Top 3 Savory Coffee Dishes Using Jamaican Coffee

We think of coffee as something that we drink, but we can do so much more with it. Your favorite morning drink is not just for coffee cocktails or something you pair with sweet treats. You can also cook with coffee!

As coffee experts, we think coffee is a very versatile ingredient. You can use it to add depth and umami to your favorite savory dishes, enhancing every bite with its rich, complex flavors

Jamaican Coffee Chicken (Grill It or Bake It Up!)

If you're working on losing weight, you don't have to settle for bland, tasteless food. Try adding the Jamaican Coffee Chicken recipe to your meal plan! Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee adds a rich, smoky flavor to this savory dish, making it delicious while still being diet-friendly.

JBM coffee actually has more antioxidants than instant coffee, which can help your body turn food into energy faster, and this makes JBM coffee the best partner for your diet!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of newly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper, cracked
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1-2 tablespoon(s) of olive oil 

Steps:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl

2. Pound the chicken flat to cook it evenly. Apply the Jamaican coffee rub on both sides. Rub the seasoning into the chicken, making sure to massage it into the meat so the flavors are fully absorbed.

Baking: Rub the chicken with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. This will help the JBM coffee rub stick to the chicken better.
Grilling: Skip the olive oil and simply apply the rub directly to the chicken.

3. Marinate: Give the chicken at least an hour to soak up the flavors. Marinate for 4 to 6 hours to make the meat more tender and the flavor stronger.

4. How to grill the perfect coffee chicken:

• Spray your grill with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Grill the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

5. How to bake the perfect coffee chicken:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Put the chicken on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper.
• Pop it in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken hits that perfect internal temperature of 165°F.

6. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Cover it with foil to keep it warm. Letting the chicken rest helps keep all those juices in, making it really tender and juicy.

Steak with Coffee Sauce Recipe

If you love steak and coffee, why not pair your two favorite flavors into one savory coffee dish? Cooking with espresso adds a rich, earthy flavor to your steak. You can serve this dish with crispy sourdough bread and top it with crispy onions to add some texture to it.

Ingredients:

• 1 Picanha steak (or whatever steak cut you prefer)
• Salt (to season)
• Oil (for pan-frying)
• 1 shot of JBM coffee espresso
• 1 tablespoon whiskey (for flambéing)
• 1 tablespoon sugar (to balance the bitterness of the coffee)
• Garlic powder (to taste)
• Onion powder (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• Chili flakes (to taste)
• 1/4 cup double cream
• 2 small cubes of butter (for emulsifying)
• Lemon juice (to finish)

Steps:

1. Prepare the Steak.

• Start by patting your steak dry.
• Season it generously with salt about an hour before cooking. This allows the salt to really get into the steak.
• When you're ready to cook, give the steak another quick pat dry to ensure a good caramelization on the meat.

2. Cooking the Steak:

• Heat oil in a pan until it's hot.
• Begin by caramelizing the exterior fat on the steak. Hold the steak in place for a few seconds until the fat turns a nice brown.
• Once the fat is well-browned, start cooking the steak. Flip it every 30 seconds, moving it to different areas of the pan, so all sides get an even cook. Do this for about 2 to 3 minutes (this depends on the thickness of the cut).
• Use a thermometer to check the steak's internal temperature to avoid overcooking.
• Once the steak is cooked to your preference (we prefer it medium), remove it from the pan and let it rest.

3. Make the JBM Coffee Sauce:

• In the same pan, pour in a shot of Jamaican coffee espresso and allow it to reduce for a bit.
• Add whiskey to the pan and flambé (or cook for a few minutes to burn off the alcohol).
• Stir in sugar to balance the bitterness of the coffee, and be sure to scrape the pan to pick up all the flavorful bits.
• Once the sauce has reduced and thickened, add garlic powder, onion powder, garlic paste, bay leaf, mustard, and chili flakes. Mix everything together and let the spices cook for a minute.
• Pour in double cream and add the butter cubes to emulsify the sauce and give it a silky finish.

4. Adjust to Taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning. Make sure the flavors are balanced.

5. Ready to Serve:

• Squeeze a little lemon juice into the sauce to add some zest.
• Pour the sauce over the rested steak and enjoy!

Jamaican Coffee Chicken Piccata Recipe

If you’re a fan of bold, flavorful Italian dishes but want to switch things up, this Coffee Chicken Piccata is for you! We’re taking the classic recipe and swapping the usual white wine and lemon for rich ground Jamaican coffee, creating a savory, smooth sauce that’ll leave you craving more. Serve this with rice, vegetables, or with your favorite bread.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt for seasoning
• 1 tablespoon of ground Jamaican coffee for seasoning
• 1/3 of a cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic.
• Kosher salt for seasoning.
• Freshly cracked black pepper for seasoning
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil for frying.

