Indie Rock albums I would recommend based on your coffee order

I am a huge coffee fanatic and also a

Photo by me

big music lover, so once again, I am here combining two of my favorite things together. I want to start off this blog by saying that not every album listed is 100% indie rock. I just wanted a simple way to explain that these songs all fall somewhere under an indie or alternative umbrella. My favorite genre has to be alternative rock, and this post is definitely a reflection of my own musical taste. Some songs are sweet and light, and others are bitter and heavy. Now that final projects and exams are around the corner, I’ve been spending so much time studying, listening to music, and drinking coffee, so I thought this would be a fun post to put together.

Now let’s get into the post >:)

Light Roast Black Coffee -> Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You – Big Thief

Songs from this album, like "Simulation Swarm" and "Spud Infinity", just remind me of waking up early in the morning, feeling the bright sun on your skin, and drinking a black coffee. This album is soft, bright, and warm, just like the acidic fruity notes in light roast coffee.

Dark Roast Black Coffee -> Figure 8 – Elliott Smith

Similar to Big Thief, half of the songs on this album feel like a bright, caffeinated afternoon stroll, and the other half are incredibly introspective and rich, giving off the vibe of bitter chocolatey notes in dark roast.

Whole Milk Latte -> Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie

Transatlanticism is an album that many people may say hipsters listen to, and that's why I chose a plain whole milk latte. This drink is warm, creamy, and is just a simple way to get a caffeine fix, reminding me of the building emotional vibes from the album

Oat Milk Vanilla Latte -> Antisocialites - Alvvays

This album is an indie special. It has a lot of pop in it, it's bright, and it's upbeat. It's an indie album that pretty much anyone in the world can get behind and enjoy, so I thought it was perfect to pair with an oat milk vanilla latte that is also sweet and playful.

Mocha -> Rules – Alex G

Rules by Alex G is intimate, lo-fi, and also pretty brooding. The vibe pairs well with a mocha, balancing rich chocolate with the album's bitter, emotional grit.

Iced Matcha -> Two Star and The Dream Police – Mk.gee AND She Hangs Brightly - Mazzy Star

Iced Matcha is a fan favorite, and I was really worried that this opinion would be controversial for that specific reason, so to play it safe, I picked two albums. I first chose Mk.gee's album for an iced matcha because it is earthy, modern, and refreshing to me, just like an iced matcha. This album is exactly what I would listen to if I were looking

to put on my best outfit on a Saturday and go out to get matchas at an edgy coffee shop with my friends. However, I was discussing my iced matcha choice with a close friend, and he thought that an iced matcha should be paired with a feminine voice. Agreeing with this, I also wanted to include a Mazzy Star album, for its cool, calm, and refreshing vibe.

Hot Matcha -> When The Pawn… - Fiona Apple

This pairing is honestly the one I am most proud of. I think Fiona Apple's music is very emotionally raw and frank, just like a hot, intense, and grounded matcha.

Dirty Chai -> Bleeds - Wednesday AND Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling them up – Wednesday

Clearly, I couldn't bring myself to include only one Wednesday album in this blog, so I chose to use both. The band Wednesday's alt-country, indie sound is incredibly full, bringing a lot of energy and spice, exactly how I imagine a dirty chai latte. Just like how a dirty chai is creamy, sweet, spicy, and bitter all at the same time,

Wednesday's soundscape also perfectly balances beauty and softness with chaoticness and emotional intensity!

Cappuccino -> Peripheral Vision – Turnover

I love this album because it is so dreamy, it makes you feel like you're floating. When I was coming up with this list, I related the feeling of floating with the frothiness of milk inside a cappuccino, so simple as that, I paired this album and drink together.

Cold Brew -> Stranger in the Alps – Pheobe Bridgers

Other people I have talked to have suggested pairing Pheobe Bridgers with a different drink, but I have a good reason for this, I promise. Stranger in the Alps is incredibly lush and also emotionally potent, yet quiet in its musical content. Just like in a good bitter cold brew, this album is unexpectedly strong with a silent, sharp punch.

Americano / Double Espresso ->  Tigers Jaw – Tigers Jaw

These drinks are as strong and straightforward as they get, just like Tigers Jaw's intense sound. To me, this album is very punchy, driving, and honest, just like the kick you get from straight espresso.

There are many more albums and drinks I wanted to include in this post, but I chose not to do so because I didn't know enough about them to confidently assign them a coffee drink. Some other ideas I had in mind were relating a London fog to a Sweet Trip album, or a red eye/nitro drink to an intense rock band like Hum or Citizen. Nonetheless, I still had so much fun with this blog. It has been extremely nostalgic in a good way, revisiting some of my favorite artists/bands, and I can officially say I will be going through another Phoebe Bridgers phase this next month.

All album covers are credited to their assigned artist/band!

Check out these delicious drinks I recently had, a black camo matcha from Sawada and an iced coffee from Azul 18 in Pilsen!

Thank you so much for reading my blog!

Industry Insider / Caleb Gollings