Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 30 minutes
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Bold, Gooey, and Unforgettable
If BBQ sauces competed at a fair, this Espresso BBQ Sauce would be the one walking away with the blue ribbon. Thick and glossy, it clings lovingly to whatever you brush it on, delivering layers of rich, smoky sweetness with just the right hit of espresso bitterness to keep things interesting. It’s a sauce that starts with a familiar honey-laced base but finishes with something unexpected—complexity.
A Sauce With Depth and Attitude
This isn’t your average backyard glaze. The olive oil and garlic build a warm foundation, while the ketchup and honey give it that signature BBQ sweetness and stickiness. But it’s the balsamic vinegar and soy sauce that deepen the flavor, and then—boom—the espresso hits. It’s subtle but unmistakable, adding a dark, roasty edge that makes you pause and appreciate the moment.
Best In Show for a Reason
Whether you’re basting ribs, tossing pulled pork, or even brushing it onto grilled vegetables, this sauce doesn’t just complement—it transforms. Try it on smoked baby back ribs for the ultimate pairing. It’s also a knockout when drizzled over smoky pulled pork, seeping into every tender shred and turning each bite into something craveable.
One Taste, and You’re Hooked
This is the kind of sauce that makes people ask, “What is that?” as they reach for seconds. It’s sweet, tangy, savory, with a faint coffee kick that lingers just long enough to be remembered. Make it once, and you’ll find yourself looking for new things to put it on.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic, minced fine
1 cup ketchup
1 cup honey
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup espresso
Instructions:
Espresso BBQ Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine olive oil and garlic and sauté on medium heat until golden.
Remove from heat and let the garlic cool in the oil.
Whisk in the ketchup, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, and espresso.
Return to heat and simmer for 15 minutes to blend flavors.
Remove from heat (makes 2 cups).