Coffee BBQ Rub

The coffee sweetness balances the garlic and onion so well that it’s hard to stop snacking on the smoked chicken right off the grill. I’ve used it on pork ribs too, and the dark, roasty crust it forms is exactly what I hoped for.

The rich coffee and raw sugar sweetness give this rub a deep, almost smoky complexity that really clings to the meat. I used it on a rack of ribs and the crust it formed was perfect—earthy, savory, with just a hint of caramel. It’s earned a permanent spot in my grilling rotation.

The garlic and onion come through more than I expected, which makes it a solid savory rub rather than just a novelty coffee thing. Used it on pork ribs and the crust got a nice dark, sweet char. Only knock is the coffee flavor fades a bit during long grilling, so I'd save it for quicker cooks.