Coffee and Molasses Brined Pork Chops

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups chilled strong brewed coffee
• 1/4 cup kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
• 3 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
• 1 cup hickory wood chips
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 tsp. Pepper-garlic spice rub
  
• Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Pour salt mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag. Add ice and pork; seal. Refrigerate for 3 hours, turning the bag occasionally.
2. Soak wood chips in water 1 hour. Drain well.
3. Prepare grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to medium-high and leaving one side with no heat.
4. Place wood chips on hot coals. Remove pork from bag; discard brine. Pat pork dry with paper towels. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon salt over pork. Rub 8 teaspoons Pepper-Garlic Spice Rub evenly over both sides of pork. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; grill 2 minutes on each side. Place pork on unheated side of grill; grill 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes before serving