Coffee Chipotle Meat Rub

Coffee chipotle meat rub? Just say WOW! and get it over with — you know you want to.

Seriously, what is not to like about summer…well besides the 107 degree heat? Cooking out is the best! I must admit that Marc likes the gas grill and I miss the taste of good old fashioned charcoal in my burgers but still, there is just something about eating a hamburger that has been cooked out of doors that is amazing.

My dad used to brush hamburgers with a little honey. I can’t seem to replicate that flavor and he never told me how he did it, what he mixed, how much…sigh. It is a flavor that is lost to me forever, everywhere but my mind.

These hamburgers with coffee chipotle rub are a great substitute though!

This is super easy, and lends a smoky, complex flavor to meat. I used it on hamburgers and everyone loved them. It gave the burgers a nice crust and a fantastic flavor. You can adjust the amount of chipotle for the amount of heat that you want. Do remember that chipotle continues to get hotter the longer it sits. The rub needs to flavor the meat for about an hour before grilling, but if you wait much after that your burgers may be a little more spicy than you like.

This calls for turbinado sugar because it melts in heat and adds a nice texture to the exterior of the burger. You can use plain or brown sugar if you like. It will change the final product.

Remember that the different roasts of coffee will give you different results in the flavor of the meat.

Coffee Chipotle Rub

• 1/4 cup finely ground coffee
• 2  teaspoons ground chipotle pepper
• 1/4 cup smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tbs garlic powder

Mix together and rub on meat. Allow to stand an hour before grilling. You can store excess in a cool, dry place…not the fridge!

image:marye audet