Say the word "coffee" and most people think about a hot beverage made from ground beans and served in a mug. Few associate it with barbecue, yet the sharp acidic flavor makes a perfect complement to steaks and chops. Coffee has made its mark in the barbecue world as a dry rub supplement, adding what Joshua Bousel from the cooking website Serious Eats calls "an earthy quality to an already complex mix of flavors." How you prepare ribs depends on whether you use pork or beef ribs, but in both cases, coffee provides significant flavor.
Beef Ribs With Coffee
Step 1
Create a dry rub using instant coffee, dark brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, kosher salt and ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly in a bowl.
Step 2
Rub the coffee blend on the ribs, using your hands to coat the meat on both sides. Set the ribs in a large roasting pan, cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
Step 3
Set a steamer basket into a large stockpot and fill with cold water until it reaches the bottom of the basket. Bring the water to a boil on your stovetop over high heat. Place the dry-rubbed ribs inside of the steamer basket and cook until tender, approximately 45 minutes.
Step 4
Preheat a barbecue grill to medium-high heat.
Step 5
Remove the ribs from the steamer and transfer them to the grill. Cook for seven minutes, turn and cook an additional three minutes, or until the fat begins to crisp. Serve hot.
Pork Ribs With Coffee
Step 1
Mix six cloves of chopped garlic, firmly packed dark brown sugar, chili powder, ground instant espresso powder, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, ground mustard and cayenne pepper in a small bowl with a wooden spoon until well blended.
Step 2
Preheat a barbecue grill to medium.
Step 3
Lift each rack gently and set them on a large plate. Use your hands to coat the ribs with the coffee mixture, massaging the spices into the meat. Repeat with each rack.
Step 4
Cook the ribs on your grill using direct heat for 30 to 35 minutes, or when the outside is crisp and the internal temperature of the meat has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 5
Turn the pork ribs only once during cooking to ensure even cooking.
Things You'll Need
- 1 1/2 tsp. instant coffee
- 2 1/2 tsp. dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. ground black pepper
- 6 lbs. beef ribs, trimmed and cut into single ribs
- Mixing bowl
- Large roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
- Large stockpot with steamer basket
- Large tongs
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 tbsp. ground instant espresso powder
- 1 tbsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp. ground mustard
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 6 lbs. baby back pork ribs
- Wooden spoon
- Large plate
References
- Serious Eats; Sunday Supper: Coffee Rubbed Beef Ribs; Sydney Oland; June 18, 2011.
- Serious Eats; Barbecue Coffee-Rubbed Ribs; Joshua Bousel; Jan. 21, 2011.
- "The Good Neighbor Cookbook"; Spiced Coffee-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs; Sara Quessenberry and Suzanne Schlosberg; Andrews McMeel Publishing; 2010,
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