Fire up the grill for these bold and smoky Coffee Jerk Pork Chops—a flavor-packed fusion of Caribbean heat and rich coffee undertones. Perfectly charred on the outside, juicy on the inside, these chops are your new summer grilling obsession.
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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!
Flavor profile of the marinade
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.
Grilling Method
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 500°F. 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
- Step 1: Gather all your ingredients and have them ready to go.
- Step 2: Place all the marinade ingredients into a large bowl or pitcher and blend with a hand blender. A standard blender will also work.
- Step 3: Blend until well combined.
- Step 4: Place the pork chops into a 1 gallon zip top freezer bag and pour in the marinade.
- Step 5: Purge out as much air as possible from the bag and seal. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight is even better.
- Step 6: 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
Once the chops have cooled you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
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.
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!
📖 Recipe
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 tablespoon Kosher salt
- 1 cube chicken bouillon
- 3 garlic cloves miced
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon 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 says
Those pork chops look super delicious!! Thanks #client
Analida says
Thanks Oriana! They did turn out pretty yummy.
Jackie says
This sounds like a great marinade. I can't wait to try it.
Analida says
Thanks! It's good and so different.
Brandi @ penguinsinpink.com says
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 says
They are indeed good Brandi. Thanks for commenting.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
These look mouthwatering good, Analida! Definitely trying them!
Analida says
Thanks Michelle. They are indeed mouthwatering. Coffee, who would have thought? 🙂
Di Warren says
Those chops make me hungry, great recipe!
Analida says
lol, thanks Di!
Jennifer Tammy says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Yes, it would, Lura.
Quick and easy!
SArah says
Love the idea of using coffee as a marinade! Those look delicious!
Analida says
Thanks Sarah!
Alison says
I love jerk flavouring but never thought of adding coffee. Will have to give this a try, the chops look fab
Analida says
The coffee adds and interesting depth of flavor.
Thanks for commenting.
penelopi says
The grilling result looks awesome!!!
Veena Azmanov says
These Pork Chops look yummy. Love the glaze and surely mouth melting too.
Leslie says
We barbeque everything in the summertime and I'm always looking for new recipes for the grill. Thanks for sharing! A must try!!!
Aleta says
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 says
Marinating them overnight is best and they are so tender and juicy! Enjoy!
Danielle says
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 says
This is a super simple marinade and so worth the wait. Enjoy!
Tammy says
Oooh these sound sooo flavorful! The combination of the spice, the coffee, and the bit of sweet from the apple juice sounds fantastic!
Eva says
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 says
Super inspiring new pork marinade! Grilling season makes me happy too. Thanks for the recipe!
Rebecca Blackwell says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Yay to summer and grilling! The flavors in that marinade sound spectacular and so unique. Trying these oit your way soon!
Samuel says
Love this Coffee Jerk Pork Chops. Very nice, very delicious. Thank you.