10/18/2026
Joy of Grilling
joyofgrilling.com

Espresso Ancho Beef Rub

Espresso ancho beef rub in a bowl with coffee beans and a dried ancho chile

beef , brisket , espresso , ancho

Earthy ancho chile and finely ground coffee give beef a deep, gently bitter crust.

Ingredients

  • 6 teaspoons pure ancho chile powder
  • 3 teaspoons finely ground espresso coffee
  • 3 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Makes: approximately 6 tablespoons · Prep Time: 5 min (10 min if grinding) · Suggested amount: 2-3 teaspoons per pound · Resting time: 30 minutes-4 hours

Directions

Measure all ingredients into a clean, dry bowl. Crush any coarse herbs, seeds, or berries as specified.

Stir thoroughly, breaking up lumps, until evenly mixed.

Measure the amount needed into a separate dish. Pat meat or seafood dry; lightly coat the food with oil to help the rub adhere. For vegetables, use the oil amount suggested above.

Sprinkle on the suggested amount and coat evenly. Follow the resting time above, keeping raw meat and seafood refrigerated.

Grill, roast, or smoke using a cooking method suitable for the chosen food. Check doneness with a food thermometer where appropriate.

Store unused, uncontaminated rub in a labeled airtight jar following the general storage note.

Recipe tip: Use indirect heat for large cuts; finely ground coffee is less gritty.

Storage and handling: All salt in these rubs is fine sea salt – kosher salt varies by brand and is not a volume-for-volume substitute. Start at the lower suggested amount, and omit or reduce salt when the food is already salted, brined, or injected. Measure the rub you need into a separate dish before handling raw food; never return rub or utensils that touched raw food to the storage jar, and keep seasoned raw meat and seafood refrigerated during any resting time. Store unused rub airtight in a cool, dark, dry place, in small batches – use within about 2 months for best flavor, and within about 1 month for sesame, nori, or fruit-powder blends. Discard any mixture that is damp, moldy, or rancid. Use dry herbs and unsweetened dried citrus peel, not fresh zest, in stored mixes. These are seasoning recipes, not complete cooking schedules – cook the chosen food using an appropriate recipe and a food thermometer.

Joy of Grilling

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Got a recipe worth sharing?

Fire up the grill, snap a photo, and send it our way. Every submission is reviewed before it goes live.

Submit a Recipe