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Over 50% of Americans over the age of 18 consume coffee every day with speciality coffee sales increasing by 20% annually and accounting for nearly 8% of the 18 billion dollar US coffee market. Chains with thousands of branches like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are dominating US daily street life especially in the early morning when up to 90% of daily coffee consumption occurs. Coffee drive-ins are skyrocketing in popularity, cafes are popping up everywhere and the retail coffee sector enjoying an increase in turnover of almost 23% between 2015 and 2016. Coffee is everywhere, including in our kitchens and there is no indication that the ever-increasing spike in the coffee trend is set to slow down anytime soon.

Chefs have been utilizing the power of the coffee bean in their dishes for a long time, matching it with everything from beef to avocado.  If you have a favourite coffee flavor that you enjoy drinking, incorporate it into your meals. If you are adventurous and want to experiment with a new flavor in your cooking or baking, brew yourself a cup of coffee at home so that you become familiar with the taste profile. Coffee generally pairs well with citrus, cinnamon, garlic and salt but the extent to which you use it in the kitchen are limited only by your own sense of adventure and personal taste preferences.

Coffee generally pairs well with citrus, cinnamon, garlic and salt but the extent to which you use it in the kitchen are limited only by your own sense of adventure and personal taste preferences.

A coffee-based marinade is great for both pork and beef, especially tenderloin and steak, and is extremely easy to make. A coffee marinade takes only minutes to prepare and is extremely open to interpretation with you being able to add your favourite flavour profile to it with an array of herbs and spices. By simply mixing 2 cups of strongly brewed coffee and adding equal parts balsamic vinegar and molasses to it, you will be left with a delicious base to which you can add anything from Dijon mustard to garlic, salt, pepper and any herbs or spices of your choice.

Place your meat of choice in a resealable bag and cover with your marinade. Seal the bag and place in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. If it’s a tough cut of meat it may need to marinade a bit longer.  Continue to cook as normal and make sure to baste throughout the process. You will never use a shop-bought marinade again.

Coffee has a distinct affinity with strongly flavored meats and pairs extremely well with smoky bacon. A Maple Coffee glaze is the perfect accompaniment to the sweet and savory taste profile of everyone’s favorite smoked pork product.  There is really no wrong way in which you can prepare bacon although a maple coffee glaze will definitely transform a humble sliver of bacon into a culinary masterpiece. 

For the glaze you simply have to mix 1/3 cup of maple syrup to 2/3 cups of strongly brewed coffee. Place the bacon on a sheet of baking paper, brush on copious amounts of your glaze and place under the grill until done. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy.

Coffee generally pairs well with citrus, cinnamon, garlic and salt but the extent to which you use it in the kitchen are limited only by your own sense of adventure and personal taste preferences.