A FALMOUTH retailer has become the first in the country to combine coffee and bacon.

Coffee house Caffè Nero has produced an Italian espresso coffee with luscious crispy British bacon, to create the ultimate bacon sandwich.

The coffee-cured bacon offering is part of an extensive espresso-infused menu available all day and exclusively at Caffè Nero from Wednesday (April 17).

To create the unique taste of the bacon, it is cured for over 20 hours using Caffè Nero’s signature blend of coffee. The result is a full-bodied taste, balanced with sweet notes of chocolate and nut.

The bacon is a signature ingredient that features throughout the coffee themed menu and includes: a ciabatta bacon roll, BLT sandwich, bacon sausage and egg breakfast pot, brie and bacon panini and bacon and chutney flatbread.

A number of sweet treats have also been infused with the premium Italian espresso, including the soft centre dark chocolate espresso brownie and cappuccino cake with fluffy sponge and sweet coffee frosting.

Hannah McKay, UK Head of Food at Caffè Nero said: “We’ve introduced some delicious new options to the menu, with the aim of putting our coffee craft into our food, to give it a premium appeal. When it comes to enhancing a classic like the bacon sandwich, we knew the only match would have to be our signature blend.

"Rather than overpowering the great taste of bacon, our cold brew infusion marries perfectly with every mouthful, starting with notes of soft caramel and finishing with the distinctive smoky flavour of warm coffee beans. It’s bacon, but not as you know it and we’re confident that when customers take their first bite, they’ll be back for more!”

The retailer, which also has coffee shops in Truro and Newquay, promises "further innovations" this year.