Pinchos con Café: Coffee-Glazed Beef Skewers
Pinchos con Café (or chuzos) take the classic Colombian street food skewer and elevate it for your weekend barbecue. Tender pieces of beef are marinated and then generously bathed in a rich, savory coffee reduction that adds a deep, slightly earthy flavor to the charred meat.
The secret to this 1-hour and 35-minute recipe is a two-step flavor process. First, the beef tenderloin marinates for over an hour in a savory mustard and soy sauce blend. Then, that reserved marinade is simmered down with freshly brewed coffee to create an irresistible, sticky glaze.
Pinchos con Café (Coffee-Glazed Beef Skewers)
A unique twist for your BBQ! Grilled beef tenderloin skewers bathed in a rich, savory coffee and soy sauce reduction.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Beef tenderloin Lomito de res
- 4 tablespoons Oil
- 3 tablespoons Mustard
- 4 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 1/2 cup Brewed coffee
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Wooden or metal skewers
Instructions
- Prep the meat: The very first step is to clean the beef tenderloin and cut it into uniform, medium-sized cubes suitable for skewering.
- Marinate: In a bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, and soy sauce. Add the beef cubes to this mixture, toss well to coat, and let the meat marinate for at least 1 hour to absorb the flavors.
- Skewer and grill: After an hour, drain the meat, making sure to save the leftover marinade in a separate container. Thread the beef pieces onto your wooden or metal skewers. Grill them over a barbecue or a hot grill pan, turning them until perfectly cooked on all sides.
- Make the coffee glaze: While the meat cooks, pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Add the 1/2 cup of brewed coffee, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces and thickens into a rich sauce.
- Glaze and serve: Remove the cooked skewers from the grill, plate them, and generously bathe them in the hot coffee reduction before serving!
Notes
- Street Food Classic: Pinchos or chuzos are an absolute staple of Colombian street food, heavily consumed during local fairs, festivals, and weekend gatherings across the country.
- Optional Add-ins: While this recipe highlights the pure meat, you can easily customize your skewers by alternating the beef chunks with pieces of onion, bell pepper, eggplant, or even pineapple for a tropical touch.
- Wooden Skewer Hack: If you are using bamboo or wooden skewers on a hot grill, always remember to soak them in water for about 30 minutes beforehand so they don’t catch fire!
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