Coffee Rub
On June 13, 2023 (Updated May 10, 2024)
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This homemade coffee rub is the ultimate rub when you want to bring a savory and slightly spicy flavor to your meat. The ingredient that ties this rub all together is the earthy flavor of the coffee, making it a perfect rub for beef.
Coffee Dry Rub
Coffee rub is a wonderfully versatile rub. It’s the perfect rub for beef, but it can be used on other meat as well. The coffee really compliments the richness of beef, and it stands up to both low and slow, as well as hot and fast cooking.
So does coffee rub taste like coffee? Not really. Think of it as a great rub with deep earthiness that is slightly bitter, but not overwhelming. This will be one of those rubs that quickly becomes a go-to when you need that perfectly unique beef seasoning.
Ingredients for Coffee Rub
This rub mixes 9 amazing spices and seasonings to give you a fantastic coffee dry rub. Here’s what you’ll need to make this coffee rub.
- 2 Tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 Tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon crushed coriander
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
This recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne, which isn’t a lot, but it will definitely add a bit of heat to your rub. You can adjust this as you desire for more or less heat in your rub.
How to Make Coffee Rub
Making your own homemade BBQ rubs is REALLY easy. I’m talking add-ingredients-and-stir-it-together easy. Here’s the 2-step process to making coffee rub.
- Mix. Snag a small to medium-sized mixing bowl and add in all the ingredients. Use a spoon or fork and mix well.
- Use or store. Once mixed, you can use this immediately. If you have any seasoning left over or you make a double batch, you can store it in an airtight glass container (I like these Glass Spice Bottles) for around a month for the best flavor.
If you’re interested in making even more of your own homemade rubs (and maybe even creating your own flavors!), check out my post on How to Make BBQ Rub.
Best Meat for Coffee Rub
Now that you have this coffee rub ready to go, here are my top suggestions for how to use it! (Spoiler alert: it’s best on beef).
Brisket
Brisket requires a low and slow cook, and this rub is the ideal seasoning blend to compliment the rich smokiness of the brisket.
My favorite method for cooking brisket is an old-school Texas-style method with lots of wood smoke, a butcher paper wrap, and a long rest before slicing and serving. This process results in melt-in-your-mouth smoked brisket. Honestly, my Texas Style Smoked Beef Brisket is a classic.
I normally cook this style with a simple coarse salt and coarse black pepper rub, but when you want to mix things up, you must try this recipe for Coffee Rub Brisket. It’s a whole new adventure into delicious brisket.
Steak
Coffee rub isn’t just delicious on brisket. It also works well on a hot and fast application when cooking steak. There is no sugar in the rub, so you don’t run the risk of burning or over-caramelization.
Another reason this seasoning works well for high-heat cooking is that it uses instant coffee granules as opposed to coffee grinds from the whole bean. Coffee grinds burn quickly and become quite bitter, so using instant coffee seasons the meat without having to worry about the granules overcooking on the grill. Try your own coffee-rubbed steak on this Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak or my Smoky Joe Coffee Rubbed Tri Tip.
Looking For More BBQ Rubs?
Check out these other amazing rubs for steak, chicken, and more!
Coffee Rub Recipe
Follow the recipe and I’ll teach you the simple steps to making your own homemade rub. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes and videos on YouTube, Instagram, or our Facebook Page. Follow along and let’s make excellent food together!
This post was originally published in April 2019. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
Homemade Coffee Rub
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 Tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon crushed coriander
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- Make the rub. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps of seasoning.
- Use or store. This rub is ready to be used immediately. If you have any extra rub, you can store it in an airtight container for up to a month for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This rub was amazing!!!! Did beef ribs in my electric smoker. Spritz is key!!! I did Apple Cider vinegar, Apple juice and Makers Mark. 😉
I use Kona Coffee it’s the best love the taste excellent
Any suggestions to make this a little sweeter, like adding brown sugar or molasses?
side note…..from someone just getting into grilling/smoking, you’re awesome!
Adding some brown sugar would work great!
Big fan! Can you suggest a brand or type of instant coffee to use?
Thank you and please keep doing what you do!
Any brand of instant coffee should be fine! Thank you!
Due to food allergies, I removed the chili powder and replaced the cayenne with mace. Then I used it as a rub on chicken thighs, under the skin and I don’t think I’ve ever tasted chicken quite so good before. We prepared it in an air fryer. I don’t normally have one at my disposal, so will find other ways to prepare. But I would definitely recommend.
Used the coffee rub and coffee bbq sauce for a brisket last weekend. The family loved it and took left over (what little there was) to work the following day and I didn’t have enough left for a sandwich as my coworkers devoured it “sampling” it.
This is a really good rub, reverse seared a rib of beef using it last night and it was fantastic, will be using this again.
Thanks
I disagree that ground coffee beans can’t be used. The big problem with ground coffee is that the most common grinds (such as used for drip coffee) are objectionable because they are much too coarse for this use. Even an espresso grind is “pushing it” in terms of coarseness. BUT, if you can find a dark roast, Turkish grind of coffee…which is an extremely fine powder…it does work well and doesn’t leave a bunch of coffee grounds in your mouth or stuck in your teeth. Similarly, if you can find “baking coffee”, this is also an extremely fine grind that could be used as a rub component with good results.
Coffee grounds just don’t dissolve like instant coffee does. No matter how fine you grind it you’ll still end up with grounds in your mouth, they may just not be as noticeable or add as much flavor.
Can you use the rubs for in the oven as well ? Or only bbq works ?
You absolutely can!
Could you use fresh ground coffee beans instead of instant coffee? Or would instant espresso work?
No. The problem with coffee grounds is that they won’t dissolve like instant coffee does.