13 Clever Ways to Cook with Coffee

You’d be hard-pressed to find a kitchen that doesn’t have coffee in it. Whether it's beans, grounds, or instant, we love our coffee. It’s great to drink, but why not try cooking with it? Here are some recipes that incorporate coffee in its many forms. We tend to associate coffee with something sweet—it pairs well with chocolates and cream—but skewed savory coffee lends a recipe an earthy, smoky complexity. You’ve heard of coffee ice cream, but what about a coffee bean dip? Didn’t think so.

Rub beef ribs in coarse grounds or brine a chicken in its brew. Coffee proves an essential element in sauces or spice mixtures. That being said, coffee is delicious in desserts, too, so we threw in some sweet recipes as well. Brew yourself a batch to drink, but don't forget to save some for dinner—or dessert!

How do you brew? Let us know your favorite coffee use in the comments.