Slow Cooker Coffee Pot Roast


3 Comments


This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Coffee pot roast is made with traditional seasonings but with two major twists – freshly ground coffee and freshly brewed coffee. This pot roast with coffee recipe also calls for unique flavors pulled from cocoa powder and balsamic vinegar. Give your Sunday dinner an upgrade with this delicious fork tender pot roast.

There are so many ways to cook a delicious chuck roast. Some of my favorite pot roast recipes are Slow Cooker Amish Pot Roast and Mississippi Pot Roast.

Cooked pot roast with potatoes and carrots.
Save Recipe
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Why you should try this pot roast with coffee recipe

All you need is your crock pot or slow cooker, a nice-sized chuck roast, coffee grounds, and several pantry staple seasonings to make a roast filled with so much flavor, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t tried it sooner. I love a good pot roast, but even more so, playing around with different flavors can be pretty fun.

For this particular recipe, coffee adds earthy notes along with coriander, cocoa powder, and ginger. Something else noteworthy about this great recipe is you’ll be making a dry rub that will last for multiple roasts. It can easily be stored in a jar and has a great shelf life. In addition to that, This rub-and-go recipe can be done in as little as 4 hours or be cooked for a bit longer.

Either way, delicious and tender food is on the way!

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for coffee pot roast on a table.
  • Mocha Spice Rub: This amazing rub is made of finely ground coffee beans (or instant coffee), coarse salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cocoa powder, freshly ground black pepper, sweet paprika, ground coriander, chili powder, and ground ginger.
  • Chuck Roast: For a recipe like this, you’ll want to use a rump roast or beef chuck roast that’s at least 3 pounds in weight. This will guarantee enough meat to serve a family or small crowd.
  • Liquids for the Roast: Beef broth, brewed coffee, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar are used to create the perfect-tasting pot roast recipe.
  • Fresh Thyme: Used for cooking and as a garnish.

Step-by-Step Directions

Four images showing how to make coffee pot roast in a crockpot.

Step One – Combine the ingredients for the rub and use some of it to rub the roast along with olive oil. Coat all sides heavily with the coffee rub.

Step Two – Place the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker. Then, lay the meat on top of the onion. Pour the coffee, broth, and vinegar around the roast. Be careful not to pour on the roast so you don’t wash the rub off the meat. Add the sprigs of thyme.

Step Three – Place the lid tightly on the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours, or LOW for 9 hours, or until the meat is very tender.

Step Four – Place roast on a serving platter along with the cooked onions and thyme. You can also cook potatoes and carrots to serve with it as well. Enjoy!

Platter of pot roast that was cooked with coffee

How to serve:

  • One of the tastiest ways to serve this beef roast is with mashed potatoes, gravy (extra good if you know how to make it from the braising liquid), green beans, and macaroni and cheese.
  • If you want to enhance the taste and create a heartier one-pot meal, adding extra veggies is always a great go to. Think potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms.
  • Don’t forget to serve this delicious meal with bread. You can pair it with dinner rolls, homemade cornbread, or any bread of your choice.
  • As for seasonings, you can add salt and pepper to taste. Switch things up by adding a dash of soy sauce. Or, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil combined with brown sugar for a sweet kick.
close up of coffee pot roast.

Recipe FAQs

How much of the spice rub should I use?

Use enough to generously coat the chuck roast. The Coffee Rub will make enough to do multiple roasts, just store it in an air-tight container until ready to use.

Do I need to sear the roast prior to adding it to the slow cooker?

While it isn’t necessary to sear this roast, you can sear it well to give it a blackened crust before adding to the slow cooker. If you choose to, you only need to sear both sides for a minute or so over medium high heat.

Should I cook the vegetables with the beef?

You can cook some potatoes or carrots with the roast, or cook them separately so they don’t get a coffee, or cocoa flavor. The slow cooking process will definitely infuse those flavors into whatever is in the pot.

How do I store leftover roast?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The meat may be frozen for 3 months.

Can I make gravy with the leftover liquid?

Absolutely! Pour some of the liquid into a small saucepan and add a slurry to thicken. Be sure to keep stirring constantly until you get the desired thickness. It doesn’t need to come to a boil or it may start to burn.

Can I cook this in a dutch oven?

Yes. If you’d rather use that instead of the crock pot you can do that!

Plate with coffee pot roast and veggies.

Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on FacebookInstagramPinterest, Tik Tok, and YouTube.

Plate with coffee pot roast and veggies.

Slow Cooker Coffee Pot Roast

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 9 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Add a unique twist to your pot roast by adding freshly ground coffee and a homemade mocha spice rub.

Ingredients 
 

Mocha Rub (this is enough for a few recipes):

  • 2 Tbsp. finely ground coffee beans or instant coffee
  • 2 Tbsp. coarse salt
  • 2 Tbsp. smoked paprika
  • 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 Tbsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger

Roast:

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 lbs. chuck roast
  • 1 sweet onion, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 cup brewed coffee
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions 

  • Combine the ingredients for the rub and store in an air tight container until ready to use.
  • Rub the roast with olive oil, then coat all sides heavily with the coffee rub.
  • Place the onion in the bottom of slow cooker. Lay the meat on top of the onion.
  • Pour the coffee, broth and vinegar around the roast, being careful not to pour on the roast so you don’t wash the rub off the meat.
  • Add the sprigs of thyme and place the lid tightly on the slow cooker.
  • Turn on high for 5 hours, or low for 9 hours, or until the meat is very tender.

Sarah’s Notes

  • The Coffee Rub will make enough to do multiple roasts, just store in an air-tight container until ready to use.
  • While it isn’t necessary to sear this roast, you can sear it well to give it a blackened crust before adding to the slow cooker.
  • You can cook some potatoes or carrots with the roast, or cook them separately so they don’t get a coffee, cocoa flavor.
  • Make a gravy using the broth, it is really delicious.
  • What to serve with this roast? Potatoes, carrots, salad or any vegetables.
  • Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The meat may be frozen for 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 2693mg | Potassium: 966mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1472IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Other recipes you may like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. Mary says:

    5 stars
    Holy cow was this good! Iโ€™ve always been reticent to make a pot roast because my husbandโ€™s grandma made the best pot roast, but this made me proud! Thank you Sarah!

  2. Shawn vickers says:

    I’m going to try what kind of instant coffee do you use

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I use Medaglia D’oro Instant Espresso Coffee.