The Perfect Coffee Rub to Elevate Your Meat

When used as a dry rub, coffee is one of the tastiest and effective ways to season and tenderize meat for grilling, smoking, and roasting. 

What is a Coffee Rub?

A coffee rub is a dry seasoning and meat tenderizer that’s primarily used for beef, especially when grilling or barbecuing. Coffee dry rubs are made of ground coffee, of course, but also a combination of herbs and spices to help bring out the flavour of the meat.

Despite what you might think, coffee rubs don’t taste strongly of coffee. Instead, you get a deep, earthy flavour that compliments the rich taste of beef. You don’t get any caffeine either–the high heat of the cooking process nullifies any caffeine content in the coffee itself. The natural acidity in coffee is also very effective at tenderizing whatever cut of meat you choose, especially if you cook the meat low and slow.

The tasting notes of the coffee you choose can also play a role in the overall flavour of the cooked meat, providing complexity to the final product. And when applied generously, a coffee dry rub makes an incredible crust on smoked meats like brisket or spare ribs.

What’s the Best Coffee to Use for a Coffee Rub?

Light Roast – Best for: beef or pork tenderloin, grilled steak, spare ribs.

Medium Roast – Best for: grilled steak, spare ribs, brisket.

Dark Roast – Best for: brisket, roasts, grilled steak.

Coffee Rub Ingredients

• ¼ cup ground coffee (roughly the texture of coarse sea salt)
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Preparation

1. Grind the coffee of your choice into a medium-fine texture, similar to coarse sea salt.
2. In a bowl, thoroughly combine the ground coffee with the rest of the spices.
3. Use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a month.