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Epicurious
Bon Appétit

Coffee-and-Bourbon-Braised Short Ribs

4.1

(10)

CoffeeandBourbonBraised Short Ribs in a blue bowl
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley

Smoky-sweet bourbon and roasted coffee are the perfect complement to bone-in short ribs in this deep, dark braise. Instant espresso powder lends big flavor while dissolving seamlessly into a blend of Worcestershire sauce, liquor, and vinegar to create a braising liquid that easily tenderizes the tough cut. And after all that liquid reduces and the short ribs have slowly cooked to perfection, you’re left with a sauce that just begs to blanket a bowl of mashed potatoes.

Be sure to buy English-style bone-in short ribs for this dish. The cut is optimal for long braising and will stay intact better than crosscut (flanken-style) ribs. We like a bourbon with deep caramel notes and a subtle smoky flavor here, but any will work.

What you’ll need

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