Why You Should Try Adding Coffee To Your Steak Rub

A typical morning routine for may consist of several different routines including personal hygiene and physically activity. For many, one of the more comforting parts of the morning is sipping on a fresh, hot cup of coffee while the sun rises. While it provides plenty of caffeine and warmth, coffee is also used to enrich decadent desserts such as tiramisu. In fact, Swift River Coffee states that coffee makes cakes and brownies taste richer, especially when using a strong brewed coffee. But surely such pronounced and robust notes couldn't possibly be incorporated into savory dishes, much less a certain type of protein that is coveted by grill masters and high-end steakhouses alike.

As it turns out, coffee isn't just for drinking and sweet treats after all. It also adds rich and nutty flavors to steak dry rubs, like this sweet, smoky, and garlicky one. But why go the extra mile to combine coffee with a steak rub? Isn't a steak rub by itself enough to pump up the protein's flavor? We'll happily provide insight into the answers of these questions.

According to Koffee Kult Coffee Roasters, ground coffee helps to lock in the juices that are on the inside of a steak, which makes it incredibly moist and tender. This is also a delicious contrast to its outer crusty sear, which, aesthetically, is a richly dark brown hue from the coffee. Koffee Kult goes on to explain that coffee has similar tannin levels as red wine. Tannins are compounds that tend to be astringent as well as bitter, and are found in certain wines, dark chocolate and, of course, coffee, according to Wine Enthusiast. If you've ever been to a steakhouse, you'll likely see a wine menu that suggests compatibility options between certain cuts of steaks and, specifically, red wines. The notable pairing goes hand-in-hand because of how red wine impacts our palates, which allows the fatty flavors of the steak to become more pronounced. And the good news is that coffee grounds work in a similar fashion.

If you want to add coffee to your steak rub at home, TheKitchn states that using freshly ground coffee adds a more lively flavor to your steak than pre-ground coffee. But if you're in a pinch or if you don't have access to a coffee grinder, pre-ground coffee will elevate your steak rub just as well. Regardless of what you use, the next time you're ready to cook steak, add some coffee to your rub for an elevated flavor.