Description
Tubby Tom’s Wake the Dead – Black Coffee Espresso Short Rib & Brisket Rub
Awaken your BBQ with Tubby Tom’s Wake the Dead, a rich coffee and espresso BBQ rub created for beef lovers. Packed with dark roasted coffee, smoked spices and warming aromatics, it’s the ultimate seasoning for brisket, short ribs, steaks and low & slow barbecue, delivering an incredible bark and deep, smoky flavour.
Description
The Ultimate Coffee Rub for Beef
If you’re serious about cooking great beef, Wake the Dead deserves a permanent place in your BBQ arsenal. This bold espresso rub combines dark roasted coffee beans with smoked coriander, smoked cumin, smoked salt and a carefully balanced blend of spices to create deep, earthy flavour with a subtle kick of chilli.
Coffee rubs have become a favourite among pitmasters because they enhance the natural richness of beef while helping to build a beautifully dark, flavour-packed bark during long cooks. Wake the Dead does exactly that, making it a superb choice for brisket, beef short ribs and steaks cooked over charcoal or wood.
It’s equally at home in the kitchen too, adding depth and complexity to chilli con carne, tacos, burritos and fajitas.
Flavour Profile
Expect layers of:
- Rich dark espresso
- Smoky roasted spices
- Earthy coffee notes
- Peppery warmth
- Gentle chilli heat
- Deep savoury umami
- A long, smoky finish
The coffee doesn’t make your food taste like coffee – instead, it intensifies the rich, meaty flavours and creates incredible depth.
Perfect With
Wake the Dead was made for beef, but it’s incredibly versatile.
Ideal for:
- Brisket
- Beef short ribs
- Steaks
- Burgers
- Beef cheeks
- Venison
- Chicken thighs
- Chilli con carne
- Burritos
- Tacos
- Fajitas
If you’re cooking low and slow, this rub produces an exceptional dark bark that’s packed with flavour.
How to Use
For Low & Slow BBQ
Apply a generous coating to brisket or beef ribs and allow the rub to sit for at least an hour before smoking. For maximum flavour, season the night before and refrigerate overnight. Smoke low and slow until probe tender for a rich, dark crust that BBQ enthusiasts will love.
For Steaks
Lightly oil your steak, coat generously with Wake the Dead and grill over high heat. The coffee and smoked spices develop a beautifully caramelised crust while complementing the natural flavour of the beef.
For Everyday Cooking
Mix into minced beef for burgers, stir into chilli con carne, or use as a seasoning for fajita or taco fillings to add rich smoky depth.
Why You’ll Love It
- Rich espresso and dark roasted coffee flavour
- Perfect for brisket, short ribs and steaks
- Creates an outstanding BBQ bark
- Packed with smoked spices
- Fantastic for low & slow smoking
- Great in chilli, tacos and burritos
- Equally suited to BBQs, smokers and everyday cooking
Ingredients
Ingredients (allergens in bold):
Smoked Coriander, Smoked Cumin, Smoked Salt, Spices, Pepper, Chilli, Dark Roasted Coffee Beans, Sugar, Yeast, Ginger, Mustard, Smoked Maltodextrin.
Storage: Store in a cool, dark place. Once opened use within 2 weeks re-seal after each use. This is like magical powder, it’s very fine. This means it can be susceptible to clumping if exposed to steam, high temperatures etc so use sensibly. Use ya fingers to break up the clumps if needed.
Tubby Toms
Tubby Tom’s is the perfect combination of all of my passions. I spend all day working with amazing food, creating sauces and seasonings and selling them to awesome, like-minded people.
It all started with a single batch of BBQ sauce i’d made in the summer of 2014. My friends loved it and joked about how I should sell it and brand it as ‘Tubby Tom’s’. I thought it was pretty funny and it seemed like a great idea, so I made some more, drew up some sketchy labels and took it down to our local farm shop.
The weekends I didn’t spend cooking the sauce, i’d be out at farmers markets selling it. My friends and family often got roped in (common theme here) to help me do the big cooks. They also helped me with the market stalls sometimes too, they’re the best. Thanks guys, couldn’t have done it with out you.
Use as a Rub!
Choose your flavour destination, find the rub that is influenced by that location and then simply rub it on your food to take your cook to new levels and your taste buds to new places with ease.
Rubs go well on all foods, not just meat, and don’t just limit them to being used on the BBQ.
Use as a Paste!
Pick a flavour, find the rub that is influenced by that flavour and then most rubs can be mixed with either an oil such as sesame oil, olive oil, or you could choose to mix with a mayo, yoghurt, or even a vinegar. Its an endless list of possibilities and combinations for you to play with.
Use as a Marinade
Mix up a paste, add layers of flavours with your paste, leave your food to absorb the flavours for at least an hour, or even better over night.
Korean Rub + Soy Sauce + Fish Sauce + Sesame Oil + Lime Juice + Runny Honey
Chinese Rub + Sesame Oil
Mediteranean + Olive Oil + Lemon Juice
Tandoori/Indian Rub + Yoghurt + Lemon Juice
Tubby Tom’s is a UK-based independent brand creating bold, small-batch BBQ sauces and seasoning rubs that are all about maximum flavor and good vibes.
Known for their handcrafted approach and creative twists on classic BBQ staples, Tubby Tom’s brings serious heat, sweetness, and smokiness to every bottle and jar.
Whether you’re grilling, smoking, roasting, or dipping, their range of BBQ sauces is made to elevate any meal—from juicy burgers and ribs to loaded fries and wings.
Their expertly blended rubs are packed with herbs, spices, and attitude—perfect for marinating meat, seasoning veg, or adding a punch of flavor to your BBQ spread. Made with quality ingredients and a love for real food, Tubby Tom’s has become a favorite among pitmasters, home cooks, and BBQ lovers looking to kick blandness to the curb.
Be sure to check out the Tubby Toms recipes on their site
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