Coffee Rub
This homemade Coffee Rub is one of my favorite dry rub recipes. The bold coffee flavor paired with savory spices creates a unique twist for prime rib, pork loin, steak, and more. It’s such an easy way to add a ton of flavor to meat before cooking.
I love the deep, earthy flavor of this coffee rub recipe and pretty much refer to it as my “ultimate rub.” The coffee doesn’t make your meat taste like your morning cup of coffee. Instead, it blends with the smoked paprika, cocoa, garlic, and other spices to create a rich flavor that works especially well with beef and pork.
If you’re a fan of complex flavors and are looking for a versatile seasoning blend, this is a great one to keep in your spice cabinet.
Be sure to try this Greek Seasoning and this Tuscan Seasoning for two other delicious homemade options.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Takes just minutes to make
- Made with simple pantry ingredients
- Great for steak, prime rib, and pork
- Easy to customize
- Sweet, smoky, and savory
- Can be made with regular or decaf coffee
- Stores well in the pantry
Before You Get Started
- Use finely ground coffee so you don’t end up with large, gritty pieces in the rub.
- Make sure your spices are fresh for the best flavor.
- You can easily double or triple the recipe and keep extra on hand.
- Always use a clean, dry spoon when scooping seasoning from the jar.
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar or Sweetener – Adds a little sweetness to balance the savory spices. Light or dark brown sugar both work well.
- Salt – Enhances all the other flavors.
- Smoked Paprika – Adds smoky flavor and color.
- Black Pepper – Adds a little bite.
- Coffee – Finely ground coffee works best. You can use your favorite roast, espresso, or instant coffee.
- Onion Powder – Adds savory flavor.
- Chili Powder – Adds warmth and a little spice.
- Garlic Powder – A must for a savory dry rub.
- Cocoa Powder – Adds color and another layer of rich, earthy flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Coffee Rub
Step One: Add all the ingredients into a small bowl. Stir.
Step Two: Store in an airtight container or jar with a lid.
Top Tip💡
Always use a clean, dry spoon when scooping homemade seasoning from the jar. Even a small amount of moisture can cause the mixture to clump and shorten its shelf life.
Substitutions
- Coffee – Use your favorite coffee here. Light, medium, or dark roast coffee will all work, and you can even use espresso or decaf.
- Brown Sugar – Use your favorite brown sugar substitute if you want to make a sugar-free coffee rub.
Variations
- Spicy – Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper for a spicy flavor.
- Sweeter – Increase the brown sugar or sweetener slightly for a sweeter rub.
- Smokier – Add a little extra smoked paprika to boost the smoky flavor.
See my All Purpose Seasoning for another homemade seasoning blend that never lets me down.
Equipment
To make this homemade coffee rub, you’ll need to have a measuring spoon, a large mixing bowl, and a whisk.
Storage
Storage is super important for spices. You need to keep the spice mixture stored in a cool, dry and dark place. I always keep mine in the spice cabinet with the rest of my spices.
As long as you store it properly, it should stay fresh and delicious for a few months without issue. Having it airtight is key.
Common Questions
The biggest indicator that I always pay attention to is the smell. If I take the lid off my spice and don’t notice a scent right away, then that tells me that it’s likely past its prime and it needs to be replaced. You’ll also notice that if it dries out or starts clumping together, it needs to be replaced.
Absolutely. If you want to add some heat, just up the amount of cayenne pepper that you mix into the seasoning.
You can use it as you would any other BBQ rub. I like adding this to beef (such as steak on the grill and for smoking brisket) and pork (ribs, tenderloin, chops, etc). That being said, you can also add it to chicken and see what you think. I’m a red meat fan for sure for this, but it can pair with other options.
So good. That is our top choice for a meat to pair this with.
You sure can. If you want to keep the caffeine boost out of it, just use decaffeinated coffee instead. You don’t notice any kind of flavor difference, but you will notice that you don’t have that boost of caffeine!
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Coffee Rub
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or sweetener
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
- 1/2 tbsp finely ground coffee
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Use the dry rub on your favorite protein.
Nutrition
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