All About Coffee Rubs, Marinades, and the Best Grounds to Use

Can Coffee Be a Meat Tenderizer? Yes! Learn About Coffee-Rubs and Marinades for Steaks and More...

Coffee can be great for a myriad of purposes, besides just waking you up in the morning. For instance, you can use coffee to make desserts like tiramisu or coffee cake. Or, make the most of your leftover grounds by using them as a body scrub or to help your plants grow in the garden! However, did you know that coffee grounds can be used as a meat tenderizer? It's true!

Indeed, coffee grounds can make a pretty decent meat tenderizer, if you know what you’re doing. Using coffee as a meat tenderizer, rub, or marinade is a smart way to get the most out of your grounds and add interesting new flavors to your grilled fare. Here, we will discuss how to use coffee grounds as a rub or marinade for steaks and almost any other cut of meat. 

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Can coffee be used as a rub for meat or steaks?

Yes, coffee grounds act as a natural meat tenderizer and are particularly effective when tenderizing beef. This is because the acidity in coffee can help to break down the muscle fibers in meat, making it more tender and juicy. Moreover, coffee can add a rich and flavorful crust, which imparts new dimensions to grilled steaks and other cuts of meat. 

And while this may seem a little “out there”, don't worry, the coffee flavors from a marinade or rub of this kind are not particularly strong. The main reason for using coffee as a tenderizing agent is its acidity and nuanced complexity. The “coffee flavor” is generally only slightly detectable, but not overpowering. 

Coffee rubs and marinades give new depth to meat while also helping it get nice and tender. While these rubs and marinades aren’t for everyone, they are worth giving a try if you have a few extra steaks lying around that you don’t know what to do with! 

What is a coffee rub?

A coffee rub is a rub made with coffee grounds, salt, and other seasonings used to create a tenderizing and flavor-packed crust on different cuts of meat. Coffee rubs are applied using an even coating and left on for 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator to help tenderize the meat. This part of the process is known as resting. After the coffee rub has been applied, the meat can be cooked as usual, by grilling, frying, or however else you prefer. 

What is a coffee marinade?

Coffee marinades are another way to use coffee to add flavor and tenderize cuts of meat. With a coffee marinade, you are essentially replacing the water in your favorite existing marinade recipe with strongly brewed, cooled coffee. 

So why do coffee marinades work? Well, essentially, all marinades call for at least some amount of water. By swapping out the water for cold, extra-strength coffee, you can help get that meat extra tender, since the acidity of the coffee can help to break down the muscle fibers in the meat. 

In addition to this, coffee contains natural oils. The oils in the coffee can help to further tenderize the meat as it soaks in overnight. The result is a stake that's a lot juicier than if you had just used water in your tenderizer. 

Coffee marinades can do a few impressive things flavor-wise for steaks as well. For one, the coffee imparts an earthy taste that makes the sear that much better. Also, the robust undertones pair amazingly with various other foods often enjoyed with steak, such as corn salsa or mango chutney! You can also mix a little brown sugar with your rub or marinade to help develop a crust more quickly on the grill!  

How to make a coffee marinade for steak?

To make a coffee marinade for steak, you first need to brew a pot of extra-strength coffee and allow it to cool completely. Add your meat to the coffee marinade with any other seasonings and salts, and allow it to soak for up to 24 hours. This helps add flavor to the meat and breaks down the muscle fibers. 

Quick and Easy Coffee Steak Marinade Recipe:

Combine 1/3 cup of fresh, high-acidity coffee grounds with 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar, garlic, shallots, kosher salt, pepper, 1/4 cup brown sugar, a squeeze of lime, and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Use this as a marinade for steak. Marinate anywhere from 3 to 24 hours, depending on the cut of meat you are using, and then cook the steak as desired!

Tips for Tenderizing Meat with Coffee

• For best results, you should use fresh, dry coffee grounds, not old coffee grounds that have already been run through your coffee machine. 

• Also, consider using a combination of coffee grounds and other natural tenderizers such as lemon juice, lime juice, meat tenderizing salts, etc. 

• How long your steak or cut of meat marinades will directly correlate to how tender it winds up being. Tenderizing times can vary based on the cut of meat you are using, so you may need to experiment a little bit to get the timing perfect. 

• Coffee rubs can be great for tenderizing ribs, helping them fall right off the bone. 

What kind of coffee is best for a rub or marinade?

If you are using coffee to make a rub or marinade for steak or other cuts of meat, the higher the acidity, the better. We highly recommend checking out the exclusive high-acidity coffee collection sold online at www.onegreatcoffee.com. Just click here to start shopping for high-acidity coffee now!