Oven Roasted Coffee-Rubbed Pork Shoulder

“Yes, you read it right—this Oven Roasted Coffee-Rubbed Pork Shoulder has coffee rubbed all over it and is absolutely one of the best-tasting roasted dishes you will ever have! It is so flavorful, moist, and tender, no one will think it is made with just a handful of ingredients and a Dutch oven. The coffee-crusted pork is seared and then roasted for hours to get that fall-off-the-bone tenderness that is to die for!”

Why use Coffee Rub in Meats? 

Though it is common to use it for drinking or flavoring desserts, using coffee with savory dishes is not as weird as you might think. If you have never tried using coffee as a dry rub to your meats, then you might want to break out of your shell and give it a go! Here are several reasons why:

• Coffee gives the pork meat a deeper, earthy flavor! Using it as a rub will not give you coffee-flavored pork, so do not worry! What it does is intensify the natural savoriness of the meat, kinda like how it deepens the cocoa flavor when added to chocolate cake or bread batters. 
• Helps in making the pork tender. Since most coffee is acidic in nature, it acts as a great meat tenderizer too! And you can see from the pictures here that it is undeniably true! 
• It creates a delightful crust when seared and roasted! Aside from the obvious aesthetic, it adds to the dish, coffee grounds bring out the best of the accompanying seasonings on the pork rub mix. It highlights the sweetness of the caramelized sugar and the zing from the cayenne pepper! They retain a bit of their bitter taste which adds another complex layer to the crust. 

Ingredients Needed

This recipe does not need an elaborate ingredient list! A few select seasonings and spices are enough to create a mouthwatering pork dish that can impress the heck out of everyone. Here’s what you’ll be needing to make it:

• Pork– you can use pork shoulder or butt for this recipe. Opt for bone-in so they’ll come out juicy and tender after searing and roasting them. 
• Coffee grounds– you can use any brand you like for this recipe but do not skimp on this! A great quality coffee would go a long way in making the dish tastier. You can use coarser grounds if you prefer your crust with more texture. 
• Brown sugar– this gives the oven-roasted pork a caramel-y flavor and additional texture. If you do not have this, you can use coconut or white sugar instead. 
• Seasonings– you’ll need garlic powder, cayenne, kosher salt, and freshly ground to give the rub a savory and slightly spicy kick! Add more or less depending on your preference. 
• Beef broth- I like using this instead of just using water to simmer the meat with. It really makes a difference flavor-wise. For a lighter option, you can use chicken or vegetable broth instead. 
• Olive oil– you can use other types of oil you have. 

How to Make Oven Roasted Coffee-Rubbed Pork Shoulder

Though it takes a while to get this ready for the table, you’ll only be doing actual hands-on work for 10 minutes with this recipe. All you have to do is make the dry rub and sear the pork cut then let your oven handle the rest! Added bonus- you’ll only be cleaning up a small bowl, a pan, and the dutch oven afterward! 

Preparation:

• Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Steps: 

1. Make the coffee dry rub. In a small bowl combine ground coffee, brown sugar, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and pepper.
2. Rub it all over the pork cut. Take your pork shoulder and place it on a baking sheet or large plate, and pat dry. Take the coffee seasoning and rub it all over the pork.
3. Sear. Next, take a large Dutch oven and preheat it to medium-high heat. Add olive oil to the Dutch oven. Sear the pork shoulder on both sides for about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Simmer. Add the beef or chicken broth to the Dutch oven and place it into the oven uncovered to cook for about 20 minutes
5. Roast. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees and cook the pork for another 4 to 4.5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees.
6. Rest and serve! Remove the pork from the oven to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips 

• Pat the pork shoulder or butt dry with a paper towel right before rubbing. This will ensure that you get the rub on without it falling off due to excessive moisture and get a crispier crust when seared.
• Use your hands and fingers to generously rub the pork, including all the crevices of the meat. 
• The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your pork cut, this recipe is for 5 to 7 lbs of meat cut, so you need a large dutch over to fit it in.
• Add more broth to the bottom of the Dutch oven if needed to make sure it does not dry out. 
•  Let the meat rest to allow the juices to redistribute before slicing and serving! 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use other spices for the dry rub? Absolutely, you can add or swap them with other earthy and spicy ones like paprika, cumin, onion powder, mustard powder, chili powder, etc.
2. Is it better to keep the rub on longer? The longer the coffee rub stays on, the more flavorful it gets, so if you want to do it the night before, do so! 
3. Can I market the rub ahead of time? You can make a big batch of coffee dry rub to use for later. Store it in a tightly lidded jar to keep it from oxidizing and clumping together. 

Serving and Storing Notes

Serve your Oven Roasted Coffee-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with rice, mashed potato, or potato salad for a hearty dinner meal. This also goes well with a side of Buffalo Chickpea Salad or Grilled Corn, Burrata, and Poblano Salad. 

Any leftovers should be placed in a sealed container or covered tightly with foil before storing them in the fridge for up to three days. This can also be kept frozen for a month or two. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.