For many pipe smokers around the world, the morning begins with a cup of coffee and a bowl of their favorite tobacco. While some are content with their Maxwell House and Folgers, others pursue the greatest cup of coffee possible to accompany their morning pipe. I'm partial to the plight of those seeking the perfect cup, and being a considerate smoker, a former barista, and a coffee roaster, I thought I'd lend my expertise in this quest. Here are five tobaccos and the types of coffee I'd recommend be brewed alongside them.

Cornell & Diehl: Bayou Morning Flake

Pairing: Ethiopian Single-Origin Light-Roast

Bayou Morning Flake is a Va/Per lover's delight that starts the morning off right. A potent blend of Old Belt Red Virginias and 25% Perique are pressed together before being sliced into flakes. Bayou Morning Flake is rich with notes of cracked black pepper, stoved dark fruits, toasted bread, and hay. An Ethiopian single-origin light roast is a great pairing due to its crisp acidity and delicate body, carrying elements of brown sugar, tamarind, hops, and apricot.

Available in: 2oz | 8oz

• Components: Virginia, Perique
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Two Friends: Bed & Breakfast

Pairing: French Roast

Two Friends' Bed & Breakfast is a traditional English blend of Red and Bright Virginias with fine Oriental leaf, toasted Cavendish, and a pinch of rich Turkish Latakia, with elements of cedar, leather, smoke, hay, and baking spices. A French roast would play nicely here with its low acidity and elements of baking chocolate, dried fruit, smoke, dark molasses, and a slight edge of dried herbs.

Available in: 2oz | 8oz

• Components: Virginia, Latakia, Orientals, Black Cavendish
• Family: English
• Cut: Ribbon
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

G. L. Pease: Chelsea Morning

Pairing: Mexican Single-Origin Medium Roast

Chelsea Morning consists of sweet Red and Bright Virginias, fragrant Orientals, a bit of rich Cyprian Latakia, and just a pinch of Perique. The leaf is blended in layers, briefly pressed, then sliced and tumbled into ribbons. Chelsea Morning is rich with notes of half-and-half cream, plum, spicy sweetness, citrus, and roasted nuts. Pair this with a medium-roast single-origin Mexican coffee that's rich with notes of cream, soft caramel, and semi-sweet chocolate with a mellow mouthfeel, and you'll be in heaven.

Available in: 2oz | 8oz

• Components: Virginia, Latakia, Perique, Orientals
• Family: English
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Mac Baren: Vanilla Cream

Pairing: Costa Rican Single-Origin Medium Roast

One of Mac Baren's best sellers, Vanilla Cream is a blend of matured Virginias and mellow Black Cavendish with a unique aroma and smooth taste topped with an exceptional vanilla flavor . Vanilla Cream offers notes of honey, tart citrus, light brown sugar, and whispers of nutty chocolate. A medium-roast Costa Rican blend plays nicely with Vanilla Cream's medium mouthfeel and notes of chocolate, tropical fruit, honey, and baking spice.

Available in: 3.5oz | 16oz | Bulk

• Components: Virginia, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation: Morning Blend

Pairing: Single-Origin Sulawesi Celebes Kalossi Dark Roast

Composed of Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginia tobaccos, Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's Morning Blend is an Aromatic tobacco mixture that features a bourbon topping and sweet notes of roasted nuts, caramel, citrus, and maple syrup. A cup of Sulawesi Celebes Kalossi is the perfect companion with its medium-to low-acidity and rich, heavy, syrupy body, with notes of black tea, cocoa, nectarine, and plum.

Available in: Bulk

Components: Virginia, Burley, Black Cavendish

Family: Aromatic

Cut: Ribbon

Strength:

Room Note:

Taste:

Those are some staples in my rotation and I hope they serve you well in the wee hours of the morning, or as a nice nightcap. I recommend whole beans ground fresh every morning and trying to experiment with other coffee-brewing methods beyond the old drip machine. Let me know your morning coffee and tobacco pairings in the comments below. Happy smokes!