With Coffee Steak Rub, your steaks will be exceptional! Made with ground coffee and sugar, just like cowboys would, it will create a delicious coffee-flavored crust on your favorite steaks, whether cooked on the grill or pan-seared and finished in the oven. Enjoy simple, old-fashioned cowboy goodness right at home.
🫘 Ingredients
Coffee Steak Rub—finely ground coffee, brown sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper
Uses—Sirloin, strip, flank, skirt, or other beef steak, tri-tip, pork chops, etc.
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☕ What is Coffee Steak Rub
The origin of coffee steak rub dates back to when cowboys on the trail used coffee and sugar to enhance the flavor of their steak. Over time, this cowboy coffee steak rub was further developed at restaurants in Texas. Due to its origin, it is often referred to as cowboy coffee rub or simply cowboy rub.
I read versions from Bobby Fray, Ellie Krieger, Gordon Ramsey, the Barefoot Contessa, and many more. They were not even close to each other; each was the best recipe ever, and most had many ingredients that would not be on a chuckwagon.
I wanted a very simple version of a coffee rub. They always had sugar, coffee, salt, pepper, and maybe one or two other ingredients. But garlic was not uncommon, and my wife insisted.
You will taste coffee, garlic, and sugar with a smoky, crispy crust. Give it a try for a wonderful surprise. You can use it on any steak or other grilled meat. I chose sirloin steak as an example for this recipe.
🥣Ingredient options and substitutions
Coffee grounds—Use regular or decaf medium roast ground coffee with a fine or extra fine grind. Not recommended: instant coffee or flavored coffee
Sugar—light or dark brown sugar, but white sugar will work
Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder—recommended seasonings
Optional additions—chili powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper
👨🍳Using Coffee Steak Rub with Grilled Sirloin Steaks—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Mix cowboy rub of freshly finely ground coffee, brown sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.
2. Pat dry the steak. Trim well.
3. Coat the steak with a moderate coat and rub it in well. Let the meat rest at room temperature for 15 minutes while the grill preheats.
4. Place the meat over high heat and flip every 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature is about 140°-145°—about 9-12 minutes, depending on the grill and thickness of the steak.
5. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
⏰🌡️ Time and temperature for grilled sirloin steak
Sirloin steak is usually about ¾ to 1 inch thick and, on a very hot grill, will usually take 9-12 minutes to get in the 140°-145° range.
- Rare—cold red center(125°-130°) about 6-7 minutes total grill time. But check early.
- Medium-Rare—warm red center(130°-135°) about 7-9 minutes total grill time.
- Medium—pink and firm (140°-145°) about 9-12 minutes total grill time.
- Medium-Well—minimal pink(150°-155°) about 12-14 minutes total grill time. Not suggested.
- Well-Done—firm and brown(160°+ ) about 14 or more minutes total grill time. Not suggested.
Times are approximations for planning only. Cook to a final internal temperature and never by Time.
A sirloin is from a well-used muscle area of the cow, so it tends to be tougher. It is also leaner than many other cuts, so it is best cooked on the rarer side. You should pick a different steak cut if you like your beef well done.
👨🍳Uses of coffee steak rub
Check out these other grilled steak recipes where you might use this rub, like Marinated Sirloin Steak, Grilled New York Strip Steak on the gas grill, Grilled Filet Mignon, and Grilled T-bone Steaks. And don't miss trying it on pork, like Grilled Pork Chops or Grilled Pork Tenderloin.
Or try it inside with Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak, Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon, or Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops.
❓FAQs
Yes, but only for a few days. The coffee flavor will be lost, so it's best to make what you need for that day.
Use a very finely ground standard coffee. Use the coffee you love and not a flavored coffee. If you have a rougher ground coffee, crush it into a fine powder—you don't want the grit.
Some recipes call for instant coffee, but that is a step too far for me—I have never found a drinkable instant coffee, but there are many excellent ground coffees.
📖 Recipe
Coffee Steak Rub
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Ingredients
Coffee Rub Ingredients for 2 steaks. Increase in servings # as needed.
- 1 tablespoon finely ground coffee
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sirloin steak as an example of use
- 2 sirloin steaks - 8-10 oz each well timed
Instructions
- Mix ingredients for dry rub: 1 tablespoon finely ground coffee, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, ½ teaspoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and black pepper. My coffee was the whole bean, so I needed to grind it first. A very fine grind is best.
- Pat dry the steak. Trim well.
- Coat the steak with a moderate coat and rub it in well. Let meat rest at room temp for 15 minutes while grill preheats.
- Clean and oil the grill grates. Preheat on high.
- Place meat over high heat and flip every 4-5 minutes until internal temp of about 140°-145°—about 9-12 minutes, depending on the grill, and thicken of the steak.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- The coffee needs to be finely ground and fresh. Do not use instant or flavored coffee.
- This rub will not store well—make it fresh as needed.
- The recipe is enough for only two steaks; use the serving number to increase the amount.
- You can use a coffee that you love.
- The cooking time will vary due to the thickness of the steak and the differences in grill variations. Keep an eye on the steak to ensure it's cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- This is relatively high in sodium. The nutrition calculations assume the rub is ⅔ used. If you are concerned about the sodium, cut the salt in half.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published August 25, 2011. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Gail says
I don't have a bbq. Could I make this in a cast iron frying pan?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
I doubt it would be a good idea. I'm concerned about burning the coffee grounds although I'm sure the cowboys used cast iron. So if you do it, use medium to medium high heat, not high and pay attention.
Dan
Cath Brink says
Retired butcher here. The steaks aren't spoiled. The green you see is oxidation that occurs when beef hits the air. We butchers used to fight over steaks left in the meat case long enough to lose their bright red color. If the meat has a bad odor, of course you wouldn't buy it, but the steaks he's using look perfect.
DrDan says
Thanks for the note and support.
Dan
Miss Grill says
"An internal temp of 150? Either you like to chew and chew and chew your steak or the Feds are watching your barbecue. Props to our government for trying to protect us, but seriously, 150?? That means that your beautiful rib eye will become your next barbecue fuel. The concern lies on the outside of the meat, that's where the germs are going to be. Unless you like your steak dry...
I mean medium-well....just say in'...
Dr Dan says
Hummm a little color touch up many have helped on the photo. I'm a strict food safety guy... I watch dates and storage recommendations. It is never worth getting sick for a few dollars. Some oxidation on the surface does not bother me if the other things are ok. This goes for whole meat like steak. NEVER for ground meats which harbor nasty bugs
Chris says
I hate coffee, don't drink the stuff, but found last year that I really enjoy a coffee and chile based rub for beef. Seems like such a weird combo to me but the taste is there.
Jess says
This looks and sounds amazing! I am a huge coffee lover but have yet to try it in a food recipe. Thanks!
Inspired by eRecipeCards says
Oh a huge thumbs up indeed from me on coffee rubs... ads just a tiny hint of chocolate to the taste! Mouthwatering!