Coffee as a marinade is a win. Coffee Jerk Pork Pork Chops! Aah, the thrill of the grill!!! Yes, the grilling season has FINALLY arrived after a long frigid winter. I will have to send my husband to the garage to remove the winter cobwebs from our beloved grill.
Living in the frozen north we crave the summer season when we can cook and eat outside. We love to grill! One of my family's favorite things to eat grilled is pork chops. Juicy, tender chops grilled to absolute perfection. Aahh, I am currently drooling.
Every summer I look for different pork recipes. This time I am recreating the marinade with 2 key ingredients: instant coffee and chicken bouillon. The coffee adds a depth of flavor that is hard to describe. It's sort of woody, smoky, nutty all wrapped into one incredibly delicious flavor. The bouillon seasoning gives it the salty punch that every pork chop needs. It's coffee jerk pork!
Grilling must haves
Needless to say instant coffee (I like to use Nescafé Clásico.) and chicken bouillon are the newest must-have ingredients for your summer grilling needs. They not only add great flavor, but are very inexpensive. One of big pluses here is that there is no waiting time for the coffee to brew. Also, no coffee grounds that will stick to your food, or teeth. Isn't that awesome? It's like magic. A magical ingredient for a magical flavor. Did you ever imagine a coffee recipe with meat? Coffee Jerk Pork Chops will leave you speechless.
I created a marinade based on flavor contrasts. I mixed apple juice with vinegar. Cayenne and bouillon were contrasted with brown sugar; garlic with allspice. Then for that "secret" flavor: coffee! It was that easy. Now, you need to let these jerk pork chops marinate at least 6 hours so they can absorb that wonderful secret flavor. I like to leave them overnight. You'll be glad you did.
My husband is the grill master. Needless to say I surrender total control of the grill to him. He has HIS method and INSISTED I share it with you, so here we go: To get those perfect grill marks on those pork chops, preheat the grill to about 500F. We use ¾" chops for best results. Place the chops on the grill using indirect heat (not over the flames). Close lid and leave for two minutes. After two minutes, give them a ¼ turn. Leave for another two minutes. Flip and repeat the process.
Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. Internal temperature should read 145'F. Move them to a serving platter and cover them with aluminum foil. Let them rest for about 5 minutes. Easy as that!! Coffee Jerk Pork Chops is just what everyone needs for their next picnic.
Step by step photos
- Gather all your ingredients and have them ready to go.
- Place all the marinade ingredients into a large bowl or pitcher and blend with a hand blender. A standard blender will also work.
- Blend until well combined.
- Place the pork chops into a 1 gallon zip top freezer bag and pour in the marinade.
- Purge out as much air as possible from the bag and seal. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight is even better.
- Place them on a 500°F grill using indirect heat, not over the flame. Grill 2 minutes, give them a ¼ turn and grill another 2 minutes. Flip them and repeat. They are done when the internal temperature hits 145°F. Plate them and allow them to rest covered for 5 minutes before serving. This method works well for chops that are about ¾ of an inch thick. Cooking times will be shorter for thinner chops.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long can I store the cooked pork chops in the refrigerator? Once the chops have cooled you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- How do I reheat the pork chops? Reheat the chops in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and stop to flip every 30-45 seconds until hot. Once reheated do not cool and store again in the refrigerator, consume it right away. So only reheat the amount you will consume.
- Can I freeze the cooked pork chops? Yes, allow the chops to cool and you can freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave.
If you want to try some other great grilling recipes with an ethnic flair here are some great ones to try. The traditional Spanish tapas prueba de cerdo has bold flavors made with pork loin medallions that will melt in your mouth! These Korean style BBQ pork chops get their great flavors from gochujang, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. So good!
Leave me a comment and let me know how you like these!
Looking for more recipes?
Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week! You can also find me sharing more inspiration in Pinterest and Facebook.
Coffee Jerk Pork Chops Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 pork chops (bone in, ¾" thinck)
Coffee marinade
- 2 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup instant coffee
- 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
- 1 cube chicken bouillon
- 3 garlic cloves miced
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp allspice
- ½ tsp thyme
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl and use a hand blender to mix well. You can also use a blender. Place the pork chops in a 1 gallon zip top freezer bag and pour marinade over them. Try to purge out the excess air and seal. Refrigerate for about 6 hours; if you can marinate overnight, even better.
