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If you’re a huge fan of coffee, you’d be glad to know that it isn’t only good as an energizing beverage. You can actually use it as an ingredient for a variety of other food items, such as coffee cakes. While it makes sense to use it for desserts, you can also dare to use it on full course meals if you’re feeling creative.

Ready to use coffee as your new “secret spice”? Listed below are some coffee-infused concoctions that can definitely change your cooking game for the better. For best results, stick to quality beans to ensure that your coffee projects will be a hit.

Balsamic Coffee Vinaigrette

Who knew that coffee can be used in vinaigrettes? If you’re preparing salads regularly, a homemade balsamic coffee vinaigrette can make your usual leafy greens a little more exciting.

Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic (halved)
2 tbsp. brewed coffee (cooled)
2 tbsp. pure maple syrup
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. walnuts (chopped and toasted)
1 tbsp. mustard
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper (ground white or black)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Install a multipurpose blade in your food processor.
   
   
2. Run the processor. Add garlic via the feed tube to mince.
   
   
3. Add coffee, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, walnuts, mustard, salt, and pepper. Process for a few seconds until thoroughly blended. Scrape the bowl’s sides.
   
   
4. While the processor is running, slowly drizzle the olive oil via the feed tube. Process everything until well-blended.
   

This can be used as a template for your future vinaigrette experiments. Once you get the hang of it, you probably wouldn’t want to go back to bottled and store-bought vinaigrettes!

Coffee Meat Marinade

Various meats require different kinds of marinades and seasonings. For creating marinades, acidity is an important consideration, especially for meats that are tough and gamey. This is because acidity helps in breaking down the meat’s connective tissue. Coffee has a pH of around 5.0 which makes it slightly acidic.

For the sake of comparison, coffee is a little less acidic than beer, and way less acidic than lemons. If you feel like mixing up your marinade acids from time to time, you should definitely give coffee a go.

Ingredients:
1 medium onion (chopped)
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1 cup leftover coffee
6 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. white vinegar
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
Directions:
Combine everything and mix well!

Barbecue Sauce

Do you enjoy having barbecue parties at home? You can level up your sauce game by using cold brew in your next barbecue sauce.

Ingredients:
1 cup ketchup
1 cup cold brew black coffee
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 tbsp. molasses
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. cayenne powder (optional, for added spice)

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer for approximately 15 to 20 minutes until it becomes thicker. Stir occasionally.
2. Drizzle it over meats or grilled vegetables. You can also use it when slow cooking.

This coffee-infused barbecue sauce can last up to a month if you keep it refrigerated. That’s, if you can resist munching on it by the spoonful.


Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream

Looking for some sweet liqueur to serve your family and friends during the holidays? Coffee can also be used for homemade holiday cocktails. For fans of Bailey’s, this can be a fun way to experiment with coffee, whether the season calls for it or you just feel like expanding your coffee recipe repertoire.

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipped cream or light cream
1 can or 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1 and 2/3 cups of whiskey
2 tbsp. chocolate syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. coffee
1 tsp. almond extract (optional)
Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in a blender. Push the high-speed option for 30 seconds or so.
2. Pour contents in a tightly sealed bottle and refrigerate.

Shake the contents before pouring into a drink. This creamy liqueur can last up to two months. If you can buy classy-looking glass bottles, you can even give them to your friends as a gift.


Coffee is more than a drink that can keep you awake and mentally stimulated in the morning. A little creativity is all it takes to know that it can work well with your lunch and dinner as a special, secret ingredient.