Why Does Coffee Taste Like BBQ? 3 Reasons + Solutions

I’m a huge fan of BBQs.

Every year, when Summer comes around, I make a beeline to my garden shed to get out my trusty grill.

I then fire it up for several rounds of satisfying barbecuing. 🙂

Here’s the thing though:

I’m NOT a fan of the flavor when I taste it in my java. :/

Because I want my coffee to taste like, well…coffee.

Have YOU ever taken a sip of your brew only to find it has barbecue notes?

This weird flavor profile crops up due to a few reasons, which I explain below.

Barbecue-flavored Coffee? Here Are The Reasons Why This Happens + Easy Fixes

In general, coffee can taste like BBQ if it has been left hot on the burner for many hours. It’ll have burnt notes, similar to a BBQ-like flavor. Also, darker roasts can sometimes have smoky notes which will be evident after you’ve brewed your coffee.

To expand further on this…

A freshly brewed batch of coffee has a natural life cycle in which it undergoes 2 changes.

The first occurs after approximately half an hour – this is when the beverage cools down and starts gradually losing its flavor and aroma.

The next change happens after around 4 hours – this is when the oils turn stale and your brew starts becoming more acidic.

Unfortunately, sticking your coffee mug in the microwave and hoping for the best won’t cut it. You’re bound to taste a noticeable drop in flavor and quality.

Of course, you can make it taste better by adding flavorings or a dash of creamer/a pinch of sweetener.

Honestly, though, I reckon you’re better off diluting whatever is left and using it to water your plants.

Or you can just discard it and make another cuppa joe.

To keep coffee fresh for a longer period, you can either:

Cold brew it right from the start OR take it off the heat as soon as it’s prepared. Your coffee might not stay piping hot, but at least it won’t taste like BBQ.

Moving on…

Unlike their lighter roasted counterparts, sometimes, darker roasts tend to have smoky notes which can taste similar to BBQ.

If this isn’t to your liking, switching to light roast coffee is probably a good idea.

With that said…

Another reason your java could have barbecue-tasting notes is due to contamination.

This can happen if:

>> Your coffee maker was used to make something that had BBQ-like flavors and wasn’t cleaned properly.

>> Your coffee beans were roasted next to a BBQ pit or smoker.

>> Your beans weren’t stored properly and were placed next to barbecue seasonings, spices, and sauces, causing them to absorb unwanted odors and flavors.

>> You brewed your java with a paper filter that may have absorbed BBQ smoke/sauce.

To prevent this from happening:

>> Store your coffee beans in a dry, clean place away from sunlight, moisture, or strong-smelling items.

>> Ensure your coffee-making equipment is thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis, so any residual flavors from previous brews are washed away and don’t seep into your current brew.

Finally, try adjusting your brewing technique and see if that helps.

Before I wrap up this post, I want to quickly answer another question I’ve come across often:

Why Does Coffee Taste Like Molasses?

In general, coffee tends to taste like molasses if it originates from high-elevation coffee plantations. Coffee grown in these places will sometimes have faint notes of caramel and molasses when brewed.

If you’re not particularly fond of this flavor, you might be better off opting for a lighter roast.

Light, fruity blends generally don’t have molasses-like tasting notes, so you can enjoy your cuppa without worrying about sampling it in your drink.

Tip:

Give African single-origin coffees a try – not only are they incredibly fruity, but they also taste delicious.

Did you know?

Blended coffee generally tastes more like molasses than its single-origin counterparts.

This is because they’re typically created to appeal to the wider public, rather than to a niche group of coffee connoisseurs.

Furthermore, I’d recommend giving your coffee grinder a thorough clean (if you haven’t done so in a while). If this fails to fix the issue, it might be time to switch to a lighter roast.