- For grilling, preheat the grill to 500°F. Place pork chops on the grill, but not directly on top of the flames. (Indirect heat) Cook for two minutes. Give them a quarter turn. Cook an additional two minutes. Flip and repeat the process.
- When internal temperature reaches 145°F, transfer to a platter, cover and allow them to rest for about 5 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite sides.
Notes
- How long can I store the cooked pork chops in the refrigerator? Once the chops have cooled you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- How do I reheat the pork chops? Reheat the chops in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and stop to flip every 30-45 seconds until hot. Once reheated do not cool and store again in the refrigerator, consume it right away. So only reheat the amount you will consume.
- Can I freeze the cooked pork chops? Yes, allow the chops to cool and you can freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave.
Oriana @Mommyhood's Diary
Those pork chops look super delicious!! Thanks #client
Analida
Thanks Oriana! They did turn out pretty yummy.
Jackie
This sounds like a great marinade. I can't wait to try it.
Analida
Thanks! It's good and so different.
Brandi @ penguinsinpink.com
Wow! These sound really good and interesting! Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned to the Bloggers Brags broad.
Analida
They are indeed good Brandi. Thanks for commenting.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
These look mouthwatering good, Analida! Definitely trying them!
Analida
Thanks Michelle. They are indeed mouthwatering. Coffee, who would have thought? 🙂
Di Warren
Those chops make me hungry, great recipe!
Analida
lol, thanks Di!
Jennifer Tammy
Definitely adding these to a future meal plan! Pinned and thank you for joining What Kids Eat Wednesday's! The party is going again until Sunday 😀
Analida
Cool, I will be there. Yeah, these chops are great. It sound odd at first, but the combo of ingredients works really well.
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
What a great weeknight dinner. Put the pork chops into the marinade in the morning and grill them at night. With grilled potatoes and a green salad, it would be an incredible dinner.
Analida
Yes, it would, Lura.
Quick and easy!
SArah
Love the idea of using coffee as a marinade! Those look delicious!
Analida
Thanks Sarah!
Alison
I love jerk flavouring but never thought of adding coffee. Will have to give this a try, the chops look fab
Analida
The coffee adds and interesting depth of flavor.
Thanks for commenting.
penelopi
The grilling result looks awesome!!!
Veena Azmanov
These Pork Chops look yummy. Love the glaze and surely mouth melting too.
Leslie
We barbeque everything in the summertime and I'm always looking for new recipes for the grill. Thanks for sharing! A must try!!!
Aleta
Carribean jerk spices and coffee? Oh my, this is going to be some seriously epic pork chops, I can't already taste them! My husband is also the barbecue master, I bet he will be very excited to grill these up!
Analida
Marinating them overnight is best and they are so tender and juicy! Enjoy!
Danielle
Absolutely! Time for the "thrill on the grill"! There are so many things I need to try this season! These chops look so juicy - I am sure everyone will be happy to find a couple of these on their plates.
Analida
This is a super simple marinade and so worth the wait. Enjoy!
Tammy
Oooh these sound sooo flavorful! The combination of the spice, the coffee, and the bit of sweet from the apple juice sounds fantastic!
Eva
Coffee in the meat marinade! This sounds so novel to me. I'm very curious about the taste but I bet it's delicious.
Paula Montenegro
Super inspiring new pork marinade! Grilling season makes me happy too. Thanks for the recipe!
Rebecca Blackwell
Adding coffee to the marinade is BRILLIANT! Pork chops are my favorite, and I'll be the coffee adds a smokiness that is absolutely delicious. We're going to make these this week. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Jenni LeBaron
This marinade has so much flavor packed in. I love that it has a bit of smokiness, a bit of acid, and plenty of umami! What a great pork chop recipe to kick off the summer with!
Amanda M Mason
Ok that marinade looks amazing! My husband doesn't eat pork thought....do you think that marinade would go well on steak? I can see me making these pork chops for me and steak for him using the same marinade recipe. Looks amazing and thanks to your hubby for the grilling method!
Neha
Yay to summer and grilling! The flavors in that marinade sound spectacular and so unique. Trying these oit your way soon!
Samuel
Love this Coffee Jerk Pork Chops. Very nice, very delicious. Thank you.