I’ll never forget the first time I tried coffee rub on a thick ribeye steak. As a passionate home cook who thought I’d tried every seasoning combination possible, I was skeptical that coffee could transform a piece of meat. But with the first bite, I was immediately converted. The coffee’s deep, earthy notes perfectly complemented the beef’s richness, while the sugar created a beautiful caramelized crust that sealed in the juices. What began as an experiment quickly became my signature seasoning, the “secret ingredient” friends and family constantly request the recipe for. Today, I’m sharing this life-changing coffee rub recipe to revolutionize your grilling game!
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Table of Contents
Why Coffee Rub Will Be Your New Favorite Seasoning
Once considered a culinary secret of top BBQ pitmasters, coffee rub has gained popularity for good reason:
- Complex flavor profile: The bitterness of coffee balances perfectly with brown sugar’s sweetness
- Natural meat tenderizer: The natural acids in coffee help break down meat proteins
- Beautiful crust formation: Coffee creates a deep, mahogany-colored bark when grilled or smoked
- Versatile application: Works on everything from steaks to brisket to vegetables
- Conversation starter: Guests will be intrigued and impressed by this unexpected flavor enhancer
The Texas BBQ Pedigree of This Recipe
This isn’t just any coffee rub. It’s inspired by Tim Byres, the celebrated chef/owner of Smoke and Chicken Scratch, two legendary establishments in the barbecue capital of the world: Texas! While many coffee rubs exist, this authentic recipe brings award-winning restaurant quality to your home kitchen. Despite its impressive culinary heritage, it remains remarkably simple to prepare with readily available ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cayenne pepper: Delivers controlled heat that can be adjusted to your preference
- Dark roast coffee (finely ground): Provides the distinctive earthy foundation and slight bitterness that defines this rub
- Dark brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture and helps form a delicious caramelized crust
- Kosher salt: Enhances all flavors and helps tenderize meat
- Chili powder: Contributes warm, mild heat and classic BBQ flavor
- Smoked paprika: Adds a smoky dimension that complements the coffee’s roasted notes
- Granulated sugar: Creates perfect caramelization and balances the coffee’s bitterness
- Granulated garlic: Provides savory depth without overwhelming the other flavors
- Ground cumin: Contributes earthy warmth and slight citrus notes
How to Make Coffee Rub Seasoning
To prepare the rub:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bone-dry small bowl.
- Whisk well until evenly blended.
- Any moisture in the bowl, on the whisk, or even in the air can cause clumps to form. Use your fingers to break apart clumps, then whisk to combine.
You can adjust the spiciness by adding more or less cayenne pepper.
Different Ways to Use Coffee Rub
Whether you need a tri tip coffee rub or you’re preparing coffee rub brisket, this recipe will work for you. It’s the perfect seasoning for coffee-rubbed steak, especially ribeye steak and New York strip steak. It is also suitable for making coffee rub chicken, turkey, and pork. But what if you are not in the mood for meat? You can still use this coffee rub seasoning in your kitchen:
- Grilled vegetables. Coat veggies like portobello mushroom caps, sliced eggplant, pressed tofu, and zucchini in olive oil. Dust the veggies lightly with the rub and then grill over medium heat.
- Roasted nuts. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Melt a little butter and add the rub. Toss well spread on a baking tray to roast for 10 to 15. Shake the tray every few minutes to prevent burning.
- Corn on the cob. Boil or grill corn on the cob. Roll the cooked corn in melted butter and sprinkle Coffee Rub on all sides.
How to Store Coffee Rub
Keep any leftover coffee BBQ rub in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Opaque glass or non-porous plastic containers with tight-fitting lids work well. Plastic bags aren’t a good option since they don’t keep out the light, air, and moisture well. Use the smallest container that will fit all the rub to minimize oxidation.
How Long Does It Last
As long as you keep the Coffee Rub seasoning correctly, it should last for several months or more, depending on the freshness of your ingredients. But just because the rub is safe to eat doesn’t mean it will be as flavorful as the day you made it. Always try to use the rub as soon as possible after mixing it for the best taste.
More DIY Seasonings and Mixes
- Burger Seasoning
- Bisquick Mix
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Instant Mexican Coffee
- Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Outback Steak Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Vanilla Sugar
Favorite Beef Recipes
Check out my easy DIY recipes and the best beef recipes here on CopyKat!
The Ultimate Homemade Coffee Rub
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 1/3 cup finely ground dark roast coffee
- 1/3 cup chili powder
- 1/3 cup smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Use your hands to break up any remaining clumps.
- Store the rub in an airtight container and use 2 tablespoons of rub per 1 pound of meat.
The video omits the last ingredient added — 1 tsp of cayenne pepper.
It is shown at about 44 seconds, I didn’t do a great job in timing the video and the audio. I apologize if this was confusing.
Great Recipe. Thanks for sharing