While it's not uncommon to see coffee as the star of a yummy dessert or sweet specialty drink, most people don't associate coffee with main dishes, or even soups (seriously, scroll down and you'll see what we mean).

We are here to break the stereotype that coffee can only be used after dinner and have gathered 8 of our favorite, must-try cooking with coffee recipes from Pinterest – featuring a handful of meaty mains.

As always, we stress the importance of using fresh, high quality coffee. If you can purchase the coffee in whole bean form and grind it yourself prior to prepping your dish, even better!

If not, purchase all-purpose or fine ground coffee to ensure that the flavor is allowed to mold and mesh with the rest of the dish.

• Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Dijon Cream
• Coffee Spiced Grilled Chicken with Fruit-Basic Salsa
• Machaca Tacos
• Coffee-Rubbed Rib Eye
• Bacon Waffle Sandwich with Candied Coffee Bacon
• Chicken Breast in Plum & Coffee Sauce
• Onion Coffee Soup with Pancetta & Cheese
• Coffee-Rubbed Steak Tacos 

Coffee is often viewed as a strong, overpowering flavor (and it can be), but cooking coffee often breaks down the bitter bite, leaving you with the aromatic, rich taste that can compliment any dinner plate. Give these recipes a try and let us know which ones were a family hit!

We can't help but think it would be amazing to prepare a coffee-infused 3 course meal – coffee soup to start, followed by a coffee main, with coffee cake and coffee for dessert.

Too much? Well, that really depends on who you're asking!

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