Flavor-Packed Coffee Rub

Name: Flavor-Packed Coffee Rub Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 packets Instant Coffee ((or use 1 Tbsp ground coffee)); 1 Tbsp sea salt; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp chipotle pepper; 1½ tsp black pepper; 1½ tsp minced onion powder; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp chili powder; 1½ tsp dried thyme; ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ((optional))

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If you are a coffee lover, like I am, I'd like to introduce you to this tasty Coffee Rub recipe. This flavorful rub tastes great on Tri-Tip, whether it's smoked, grilled, or cooked in the oven. You can also use the rub to season briskets, steaks, and more!

I've been mulling around the idea of this Coffee Rub seasoning for a while now and pondering what spices to include. What ingredients would complement Tri-Tip, brisket, or other cuts of beef?

After Scott showed up with not one, but two Tri-Tips from his last Costco excursion, I decided it was finally time to come up with a Coffe Rub recipe. I used my Santa Maria Rub on one of the Tri-TIps and this Coffee Rub on the other. They were both delicious, but the Santa Maria Rub Tri-Tip was definitely spicier.

Why This Recipe Works

There are many benefits to making your own seasoning blends instead of buying seasoning that has sat on a store shelf for who knows how long.

This Coffee Rub in particular, is a great meat tenderizer. This is due to the acidic qualities of coffee. Once the meat is seared, a coffee rub crust is formed, which seals in the juices. This results in a flavorful juicy Tri-Tip, brisket, or steak.

Finally, this Coffee Rub recipe uses simple ingredients that most people already have at home. Not only that, but it's also easy to double. This recipe makes enough Coffee Rub to use on a 3-4 pound Tri-Tip Roast.

What Goes Into This Recipe

Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

Coffee — Experiment with both instant or ground coffee and see which you prefer. If grinding your own coffee a medium grind works well.
Herbs — Although I used thyme, rosemary would be a wonderful alternative.
Cayenne — The cayenne pepper can be left out if you want to tone down the spiciness. The coffee rub will still have a kick from the chipotle pepper.
Minced Onion — One of the ingredients I used was minced onion, however, Onion powder can be substituted.

How to Make Coffee Rub

Step 1 | Measure and Mix Ingredients

Measure and mix all the spices, along with the thyme, until thoroughly combined.

coffee rub ingredients in a white bowl over s wooden slab

Step 2 | Use or Store Coffee Rub

Sprinkle meat generously with the coffee seasoning. Take the time to rub the seasoning into the meat. If you don't plan on using the rub right away, store in an airtight container for later.

seasoning in a bowl with a blue spoon next to it

Recipe FAQS/Expert Tips

What is coffee rub made of?

Coffee Rub usually contains coffee (sometimes instant and sometimes ground coffee). Other ingredients will depend on the recipe. However, some of the common ingredients include salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

Does coffee rub taste like coffee?

Coffee rub does not tase like coffee, it's a subtle flavor that just adds a little complexity and mystery to whatever cut of meat you are using.

What does coffee do to meat?

Coffee not only flavors the meat, but because it is acidic, it also tenderizes the meat. If using ground coffee, it will form a crust to seal in the juices of the meat.

Try making this recipe with both instant and ground coffee and see which you prefer.
If grinding your own beans, experiment with various grind levels, however, medium-ground is perfect.
Do not use brewed coffee grounds since the flavor has been brewed out.
Don't see a spice you're fond of? Go ahead and add it!
When flavoring the meat, don't contaminate the rub by sticking a spoon that has touched the meat back into the rub. Instead, sprinkle the rub on the meat, or pour some in a bowl and use the rub that's in the bowl to flavor the meat. Add more rub to the bowl as needed.

If you enjoy making your own spice blends, you may be interested in learning how to make your own Corned Beef Spice Blend, Biryani Spice, Pork Rub, and DIY Shawarma Seasoning Blend.

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