We are always on Team Coffee. Coffee is life, after all. So why not add it to everything? Coffee already brings out the best in our favorite chocolate recipes, but it also adds bold flavor and tenderness to savory meat dishes.
Whatever recipe you choose, you'll need plenty of your favorite coffee beans to serve as the flavorful base. Want to upgrade your coffee making even more? Check out our picks for the best coffee makers, French presses, and even milk frothers. You'll be making perfect lattes in no time.
You might be wondering: Can I use espresso? Absolutely, although it will deliver a lot more intensity than using regular drip coffee. What is the difference between espresso and coffee, anyways? They're subtle, but usually come down to the strength of the drink and how it's served. Espresso is made from beans that are grown, processed, and roasted just like other coffee beans, but the finished product is stronger, thicker, and more caffeinated than classic drip coffee. Espresso is perfect for making latte drinks, and yes, espresso martinis and espresso cookies.
It might seem like a jump to add coffee to your steak and chicken, but once you do, you'll be forever changed. Brewed coffee and ground coffee are our secret weapons for adding a subtle earthy, charred flavor to our favorite roasted meats, while also tenderizing them in the process. Ground coffee is also an incredible addition to a rib rub, too. Need more proof? Try our coffee-rubbed steak with coffee-bourbon sauce and coffee-marinated BBQ chicken tacos!
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1
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is admittedly a bit of a process to make, but it's so worth it. Set yourself up for success by keeping your workspace as tidy as possible, particularly when dipping your ladyfingers in the rum and coffee.
Get the Tiramisu recipe.
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2
Coffee Cookies 'N' Cream Ice Cream
You don't need a machine to make a homemade batch of ice cream—just a strong arm and some imagination. Here, we folded in Oreos, caramel sauce, and a touch of instant coffee for a caffeinated kick, but this recipe is infinitely adaptable.
Get the Coffee Cookies 'N' Cream Ice Cream recipe.
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3
Espresso Martini
This buzzy 90's throwback has surged in popularity the last few years and we are all the happier (and more caffeinated) for it. We love it as a pre-game drink to keep us going all through the night.
Get the Espresso Martini recipe.
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4
Chocolate Birthday Cake
The chocolate flavor is strong thanks to the addition of coffee. Vegetable oil and sour cream team up to make this cake extra moist, and allow this cake to be egg free! The frosting is a whipped ganache, but feel free to use a traditional chocolate buttercream.
Get the Chocolate Birthday Cake recipe.
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5
Cold Brew Coffee
All it takes is a little time and patience for a perfect cup of cold brew. How does cold brew compare to iced coffee? Well, iced coffee is essentially a cup of of hot coffee that's been cooled down and then poured over ice. This typically leads to a watered down cup of coffee. No thanks.
Cold brew, on the other hand, is brewed slowly using cold water, and the results are a very smooth, less acidic cup of coffee. Check out the best cold brew coffee makers.
Get the Cold Brew Coffee recipe.
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6
Coffee-Rubbed Steak With Coffee Bourbon Sauce
Coffee is our secret weapon for adding a little special something to all kinds of meats. We use both ground and brewed coffee in this recipe, which delivers a delicately charred taste, while both coffee varieties also help tenderize the meat. This delicious dinner is serious date night *gold*.
Get the Coffee-Rubbed Steak With Coffee Bourbon Sauce recipe.
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7
Dalgona Coffee
If you've got instant coffee, sugar, and water on hand, you can make this decadent iced coffee drink. It'll go by faster if you have a hand mixer, but a humble regular whisk, one powerful arm, and a good dose of patience and endurance will get you there too.
Get the Dalgona Coffee recipe.
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8
Dalgona Martini
Dalgona or whipped coffee is now the coolest thing to top all of your drinks with, including this simple Baileys martini, for an instant pick-me-up.
Get the Dalgona Martini.
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9
Keto Tiramisu Chaffle Cake
Cheese-based waffles, or "chaffles", are one of our favorite ways to sneak waffles on a keto diet. Our Chaffle cake is layered with the delicious flavors of Italian tiramisu for a keto dessert worthy of special occasions.
We like our chaffles savory or sweet—topped like pizza or dressed up like a cinnamon roll.
Get the Keto Tiramisu Chaffle Cake recipe.
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10
Raspberry Tiramisu
We love a classic tiramisu and couldn’t imagine it getting much better—until raspberries entered the picture. We use a little orange liqueur instead of rum to amplify the bright flavors. Pro tip: The ladyfingers soak up the coffee mixture quickly, so just do a quick dunk or they’ll start to fall apart on you.
Get the Raspberry Tiramisu recipe.
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11
Frappuccino Cupcakes
If you're obsessed with Frappuccinos like we are, then you will absolutely love this cupcake. Coffee goes into both the cupcake and the frosting. If you skip your morning joe and reach for one of these, we won't tell 😉.
Get the Frappuccino Cupcakes recipe.
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12
Baileys Coffee Slushies
This super-boozy shake uses cold brew ice cubes, so it won't get diluted no matter how long it takes you to get to the bottom of the glass. Craving boozy coffee but iced drinks aren't your thing? Our Irish coffee is sure to satisfy.
Get the Baileys Coffee Slushies recipe.
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13
The Perfect Latte
The perfect latte at home is totally achievable, even if you don't have a fancy espresso machine. A small milk frother is helpful, but you can also use an immersion blender to froth the milk or pour your warmed milk into a French press and pump it until it's nice and foamy. Want more latte practice? Try our chai latte!
Get the The Perfect Latte recipe.
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14
Coffee Glazed Bacon
Double down on your morning espresso with a side of coffee-infused bacon. Or, if you're really feeling crazy, use this recipe to make the best bacon weave breakfast sandwich ever.
Get the Coffee Glazed Bacon recipe.
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15
German Chocolate Cake
A sweet chocolate cake filled and frosted with a rich, sticky coconut and pecan filling, our version of the classic has coffee to really bring out the chocolate flavor. A layer of chocolate ganache between the layers adds decadence and helps keep the layers from falling apart (win-win).
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
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16
Irish Coffee
Coffee co*cktails are a direct double hit of caffeine and booze straight to the system that is perfect for the start or end of the night. Irish coffee is one the most classic coffee mixed drinks; it's the perfect combination of sweetened coffee, Irish whiskey, and (of course) whipped cream. Cozy, delicious, and incredibly easy to make.
Get the Irish Coffee recipe.
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17
Coffee-Braised Short Ribs
On days you crave juicy, fall-of-the-bone goodness, fire up the coffee maker. Using brewed coffee as part of your braising liquid will not only tenderize the meat, but can be reduced to a ridiculously flavorful gravy for your next pot roast.
Get the Coffee-Braised Short Ribs recipe.
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18
Coffee-Marinated BBQ Chicken Tacos
We gave this rich, zesty BBQ marinade a serious flavor boost with a cup of joe, brewed fresh from the coffee maker. It gets better: The chicken is then cooked in bacon fat and topped with pineapple salsa.
Get the Coffee-Marinated BBQ Chicken Tacos recipe.
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19
Easy Halva
Halva is a Middle Eastern treat made from tahini that's similar to fudge, but with a unique, irresistible texture. Many different flavors of halva exist and most anything can be stirred into the tahini mixture for fun different variations. Our favorite? Brewed coffee for a creamy treat perfect with an afternoon latte.
Get the Easy Halva recipe.
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20
Churro Iced Coffee Float
The star of this icy double-shot-espresso creation is a churro-inspired creamer that hits all the right notes: sweet, spicy, and totally decadent.
Get the Churro Iced Coffee Float recipe.
