Coffee Rubbed Turkey

Want to spice up your turkey this Thanksgiving? Then try this Coffee Rubbed Turkey recipe that uses ground Charleston Coffee Roasters Sumatra coffee mixed together with warm Fall spices and just a touch of sweetness.

Charleston Coffee Roasters Coffee Rubbed Turkey Recipe

You know that coffee is wonderful to drink, but it is also a great ingredient to cook with too. All of those subtle nuances in the flavor of coffee translate into depth and richness when you cook with it. For this reason, ground coffee has been a secret ingredient in BBQ rubs for a long time, and pairs especially well with roasted and grilled meats. Not only is this rub great with turkey, but would also taste great on chicken, duck, pork, and even ham.

Any of our coffees would work great in this recipe, but we particularly like using our Single Origin Sumatra coffee. This bold dark roast has hints of chocolate and a deep earthy flavor that is smooth and never bitter. Combine it with warm spices like cumin and coriander, along with a touch of brown sugar, for a rub that will infuse your turkey with tons of flavor without overwhelming the meat.

Charleston Coffee Roasters Coffee Rubbed Turkey with Sumatra

Be sure to save the drippings from the turkey too! The coffee rub that falls into the drippings makes for an excellent red-eye style gravy to serve alongside the turkey. Add a splash of fresh orange juice at the end to add a bit of citrus to cut through the richness of the gravy.

COFFEE RUBBED TURKEY

1/2 cup freshly ground Charleston Coffee Roasters Sumatra coffee
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon pepper
Canola oil

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix all ingredients, except for the canola oil, together in a small bowl.
  3. Rinse turkey and pat dry.
  4. Brush canola oil all over the skin.
  5. Carefully sprinkle the rub all over the turkey, pressing carefully to adhere.
  6. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a roasting pan.
  7. Place in the preheated oven, and cook until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (roughly 15 minutes per pound for a fresh or defrosted unstuffed turkey).
  8. Remove from the oven, and let rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.