Coffee rubs use ground coffee or espresso to build a darker, roasted crust on beef, with a slightly bitter edge that balances the salt and sugar. This page has coffee rubs and coffee BBQ sauces from Outlaw Barbecue, Cattleman's Grill, Smokes Seasoning, Uncle Mungos, BBQ Lab, Emus Rub, Middle Kingdom, The Feedlot and more, with flat $10 shipping Australia-wide.
Which coffee rub should I buy?
| Product | Maker | Style / heat | Best on |
| Stockman CRUST Espresso Beef Rub | Outlaw Barbecue | Espresso SPG / cool as (0/11) | Brisket, steak, beef ribs, game |
| Original Cowboy Coffee Steak Rub | Cattleman's Grill | Coffee steak rub / cool as (0/11) | Ribeye, sirloin, pork chops |
| Brisket Black BBQ Rub | Smokes Seasoning | Coffee beef rub / mild (2/11) | Brisket, steak, burgers, game |
| Beef Bounce Rub | Low N Slow Basics | SPG with coffee / mild (1/11) | Brisket, short ribs, steak |
| Beef Baron | Middle Kingdom | Pepper and coffee / cool as (0/11) | Brisket, steak, beef ribs, burgers |
| Chipotle & Espresso | Uncle Mungos | Smoky coffee rub / medium (4/11) | Brisket, ribs, burgers |
| Black Gold | BBQ Lab | Coffee and peanut butter / mild (2/11) | Steak, beef roasts, lamb, venison |
| Coffee Rub | Emus Rub | Coffee over a hot rub / medium (6/11) | Lamb, red meat |
| Hunter Lamb and Game Rub | Butchers Axe | Herby, with coffee / cool as (0/11) | Lamb shoulder, chops, venison |
| BBQ Sauce Coffee & Molasses | Fancy Hank's | Coffee BBQ sauce / cool as (0/11) | Brisket, short ribs, steak |
| Barnyard Brew Espresso BBQ Sauce | The Feedlot | Espresso BBQ sauce / cool as (0/11) | Brisket burgers, beef ribs, roast beef |
| The BBQ Sauce | Four Saucemen | Date, cocoa and coffee / mild (2/11) | Ribs, brisket, burgers |
How to use a coffee rub
- Coffee suits beef first: brisket, beef ribs, steak and burgers. It also works on lamb and game.
- On brisket, rub the night before and smoke low and steady. The coffee helps the bark go dark early, so judge doneness by feel, not colour.
- On steak, season well and sear hard. Rubs with sugar, like Cattleman's Grill, can catch over very high heat, so watch the pan.
- Pair a coffee rub with a coffee sauce, like Fancy Hank's Coffee & Molasses, for brisket night.
- Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11.
Does a coffee rub taste like coffee?
Not really. On a long cook the coffee turns roasty and slightly bitter, closer to dark chocolate or a char than a flat white. It deepens the beef flavour rather than taking over. If you want the coffee note stronger, Emus Rub Coffee Rub and Outlaw's Stockman CRUST put it front and centre. BBQ Lab Black Gold also contains peanut butter, so check the ingredient list on each product page for allergens.
Australian-made coffee rubs
Uncle Mungos, Middle Kingdom, Fancy Hank's and Butchers Axe (Melbourne) are Australian made, and Outlaw Barbecue is a Canberra brand blended and packed in Australia. Browse Outlaw Barbecue and Cattleman's Grill for more.
See also our beef, brisket, steak and savoury collections.
Frequently asked questions
What does coffee do in a BBQ rub?
Ground coffee browns and roasts on the meat, building a darker crust with a slightly bitter edge that balances the salt and sugar in the rub. It suits beef most, especially brisket and steak.
Does coffee rub make meat taste like coffee?
Not really. After cooking the coffee reads as roasty and slightly bitter, closer to dark chocolate than a cup of coffee, and it deepens the beef flavour rather than taking over.
Which coffee rub suits brisket?
Outlaw Barbecue Stockman CRUST, Smokes Seasoning Brisket Black and Low N Slow Basics Beef Bounce all list brisket as a top use. Uncle Mungos Chipotle & Espresso adds a medium chilli warmth.
Can you use coffee rub on lamb?
Yes. Butchers Axe Hunter Lamb and Game Rub, Emus Rub Coffee Rub and BBQ Lab Black Gold all list lamb as a use, and coffee also works well on venison and other game.
Where can I buy coffee rubs in Australia?
The Rub Hub stocks coffee rubs and coffee BBQ sauces from Outlaw Barbecue, Cattleman's Grill, Smokes Seasoning, Uncle Mungos, Emus Rub and more, and ships Australia-wide for a flat $10.