Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

5 from 1 vote

Jan 04, 2023

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Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (2)

Coffee rubbed steak is out of this world! An amazing thing happens when you rub a high-quality cut of beef with spices, brown sugar, and ground coffee. The combination of coffee and pan-searing develops an amazing and flavorful crust around your steak that is almost unattainable by other means. I won’t go as far as calling the crust bark, but it does take on some of the similar smokey charred characteristics.

The pan-searing and oven-finishing steak method renders perfectly cooked steak that is juicy and pink on the inside with an amazing crispy exterior. The coffee rub really takes this steak to the next level and works really well with NY strips, pan-seared ribeye, filet mignon, and more.

You can also achieve the perfect texture when you learn to reverse sear your steak.

Table of Contents

  • Coffee Rub For Steak
  • Temperature For Steak
  • Always Let Steaks Rest
  • What to Serve With Steak
  • More Steak Recipes
  • Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe

Coffee Rub For Steak

My coffee rub is very simple. Ground coffee, garlic powder, chili powder, and brown sugar. The spices add flavor and the tiniest bit of heat while the brown sugar balances out some of the bitterness. The end result is very mild and by no means sweet.

Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (3)
Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (4)

Always use decent quality non-flavored ground coffee so you aren’t introducing any weird flavors. Grounds should be fresh and not previously used or soaked. There is no need to use expensive coffee—just your middle-of-the-road light or medium roast blend. Avoid any instant coffee or espresso.

To prepare coffee rubbed steak, start off by seasoning the steak liberally with salt and pepper and then massage the coffee rub all over the exterior. This ensures your steak is adequately seasoned before adding coffee and spices. Always let the steak rest for 30 minutes prior to cooking so it can come to room temp and soak up the seasoning.

Temperature For Steak

The timing/temperature chart below corresponds to the pan sear/oven method in this recipe. It’s a great guide assuming you choose a steak of similar size and thickness as listed in the recipe. I recommend a digital thermometer to verify your desired level of doneness.

DonenessTemperature RangeOven Duration
Very Rare/rare120°F to 125°F 4 minutes
Medium rare125°F to 130°F5-6 minutes
Medium135°F to 140°F6-7 minutes
Medium well145°F to 150°F8-9 minutes
Well done160°F and above10+ minutes

SMOKE WARNING: Cooking steaks at high temps in a skillet tends to get smokey. Open a kitchen window and turn on your kitchen’s overhead vent fan before you start to help with ventilation.

Always Let Steaks Rest

The final most important step, let the steak rest for 7-10 minutes before cutting into it. Anthony Bourdain once said the most important aspect of cooking any steak is the rest period after you take it off the heat. Letting a steak rest before cutting is critical for two reasons. One, it continues to actually cook the steak. Second, the juices evenly distribute throughout the meat, yielding the perfect bite every time.

Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (5)

What to Serve With Steak

You can never go wrong with steak and potatoes. Pair this porterhouse steak with my parmesan roasted fingerling potatoes or my garlic butter roasted red potatoes. If you’re looking for ultra-crispy potatoes, try my pesto smashed potatoes! If you prefer mashed potatoes, try my rich and delicious cream cheese mashed potatoes.

My favorite veggie of choice will always be my roasted bacon and parmesan Brussels sprouts. Make this recipe surf and turf with pan-seared lemon butter scallops or baked lobster tails.

More Steak Recipes

T-Bone Steak with Garlic and Rosemary Recipe

Steak Frites with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

Porterhouse Steak Recipe

Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Red Wine and Balsamic Sauce

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5 from 1 vote

Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe

Servings: 2

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

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Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (10)

Pan-seared steak with a simple coffee rub delivers a dreamy crust and juicy inside.

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless 12-14 ounce NY strips, roughly 1.5-2 inches thick
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 whole thyme sprig
  • 1 whole rosemary sprig
  • 1 whole garlic clove
  • Canola or vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Coffee rub (enough for 2-3 steaks)

  • 2 tablespoons ground coffee, non-flavored light or medium roast
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 415°F.

  • Combine coffee rub ingredients together in a small bowl. Mix until incorporated.

  • Pat steaks dry and season liberally with salt and pepper on all sides. Rub a light layer of coffee rub on all sides. A generous, yet thin and even coating all around is best. Let steaks rest for 30 minutes prior to cooking to come to room temp and soak up the seasoning.

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in an oven-safe cast iron skillet on high heat, allowing the skillet to become very hot. Twirl the pan as the oil heats to distribute. When the oil starts to smoke, place the steaks face down and sear undisturbed for 2 minutes. Flip and sear for an additional 2 minutes. This will give your steak a beautiful brown crust.

  • Add the thyme, rosemary, garlic, and butter to the skillet and immediately transfer to the oven. [WARNING]skilletmay be hot, handle it with oven mitts. For rare, bake for 4 minutes. Medium rare, 5-6 minutes. Medium, 6-7 minutes. Medium well, 8-9 minutes. Remember, depending on the size of the steak, the more or less time it will take. This recipe is ideal for steaks roughly 1.5-2 inches thick.

