The Art of Making Coffee |July 7, 2022

Adding 100% Kona Coffee To Your Summer Bbq

Let us take a summer break from pursuing the perfect cup of coffee and look at a couple of nifty ways to include your favorite coffee in recipes for the BBQ grill. If you are a vegetarian, I apologize in advance, you might be able to adapt these to meat substitutes, but for today we are talking about chicken, beef, and pork.

Using coffee in cooking has a very interesting effect. Mostly, it will add an earthiness to the food. When combined with sugars, it will bring out hints of rich caramel. What you won’t taste is coffee. The amazing thing is if you remove the coffee, you won’t get the same effect; it becomes a sort of hidden ingredient.

That doesn’t mean you can use any coffee. Better coffees (like our Kona Coffee) will deliver sweeter and more complex flavors. You also will want to make your coffee a little thicker. This means espresso, Moka Pot, or brewed at a lower ratio of water to coffee. (Maybe 12:1) That thicker brew will create more body in the sauce, and really give you those rich smoky flavors.

Below, I’ve shared three of my favorites. A marinade, a rub, and a BBQ sauce. Enjoy!

The 100% Kona Coffee Marinade

I like to use this with thin-cut meats, Kalbi, and thin-sliced beef like flank or skirt steak, but have even used it on thin-cut rib-eye for a great taste. I have also used this to brine beef jerky.

1.5 oz shot of 100% Kona Coffee (Full City Roast) made in an espresso maker or Moka Pot
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon fresh ground cumin
½ teaspoon curry powder

1. Whisk all ingredients together vigorously.

2. Soak your protein in this brine for a minimum of 2 hours.

3. BBQ over high heat, making sure plenty of smoke is created from the dripping marinade.

The 100% Kona Coffee Spice Rub

I love this on chicken and beef, but especially on pork. Try this with a little thicker cut of protein and make sure you allow the rub to sit for a minimum of 2 hours.

In a large mason jar, combine:

2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons very finely ground 100% Kona Coffee (Dark Roast)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1.5 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon crushed mustard seed

1. Mix the ingredients well and shake the closed jar several times.

2. Brush protein with extra virgin olive oil.

3. Apply generous amounts of rub to the protein and both rub and pat the spices into the surface of the meat on both sides.

4. Allow to rest in the fridge for a least 2 hours.

5. Grill to perfection and enjoy the complex earthy flavors.

100% Kona Coffee BBQ Sauce

Here is a thick and rich sauce that is earthy and tangy with just the right amount of spice. Use this on any cut of meat. When BBQing, remember that smoke = flavor, so you want to make sure the meat is dripping when it goes on to the hot grill, cover it when you get the most smoke and then re-apply sauce a couple of times, including right before serving.

In a large blender combine:

1 8oz can of tomato puree
1 small can of tomato paste
½ cup strongly brewed dark roast coffee
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
½ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 whole garlic cloves
½ sweet onion
2 teaspoons sea salt
1.5 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon mustard seed (or a squirt of real dijon mustard)
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
A splash vanilla extract

1. After blending everything together, pour into a saucepan and simmer for an hour.

2. To thicken the sauce, put 2 tablespoons of corn starch and 2 tablespoons of water in a cup and mix until liquid, add to the sauce, and stir. You can repeat this step as many times as you need to the desired thickness but make sure you wait at least 5 minutes before you add more.

3. Brush your protein with sauce before during and after your grilling session.

My hope is that you have an amazing summer and please let me know how you liked these recipes. You can find some more interesting recipes below:

The Perfect 100% Kona Coffee Affogato
5 Super Satisfying Holiday Espresso Roast Coffee Drinks