs with chocolate orange biscotti?

Try a chilled, crisp Sauvignon Blanc with good acidity and citrus character. The brightness of the wine complements the orange zest and keeps bittersweet chocolate from feeling too heavy. We paired ours with Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, but a similar style of Sauvignon Blanc can work as well.

Try It Both Ways

If you already have Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond in the cupboard, try this experiment yourself.

And if you’ve never tried the flavor, you can find our Dark Chocolate & Orange Almond Biscotti here.

For everything from how biscotti are made and stored to flavors, serving ideas and more, visit our complete Biscotti Guide.