  • Remove steaks from theskilletand set them on a plate, lightly cover with foil, and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This is important to bring your steak to its final serving temperature.

  • Spoon the herb-infused pan drippings all over the steaks and serve.

Notes

Cooking steaks at high temps in a skillet tends to get smokey. Open a kitchen window and turn on your kitchen’s overhead vent fan before you start to help with ventilation.

Temperatures for steak
Rare: 120 °F to 125 °F
Medium rare: 125 °F to 130 °F
Medium: 135 °F to 140 °F
Medium well: 145 °F to 150 °F
Well done: 160 °F and above

Nutrition

Serving: 12ouncesCalories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 0.7gProtein: 78gFat: 15.8gSaturated Fat: 7.2gCholesterol: 203mgSodium: 1388mgSugar: 0.7g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Coffee Rubbed Steak Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does coffee do to steak? ›

Quite the contrary — coffee really brings out the flavor of the steak. And in addition to being used as a seasoning for steak, coffee can serve as a steak tenderizer and make the meat extra-moist.

What does coffee steak taste like? ›

If choosing between juicy, savory steak or something a little more spicy is just too hard, this coffee rubbed steak is the answer. The coffee brings out the rich, earthy flavor of the beef while creating a nice crust. And a hint of cayenne adds just the right amount of heat.

How long should dry rub be on steak before cooking? ›

Be sure to let the rub sit for 30 minutes or up to 1½ hours to allow the salt and spices to penetrate the meat before cooking. Another great use of dry rubs when it comes to roasts and steaks is to make a compound butter. This is so much easier than you think. You only need two ingredients: a great dry rub and butter.

Is coffee good for tenderizing meat? ›

A Coffee Rub Changes the Flavor Profile of Meat

You can thank the acids in coffee for your esophageal dilemma. However, those same acids, along with enzymes, help break down and tenderize meat.

Does coffee rubbed steak taste like coffee? ›

Coffee rubbed steak would not have any taste of coffee. Instead, its spice is saturated in the meat and creates a slightly earthy and spicy flavor depending on your own spice preference.

How do steakhouses get their steaks so tender? ›

Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Wet aging is done by vacuum packing the meat and letting it age in its own juices. Wet aging is done by more than 90% of fine steakhouses.

What is Traeger coffee rub good for? ›

Our hardwood pellets, rubs and sauces, pair well with everything but Traeger Coffee Rub especially pairs well with: Beef. Vegetables.

What is the tastiest steak? ›

The Ribeye is generally considered to be the most flavourful steak. These steaks are cut from the ribs and contain a lot of marbling throughout. The muscle from where the Ribeye is cut, isn't used often so the meat is very tender.

Can you taste coffee in a rub? ›

So does coffee rub taste like coffee? Not really. Think of it as a great rub with deep earthiness that is slightly bitter, but not overwhelming. This will be one of those rubs that quickly becomes a go-to when you need that perfectly unique beef seasoning.

Is it better to marinate or dry rub steak? ›

Rubs aren't as flavorfully strong as marinades and should be used on pricier cuts of steak that need just a dab of extra flavor to bring out the best taste.

Do you oil steak before rub? ›

To help your seasonings adhere to the steak's surface, you can brush all sides with a small amount of olive oil first. Season steak generously, especially with thicker steaks. You'll want to have the flavor in every bite, and since only the outside gets seasoned, it needs to be enough to achieve that flavor.

Should you oil meat before dry rub? ›

A dry rub can be rubbed directly into the meat and massaged until it sticks to the surface. We recommend patting your cut of meat dry using paper towels. From there, you can season directly onto the meat or apply a small amount of oil over the surface before coating generously in the dry rub.

How to use coffee to tenderize meat? ›

Combine the coffee grounds, balsamic vinegar, garlic, shallots, some salt and pepper and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Use as a marinade for steak. Marinate for 30 minutes to 4 hours, then cook the steak as desired.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

What is the fastest meat tenderizer? ›

Tenderizing with a baking soda solution is faster than using a saltwater brine. Meat only has to sit in a baking soda solution for 15 to 20 minutes, but a brine solution can take at least 30 minutes to start working.

What does adding coffee to meat do? ›

It tenderises meat

As an added bonus to the flavour pairings, coffee can help to tenderise meat. This gives you a more enjoyable end result with less uncomfortable chewing, and is generally applied as a dry spice rub directly onto the meet, with the excess being brushed off before consuming.

Will coffee tenderize steak? ›

Coffee rub on steak can also act as a tenderizer, making meat softer and enhancing the moisture of the meat by creating a sealed crust of flavor.

Does coffee pair well with steak? ›

Coffee does a few things when paired with steak. First it helps tenderize the meat. Second it will give the steak a nice crust when searing.

Is coffee good after steak? ›

Therefore, experts advise against drinking coffee after eating foods rich in zinc. This category includes red meat, oysters, poultry, and beans. Also, do not combine shrimp and coffee.

References

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