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Steak is often considered as something of a treat as it usually carries the highest price on restaurant menus. But you don't have to fork out a small fortune to enjoy a tasty piece of beef as with some careful cooking, you can whip up the dish at home.

Cooking a piece of steak might sound straightforward but it's oh so easy to make mistakes if you're not careful. The biggest error is simply to cook it for too long, which can result in a tough, chewy and tasteless meal that is less than satisfying.

Luckily, there is a simple way to avoid that tough texture, and all you need is a bit of instant coffee. Coffee is a staple kitchen cupboard item in most households, and while it may typically be reserved for helping to wake you up in the morning, it also has its uses when it comes to cooking.

According to cooking experts, rubbing steak with coffee 30 minutes before it hits the pan will ensure it tastes deliciously moist and tender.

Coffee is a great natural tenderiser for steak as it is rich in tannins, natural compounds that break down the proteins in meat to give it a more tender texture.

When coffee is applied to a piece of steak and left to soak in for 30 minutes, the tannins help to break through the meat's tough connective tissues, making it softer so it almost melts in your mouth.

Plus, it has the added bonus of infusing your meat with a slightly charred, caramelised taste that beautifully enhances the natural flavour of the steak.

Expects at Espresso Works explain: "The acidity in coffee does not overwhelm or overpower the taste of steak. Quite the contrary - coffee really brings out the flavour of the steak. And in addition to being used as a seasoning for steak, coffee can serve as a steak tenderiser and make the meat extra-moist."

Recipe developer Susie Bulloch at Hey Grill, Hey adds: "Coffee rub isn't good on steak, it's amazing, and for a couple different reasons. First, the acidity of the coffee is going to help tenderise your steak throughout the cooking process.

"And it's going to do so without overpowering the natural, beefy flavour. This is going to ensure you have a moist and tender inside with every bite.

"Second, when searing your steaks at the end of this process, the coffee rub is going to caramelise and give you a nice, crusty bark on the outside.

"Using instant coffee rather than coffee grinds will help you avoid an overly bitter flavour when cooking this hot. And because the rub has no sugar, you don't have to worry about over-caramelisation."

According to cooking experts, all you need to create a rub for your steak is some instant coffee. This can then be paired with some extra seasonings for added flavour, such as salt, garlic powder, pepper, paprika, or chilli powder, but what you choose is completely based on your preference.

You can use light, medium or dark roasts, but a darker roast will result in a bolder flavour. Make sure to use at least two tablespoons of instant coffee to create your rub, plus any added seasonings you want, and mix these together in a bowl.

Then massage the coffee rub onto each side of your steak and allow it to rest at room temperature for around 30 minutes to allow the flavours to penetrate, or store in the fridge for up to eight hours, but bring it back to room temperature before cooking.

If you really want to enhance the flavour and tenderness of the steak then experts recommend leaving the coffee rub on overnight for a full 24 hours before cooking.