Coffee Rub Smoky BBQ Burgers (Printable Version)

Bold coffee-rubbed burgers paired with tangy homemade smoky BBQ sauce for an unforgettable grilled cookout meal.

# What You Need:

→ Burger Patties

01 - 1½ pounds ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Coffee Rub

04 - 1½ tablespoons finely ground coffee, unflavored
05 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
09 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
10 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
11 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

→ Smoky BBQ Sauce

13 - 1 cup ketchup
14 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
15 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
16 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
17 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
18 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
19 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
20 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
21 - ½ teaspoon salt
22 - ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, optional

→ Burger Assembly

23 - 4 brioche or hamburger buns
24 - 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese, optional
25 - Lettuce leaves
26 - 1 large tomato, sliced
27 - 1 small red onion, sliced
28 - Dill pickle slices

# How To Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, combine the finely ground coffee, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir until all spices are evenly distributed.
02 - Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions, each about 6 ounces. Gently shape into patties without overworking the meat. Season both sides of each patty with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
03 - Generously coat both sides of each patty with the prepared coffee rub, pressing gently so the seasoning adheres. Set the patties aside at room temperature while preparing the sauce.
04 - In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and liquid smoke if using. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has slightly thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
05 - Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
06 - Place the seasoned patties on the hot grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until the desired doneness is reached. During the last minute of cooking, top each patty with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese if using, and close the grill lid to allow the cheese to melt.
07 - Place the buns cut-side down on the grill and toast for 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
08 - Layer lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, and red onion rings on the bottom buns. Place each coffee-rubbed patty on top, drizzle generously with the smoky BBQ sauce, and add dill pickle slices. Cap with the top buns and serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The coffee rub sounds weird until you try it, and then you will never go back to plain seasoned burgers again.
  • That homemade BBQ sauce comes together in ten minutes and puts anything from a bottle to shame.
02 -
  • Let the rubbed patties sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes before grilling so they cook evenly instead of searing cold on the outside.
  • The BBQ sauce thickens considerably as it cools, so pull it off the heat when it still looks slightly thinner than you want.
03 -
  • Press a thumb-sized dent in the center of each patty before grilling so it puffs up evenly instead of turning into a meatball.
  • Let the burgers rest for two minutes off the heat before assembling so the juices redistribute instead of running out onto your bun.

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