Get at these Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs if you’re craving something cozy and delicious, peeps. Beef short ribs infused with a powerhouse of flavor from aromatics, herbs, warm maple, smoky bourbon, and notes of espresso. The short ribs are slowly cooked until they’re fall-apart tender, along with an infusion of big flavor in the braising liquid. This dish is succulent to the max and such a showstopper!

maple coffee braised short ribs on top of mashed sweet potatoes in bowl

It’s dutch oven season, and I’ve honestly been living my best life with braising things lately, ha! You would think I’d be tired of braised meats, but nah. There is nothing more perfect to me than some type of meat coming outta the oven that’s extra rich and falling off the bone. Cozy season, the best season, calls for braised short ribs- I don’t make the rules. There’s no shortage of short rib recipes on the site, and this one right here is another banger, yup!

braised short ribs on top of mashed sweet potatoes in bowls

Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs 😍

Yes indeed, this recipe screams fall flavors that we love and crave. This whole recipe is a melting pot full of rich, bold MEGA flavor with every ingredient complementing the other. The succulent short rib is silky-tender and soaks up the braising liquid. It’s the perfect meal to make that folks will swoon over with its restaurant-quality essence, whew. Gahhh, let’s get into it!

ingredients for maple coffee braised short ribs in bowls

Braised Short Rib Recipe Ingredients:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • Beef short ribs, salt/pepper, olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, tomato + garlic paste, instant coffee, crushed red pepper, rosemary, whiskey, soy sauce, maple syrup, and beef broth.

How To Make Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  1. Season & brown the short ribs.
  2. Sauté the mirepoix and build the braise.
  3. Braise the short ribs.
  4. Adjust the braising liquid (if desired).
  5. Serve the maple coffee braised short ribs…😛!
maple coffee braised short ribs in pot

An unbeatable level of delicious magic happens with braising: the meat’s connective tissues tenderize and break down while absorbing the flavors that it’s accompanied with in the pot. These maple coffee braised short ribs do take a few hours due to the slower cooking process, but man, the wait is worth it.

What To Serve With Braised Short Ribs?

These braised short ribs pair so nicely with many things:

  • Mashed sweet potatoes (as pictured, the best pairing imo!) 🤩
  • Creamy polenta or cheesy grits (peep my gouda grits)
  • Buttered noodles or zoodles (zucchini noodles)
  • Roasted veggies: broccoli, green beans, asparagus, brussels sprouts
  • Brown rice, white rice, cauliflower rice, creamy risotto, rice pilaf
braised short ribs on top of mashed sweet potatoes in bowl

Tips + Tricks & Recipe Notes:

Here’s some additional info on this braised short ribs recipe…

  1. Short rib note. Thick, meaty pieces are what you want to use for this recipe. Try and stay clear of those pieces that are bony and sparse.
  2. Room temperature short ribs. First, protein browns even better when it is near room temperature as opposed to being cold from the fridge.
  3. Alcohol sub. You can sub the bourbon whiskey in this recipe with coca-cola or a non-alcohol bourbon/whiskey spirit if needed.
braised short ribs with mashed sweet potatoes in bowl

Hello coziness, these Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs are out of this world, y’all. This entire dish is an edible, warm hug. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

Other spectacular mains:

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maple coffee braised short ribs on top of mashed sweet potatoes in bowl

Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs

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  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Braise, Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Get at these Maple Coffee Braised Short Ribs if you’re craving something cozy and delicious, peeps. Beef short ribs infused with a powerhouse of flavor from aromatics, herbs, warm maple, smoky bourbon, and notes of espresso. The short ribs are slowly cooked until they’re fall-apart tender, along with an infusion of big flavor in the braising liquid. This dish is succulent to the max and such a showstopper!


Ingredients

  • 4 lbs bone-in beef short ribs, english-cut, trimmed of excess fat
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper, to season
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced on a bias
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon espresso instant coffee
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey (see notes for sub if needed)
  • ½ cup dark soy sauce (or regular soy sauce)
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 ½ cups beef broth


Instructions

  1. Season & rest the short ribs: On a large plate/platter, generously season the short ribs with salt and pepper on all sides. Set the short ribs aside to rest and come up to room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Afterwards, preheat the oven to 300°F
  2. Brown the short ribs: In a large dutch oven (at least 5-quarts in capacity + oven-safe) over medium-high heat, add the butter and olive oil. Once the mixture is shimmering, gently swirl the pot around to evenly coat the bottom. Add a few short ribs into the pot, working in batches, careful not to overcrowd. Sear the short ribs on all sides until a deep brown crust appears, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Transfer the browned short ribs onto a clean plate/small baking sheet and repeat the process until all the short ribs are browned, adding a slick more of oil into the pot, only if necessary. Then set the browned short ribs aside and reduce the heat to medium.
  3. Sauté the mirepoix: Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot to the pot. Sauté the mixture in the rendered beef fat, while stirring every so often. Season the mirepoix with salt/pepper, to taste. Continue cooking until the veggies are tender, golden brown, and fragrant, about 6-8 minutes. 
  4. Bring the flavors together: Create a small well in the center of the pot and add in the tomato + garlic paste. Stir in the paste with a wooden utensil along with the mirepoix to coat, about 2-3 minutes. Then add the coffee granules, red pepper flakes, and rosemary sprigs. Add the bourbon whiskey to deglaze and use a wooden utensil to scrape up any caramelized bits on the bottom of the pot. Continue cooking the mixture, stirring continuously, until the bourbon/whiskey cooks down and the mixture takes on a thicker consistency, about 2-3 minutes. Then add the soy sauce, maple syrup, and broth and stir until well combined.
  5. Assemble the braise: Return the browned short ribs back into the pot along with any residual juices that have collected- the ribs should be almost completely submerged under the liquid. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the pot to a simmer, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
  6. Braise the short ribs: Cover the pot with a lid and transfer the pot to the oven. Allow the short ribs to braise at 300°F for 3 – 3 ½ hours, covered- until the ribs are meltingly tender and falling off the bone.
  7. Adjust braising liquid, if desired: If you’d like to thicken the braising liquid in the pot (for a glaze-like consistency), follow the next steps. Remove the short ribs from the pot and place them onto a clean plate and remove most of the solids as well- set the items aside. Skim any fat off the top of the liquid. Cook the liquid over medium-high heat, gently stirring, until the liquid reaches your desired consistency- about 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, taste and adjust with more salt/pepper, as needed, and return the solids to incorporate with the sauce.
  8. Serve the maple coffee braised short ribs immediately. I love serving these short ribs in shallow bowls on top of creamy mashed sweet potatoes with a bit of the braising gravy poured right over it all, the perfect fall meal. Garnish the dish with more fresh rosemary if you’d like. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Alcohol sub: You can sub the bourbon whiskey with coca-cola or a non-alcohol bourbon/whiskey spirit if needed.
  2. Please read blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Ashley McLaughlin