Why Put Coffee in Chili? (With Tasty Recipe) | Coffee Affection (2024)

There are lots of varieties of chili. Chicken or beef. Black bean, white bean, and Texas chili, which contains no beans at all. But among all the different flavors you would never guess what some are putting in their chili to add a little extra flavor. They’re adding another bean, that is coffee. Of all the secret ingredients to include in chili, why coffee? Beer, sherry, chocolate, lime juice, and honey are all popular secret ingredients. But coffee? Whose idea was it to grab the morning joe and wake up to smell the onions?

What Does Coffee Do in Chili?

If chili is a diverse world of flavors depending on the recipe, so is coffee. Between Robusta and Arabica beans and all the subcategories, there is sure to be something to please any coffee drinker. But taking that and putting it in chili is a real curveball. We have to remember our reasons for adding coffee to chili. It’s not to taste the full flavor profile of coffee but to accent the chili.

Coffee has notably earthy flavors that can help spices in chili stand out. In addition to bringing out the flavor of the spices, coffee also helps accentuate the aromas in your chili. The coriander, garlic, onion, peppers, and anything you put in your chili can be amplified aromatically by adding just a touch of coffee.

How Much Coffee Do You Put in Chili?

So, it’s a secret ingredient. That means it shouldn’t be so noticeable that you give it away! You have to strike the right balance. Too little and it won’t make any practical difference. Too much and you’re having trouble going to sleep. We recommend about 8 oz. of strongly brewed coffee. This is enough to accent the flavors in your favorite chili while at the same time not overpowering all the unique flavors of the spices you put in.

Should Chili Be Thick or Soupy?

Chili should be thick. When it comes to adding coffee to your chili, it’s not just about flavor. It’s also about the consistency of the dish. If you add too much coffee and too much beef stock, you might be more on the soupy end. Just be sure to use your eyes to gauge how much liquid you will actually need. It’s totally okay to err on the thicker side because more beef stock can be added later if you need to thicken it up.

Chili Recipe with Coffee

Check out our Chili recipe including brewed coffee.

Delicious Chili with Coffee

Coffee has notably earthy flavors that can help spices in chili stand out. In addition to bringing out the flavor of the spices, coffee also helps accentuate the aromas in your chili. The coriander, garlic, onion, peppers, anything you put in your chili can be amplified aromatically by adding just a touch of coffee.

4.62 stars from 13 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

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Servings 4

Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

• Large pot

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 medium Yellow onion diced (We like a lot of onion, but you can use less)
• 1 ½ tbsp Garlic minced
• 1 can pinto beans 15 oz
• 1 can kidney beans 15 oz
• 1 can diced tomatoes 15 oz
• 12 oz beef stock
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Ground coriander
• 3 tbsp Chili powder
• 1 tbsp Worcester sauce
• ½ tsp Ground pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup Strongly brewed coffee
• 1 tbsp Olive oil

Instructions

• Heat a large pot over medium to high heat with 1 tbsp of olive oil.

• When the pan is heated, add diced onions and garlic. Cook for about one minute.

• Add the ground beef and break it apart. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until beef is fully browned.

• Add beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir.

• Then add your spices along with beef stock and your cup of coffee.

• Bring chili to a boil and let simmer for about 15 minutes.

• Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal

Keyword chili, coffee, savory

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

Gear

Beans

Roasting

Brewing