These Coffee-Crusted Cheeseburgers are topped with crispy bacon, melted cheddar cheese, and a smoky chipotle BBQ sauce for a burger that's big on flavor. Grill them outdoors, cook them in a cast iron skillet, or finish them under the broiler for an easy meal that's perfect year-round.
Why You'll Love These Coffee-Crusted Cheeseburgers
- Big burger flavor without a lot of fuss. A simple coffee and spice rub creates a flavorful crust that makes these burgers taste like they came from your favorite burger joint.
- The coffee doesn't taste like coffee. Instead, it enhances the natural savory flavor of the beef while adding depth and richness.
- Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce takes them over the top. Sweet, smoky, tangy, and just a little spicy, it's the perfect partner for juicy burgers, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar.
- Cook them your way. Grill them outdoors, sear them in a cast iron skillet, or broil them in the oven. These burgers are delicious rain or shine.
- Perfect for cookouts, game day gatherings, or anytime a great burger is on the menu.
The Making of Coffee-Crusted Cheeseburgers with Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce
I can't claim to have invented the idea for these burgers. The recipe was inspired by one I came across years ago that paired a coffee rub with a homemade BBQ sauce. As often happens, I made it, took notes, and then started making changes.
The coffee rub itself needed very little adjustment. The combination of coffee, pepper, brown sugar, and spices creates a flavorful crust that works beautifully with beef.
Most of my tinkering happened with the BBQ sauce. The original recipe called for a much longer cooking time, but when I looked at the ingredient list and final yield, the math didn't quite add up. After a little testing, I found a shorter simmer followed by a resting period produced a better result.
One thing I've learned over the years is that longer cooking isn't always better. Just as I let garlic gently infuse butter in my Shrimp Scampi rather than cooking it endlessly, this sauce benefits from giving the flavors time to mingle rather than forcing everything through a long reduction. The result is a sauce that's sweet, tangy, smoky, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting.
Combined with the coffee-crusted burgers, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, it makes for one seriously good burger.
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Coffee-Crusted Cheeseburgers with Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Coffee Rub
- 1 tablespoon finely ground fresh coffee or espresso
- 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground coarse black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon oregano leaves crushed between your fingers
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Burgers
- 4 slices applewood-smoked bacon
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef use 80/20 for best results
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- red onion slices
- Sliced dill pickles
- tomato slices optional
- lettuce optional
Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- ⅓ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 chipotle in adobo minced, with seeds
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Make the Coffee Rub
- In a small bowl, combine the coffee, brown sugar, black pepper, coriander, oregano, and salt. Mix well. You'll use about 1 teaspoon per burger. Store any remaining rub in an airtight container for future use.
Prepare the Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 1 minute until softened.Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chipotle chile, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Set aside.
Prepare the Burgers
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels and break each slice in half.Form into 4 patties about ¾-inch thick. Press a shallow indentation in the center of each burger to help keep them flat while cooking.Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the coffee rub evenly over one side of each burger.
Grill Method
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.Place the burgers on the grill, rub-side down, and cook for about 4 minutes. Turn and cook for 2 to 4 minutes more, depending on desired doneness.Top each burger with bacon and a slice of cheddar cheese. Close the lid and cook until the cheese melts.
Skillet Method
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.Cook the burgers, rub-side down first, for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired doneness. Top with bacon and cheese during the last minute of cooking and cover briefly to melt the cheese.
Broiler Method
- Place the burgers on a broiler pan or rack set over a baking sheet.Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat, about 4 minutes per side. Add the bacon and cheese during the final minute and continue broiling until the cheese is melted.
Assemble
- Place the burgers on toasted buns. Add red onion, pickles, tomato, and lettuce as desired. Spoon a generous dollop of Chipotle BBQ Sauce over each burger, top with the bun, and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients & Why They Matter
Coffee or Espresso
The coffee enhances the natural richness of the beef while helping create a flavorful crust. The original recipe called for finely ground coffee, but I found instant espresso powder worked even better. It's already finely ground and delivers a deep coffee flavor that blends beautifully with the spices.
Black Pepper
This rub has a generous amount of black pepper, which adds a subtle kick and balances the richness of the beef. If you're sensitive to pepper, feel free to reduce it from 2 teaspoons to 1 teaspoon.
Ground Beef
For a juicy burger, this is one recipe where fat matters. I recommend 80/20 ground beef. The extra fat helps keep the burgers moist and flavorful during cooking.
Chipotle Chile
A single chipotle chile in adobo adds smoky flavor and mild heat to the BBQ sauce without overpowering the burger.
Cheddar Cheese
Sharp cheddar provides enough flavor to stand up to the coffee rub and smoky BBQ sauce while still melting beautifully. You could substitute Pepper Jack, Jack, or American cheese.
Hamburger Buns
Use your favorite bun, whether it's whole grain, sesame seed, brioche, or gluten-free. Just don't skip the toasting. A toasted bun holds up much better to juicy burgers and sauce than an untoasted one.
How to Make the Best Burgers
Choose the Right Beef
I use lean ground beef in many recipes, but not here. For juicy burgers, reach for 80/20 ground beef. The extra fat helps keep the burgers moist and flavorful as they cook.
Give Your Burgers a Thumbprint
Have you ever grilled a burger only to watch it puff up into a meatball shape? As burgers cook, the proteins contract and force the center upward. Pressing a shallow indentation into the center of each patty helps the burger stay flatter and cook more evenly.
Match the Bun to the Burger
Make your burgers whatever size you like, but try to keep the finished patty close to the size of the bun. Nobody wants a burger that's hanging three inches over the edge or hiding inside a bun that's too large.
Always Toast the Buns
This is one rule I rarely break. A lightly toasted bun adds flavor and helps prevent sogginess. Between the juicy burger, melted cheese, and Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce, an untoasted bun doesn't stand much of a chance.
FAQs
Yes. Use the finest grind you can. Instant espresso powder is my preference because it's already very fine and blends easily into the rub, but finely ground coffee works well too.
You can cook your burgers to your preferred doneness. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Use an instant-read thermometer for the most accurate results.
Save it for your next batch of burgers. It's also excellent on steaks, pork chops, and grilled chicken.
Store the rub in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard. It will keep its best flavor for several months.
Not really. The chipotle chile adds a gentle smoky heat rather than an aggressive spiciness. If you prefer more heat, add an extra chipotle chile or a little more adobo sauce to the BBQ sauce.
No. The coffee enhances the savory flavor of the beef and helps create a flavorful crust, but the finished burgers don't taste like a cup of coffee.
Lively Libations
What to Drink with Coffee-Crusted Cheeseburgers
Wine: Zinfandel
The smoky coffee rub, bacon, cheddar cheese, and chipotle BBQ sauce call for a bold red wine. A fruit-forward California Zinfandel has enough ripe berry fruit, peppery spice, and body to stand up to all those flavors without getting lost.
Beer: American IPA
A citrusy American IPA is a natural match. The hops cut through the richness of the burger while the citrus notes complement the smoky-sweet BBQ sauce.
Beer Alternative: Hard Cider
A crisp hard cider offers a refreshing contrast to the savory burger. The apple notes pair especially well with the bacon, cheddar, and brown sugar in the rub and sauce.
Mocktail: Sparkling Berry Lemonade
Fresh berries, lemon juice, and sparkling water create a refreshing drink that balances the richness of the burger while echoing the sweet-tart flavors in the BBQ sauce.
Chris G says
This got my attention. Yum! I definitely want to try this one out!