Coffee rubbed roast beef is a wonderful meal to serve during the holidays. Coffee rub on beef brings out a rich, deep flavor that is easy to make and can be used on chicken, pork, or steak with delicious results as well!

When searching through cookbooks and handwritten family recipes for a dish to make for a special occasion, I always try to find one that is simple yet maintains a wow factor. Something like a sheet pan steak fajitas, or oven-roasted shrimp.

However, there is just something about a roast that slow cooks all day long and makes the house smell cozy & inviting.

My go-to recipe was this easy pork roast that is until I made this mouth-watering roast beef!

Tools to make coffee rubbed roast beef

To make this recipe a success, there are a few items that will make your cooking experience a good one and produce tasty results. Here are a few of my must-have kitchen products to make roast beef:

Digital Thermometer I have this item listed first because even though it is a small thing, it is something every kitchen should have when cooking meat or anything that requires a safe temperature before consuming it! There are many thermometers on the market, but I like the instant thermometers best.
Roasting Pan with a rack is best to keep your meat lifted so that the heat can surround your whole roast. I have a few roasting pans, but this roasting pan from Le Creuset is my favorite and I use it ALL. THE. TIME.
Small mason jars are perfect to keep your leftover coffee spice rub. When I make this rub, I make a big batch and share as stocking stuffers or small gifts during the holidays.
It's nice to share this spice rub as a little extra something with a grilling gift box like Grill Masters Club!

What is a good cut of meat for roast beef?

Picking a good cut of meat for roast beef is important but nothing anyone should stress over. I tend to look for a nice Top Round roast beef with a good fat cap on top.

This fat will cook down and keep your meat from drying out while roasting in the oven. You can also look for a chuck roast or shoulder roast for this recipe, but I tend to keep those cuts for a pot roast I can cook in liquid and vegetables.

Below is a sirloin tip roast and was really, really good when done!

How to cook a Top Round Roast

We are approaching the holidays which will be full of baked goods like pound cakes and cookies, and one delicious meal after another. Turkey has been the main course for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but what if we changed it up a bit and instead, served a nice holiday roast?

Are you afraid to cook a top round or any kind of roast for that matter because you're not sure what to buy or how to prepare it?

Well, I found the best tool to have in your pocket to help you cook the perfect roast every single time!

Certified Angus Beef® Brand created the Roast Perfect App for iPhone and Android phones to help one and all overcome their trepidation for preparing beef. It is awesome!

Roast Perfect helps you with:

Cut selection
Where to find Certified Angus Beef® cuts with a store locater
Recipes and tips
Roasting timer and more.

The Roast Perfect app helped me find the best roast beef for this Coffee Rubbed Roast Beef recipe. I was able to pull up a photo of selected beef cuts and show it to my local butcher, and by looking at the picture, he was able to show me exactly what I was looking for.

You can use this rub on other meats as well, but I really like how the coffee and rich spices really pair to bring out such deep flavor from this roast. The sauce to go on top is just as delicious.

Ingredients for coffee rubbed roast beef

Let's start with the coffee spice rub. This spice rub brings out such deep flavor from the beef and creates a delicious sauce or anjou to pour over top when serving. Use this rub on other meats as well!

Coffee Spice Rub

Ground coffee (I used Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend)
Brown sugar
Chili powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
Paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cayenne pepper

Steps to make the spice rub

Combine all spice ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
Store in a jar (like a mason jar) for 2 months. Use as a rub for meats or give as a gift.

Prepare Roast Beef

4 lb. Top Round Roast

Place roast on cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel.
Cover with coffee & spices by patting and rubbing into the roast.
Set the coffee-rubbed roast on a plate and place it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Cover with plastic wrap and return the roast to the refrigerator for 24 hours.

How to make coffee-rubbed roast beef

You've been patiently waiting for 24 hours, and now is the moment to get this rubbed roast beef into the oven!

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. While waiting for the oven to come to temperature, place roast beef on a rack in a roasting pan.

Tip: Most roasting pans have handles on the ends for easy carrying, but if yours does not, you can place it on a baking sheet to make it easier to handle when putting in and taking out the hot oven.

Place the roasting pan in the heated oven and cook the roast for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue roasting for 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 130 degrees with a digital thermometer.

Remove from the oven and tent roasting pan with aluminum foil and let rest for 15 minutes. This will lock in all the delicious juices from the meat so that your roast is not dry.

An instant thermometer should read 135 degrees for medium-rare roast beef.

Do not overcook this cut of meat as it will be tough.

What to serve with coffee-rubbed roast beef

The perfect side dish for roast beef has to be mashed potatoes, right?! Green vegetables and salad are also high on the list. Here are some other suggestions that would pair nicely:

Shredded sweet potatoes
Roasted root vegetables, like carrots, turnips, parsnips, and squash
Potato pancakes
Mixed green salad

I hope you give this recipe a try because I know you will love it!

Yield: 12

Coffee Rubbed Roast Beef

Name: Coffee Rubbed Roast Beef
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 d 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 lb. Certified Angus Beef® Top Round Roast; Coffee Spice Rub:; 1/4 cup ground coffee (I used Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 Tbsp chili powder; 2 Tbsp kosher salt; 1 Tbsp freshly ground pepper; 1 Tbsp paprika; 1 Tbsp garlic powder; 1Tbsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Inactive Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

4 lb. Certified Angus Beef® Top Round Roast
Coffee Spice Rub:
1/4 cup ground coffee (I used Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1Tbsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Combine ground coffee and spices in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
Store in a jar (like a small mason jar) for 2 months. Use rub on all types of meat.
Place roast on cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel.
Cover with coffee spice rub by patting and rubbing into the roast.
Set on plate and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Remove from refrigerator and cover with plastic wrap; return to refrigerator for 24 hours.
TO COOK ROAST:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place roast on rack in a roasting pan and cook 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue roasting for 50-60 minutes, or until internal temp reads 130 degrees with an instant thermometer.
Remove from oven and tent loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 15 minutes. The temperature should read 135 degrees for medium-rare doneness.

Coffee Rubbed Roast Beef

Tools to make coffee rubbed roast beef

What is a good cut of meat for roast beef?

How to cook a Top Round Roast