Coffee isn’t just a drink; it can also be used in cooking. Here, we’ll share a few culinary uses for coffee, such as adding it to marinades and barbecue sauces, using it as a spice powder, and more. If you enjoy the flavor of coffee, give it a try.

Marinades and Marinades for Meat

Marinades not only enhance the flavor of meat but also help it tenderize. You can add coffee or coffee powder to marinades used to marinate red meats (such as beef and pork).

You can also add a little coffee to marinades for braised meats and other stews. To prevent the coffee flavor from overpowering the other ingredients, add small amounts gradually until you adjust the flavor to your liking.

Salad Dressing

Adding a little coffee to salad dressing is also delicious. Let’s make a coffee vinaigrette. Here’s how:

Ingredients:

2 garlic cloves (minced)
2 tablespoons coffee (cooled)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup or other syrup
2 tablespoons walnuts (chopped)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black or white pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

• Using a food processor: Blend all ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor until combined. Then add the olive oil to the blender and continue blending.
• By Hand: If you don’t have a food processor or want a bit of crunch to your salad dressing, blend all ingredients by hand using a whisk.

Coffee Jelly

Most coffee jelly is a bittersweet, adult-friendly version made with coffee, gelatin powder, heavy cream, and sugar. You can also use coffee jelly in a variety of recipes.

Barbecue Sauce or Spice Powder

Mix coffee and coffee powder into barbecue sauce. Apply to meat and grill on the barbecue or in the oven until cooked through. In addition to barbecue sauce, you can also make a special spice powder and simply apply it to the meat and grill it. Spice powders can be blended to your taste. Here’s an example recipe:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon coffee powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Sprinkle this spice powder over the meat and bake in the oven.

Cream Spread

Coffee spread made with coffee powder and heavy cream can be spread on toast or other foods. Here’s how:

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup coffee powder
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/3 teaspoon salt (adjust as needed)
Cooking filter bag
Vacuum freezer
Food processor

Instructions:

• Pour the heavy cream into a vacuum freezer and add the coffee powder, stirring until combined.
• Cover the container and refrigerate overnight.
• Use a coffee filter or other suitable tool to filter out the coffee powder from the cream.
• Pour the filtered heavy cream into a food processor and beat with sugar and salt until creamy.
• Place the cream into a cooking filter bag and squeeze the bag to remove any excess water. If not using immediately, store in the refrigerator.

Cakes and Biscuits

It’s also common to use coffee or coffee powder in cakes and biscuits, creating a pleasant coffee aroma when eaten.