For the Demi-Glace Coffee Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons of oil for sautéing.
• 1 small shallot, chopped finely.
• One cup of chicken stock, whether you made it yourself or picked it up from the store.
• 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of capers, rinsed thoroughly
• 1 tablespoon of ground Jamaican coffee, plus the one you used for seasoning.
• 1 tablespoon of sugar to help balance out the bitterness.
• Chopped parsley (garnish)
• 6 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes.
• Chopped parsley (garnish)

Steps:

1. Preparing the Chicken:

• Make sure the chicken breasts are completely dry.
• Put the chicken breast on a cutting board and use your palm to gently press it down so that it is all the same thickness.
• Add salt and ground Jamaican coffee to the chicken to season.

2. Dredge the chicken:

• Mix together 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour, granulated garlic, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper in a shallow dish. Mix with a whisk.
• Lightly coat the chicken breasts with the flour mixture, making sure the coating is thin and even.

3. Cook the Chicken:

• Set a skillet over medium heat. Put in 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Add the chicken to the pan when the oil starts to shimmer. Sear the chicken on each side for 1 to 1.5 minutes, or until it is golden brown and cooked all the way through.
• Take the chicken out of the pan and let it rest.

4. How to Make the Coffee Demi-Glace Sauce:

• Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the same skillet and cook the shallots over medium heat for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
• Add the chicken stock to the pan to deglaze it. Use a spatula to scrape up all the brown pieces from the bottom. Let it reduce by half.

5. Add the Coffee and Capers:

• Put 1 tablespoon of ground Jamaican coffee and 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of rinsed capers into the sauce. Mix the flavors together by stirring and cooking for another minute or two.

6. Finish the sauce:

• Put all the cold butter cubes in the pan and stir constantly to create a velvety, emulsified sauce.
• If the sauce starts to separate, turn down the heat and keep stirring. You should end up with a smooth and glossy sauce.

Why Use Jamaican Coffee When Cooking with Coffee?

You might be tempted to cook with instant coffee instead of using this specialty coffee. So, why spend more money buying Jamaican coffee instead of what’s already on your shelves or other specialty coffees? 

1. Cooking with Jamaican coffee grounds brings a richer and more nuanced flavor to savory dishes, especially when you think about the sometimes bitter and flat taste of instant coffee.
2. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is completely natural, giving you that genuine, pure coffee taste. Instant coffee usually has some additives or preservatives to help it last longer, and that can affect how your dish tastes.
3. Freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee gives you that consistent flavor every time you brew it. Instant coffee can change in strength and flavor because of how it's made, which can lead to some unexpected outcomes when you're cooking.
4. When you compare JBM coffee to other specialty coffees that are bold or bitter, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee stands out because of its smooth and mild flavor. When you cook with Jamaican coffee beans, the beans’ perfect balance of acidity and sweetness makes them a great match for herbs, spices, and meats.

Buying Quality Jamaican Coffee for that Perfect Coffee Savory Dishes

When it comes to cooking savory dishes, the quality of your ingredients matters. Just like choosing a high-quality steak that’s well-marbled for tenderness, you should also choose high-quality Jamaican coffee when you're cooking with coffee. 

Over time, we've traveled to Jamaica and sourced the finest Jamaican coffee directly from local farmers and producers. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the top specialty coffees in the world, grown in the ideal conditions of the legendary Blue Mountain district.

Our coffee is 100% authentic, and we’ve got certificates of authenticity for every shipment to prove it!

Check out our premium Blue Mountain Coffee and enjoy its rich, smooth flavor! If you're a coffee lover or just someone who enjoys cooking dishes with a twist, we offer both wholesale and retail options for the finest JBM coffee you can find.

Browse our collection on our website or order from our Amazon store. If you have any questions, just reach out to us anytime! We're happy to help!

FAQs

What does coffee do to meat?

Coffee makes the meat super tender, and enhances the char flavor. Also, covering your steak with a rub mixed with coffee grounds creates a satisfying crunch.

Adding coffee to your steak rub brings out a rich, earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the natural smokiness of the steak. The coffee rub not only boosts the flavor, but the grounds also help form a crust that makes the steak's texture even better. Plus, caffeine helps to tenderize the steak, making it even more juicy and delicious.

Can you cook with instant coffee?

Yes, you can cook with instant coffee. Even though cooking with instant coffee might not taste as rich when you cook with freshly brewed coffee, it can still bring that nice coffee flavor to savory meals. Using high-quality specialty coffee instead of instant coffee gives you a smoother, more refined flavor with deeper complexity that makes your savory coffee dish even better.

Can you use ground coffee in cooking?

Yes, you can use ground coffee in cooking. Cooking with ground coffee is perfect for savory dishes where you want a bold, rich coffee flavor, such as in coffee rubs, marinades, or hearty sauces like barbecue or steak sauces.

However, it's best to avoid using it in delicate sauces, such as cream-based or beurre blanc sauces. The grounds can result in an unpleasant grittiness that disrupts the smooth texture you're aiming for in these dishes.