COL: Juan Valdez Café
Chillin' with ice-blended coffee infused with 'arequipe'!
Juan Valdez Café is a coffee chain founded by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia in 2002. It takes its name from a fictional character: a coffee farmer that's been portrayed in advertisements by the federation since 1958. While not as well-known as other global coffee chains, it's successfully expanded its reach to locations as distant as Malaysia.
Pikachu was eager to devour everything in sight.
Almojabana COP 5,100 (~S$1.65)
Taste: 6.5/10
Firstly, let's talk about the traditional Colombian cheese bread made of corn flour, butter, milk, eggs and, of course, cheese. Although the cheese filling wasn't rich enough, the light and airy texture of the bread made it a pleasant, if not entirely satisfying, treat to enjoy with my coffee.
Torta Roja COP 8,300 (~S$2.75)
Taste: 7.5/10
Literally meaning 'red tart', the slice reminiscent of a red velvet cake fared better than the almojabana. Even though the red hue wasn't that vibrant, the cake was moist and pretty balanced in sweetness. Instead of visible layers of cream cheese, the frosting was subtle, adding a gentle touch that still enhanced the overall flavour.
Latte (300 ml) COP 9,500 (~S$3.15)
Taste: 8/10
To assess the coffee chain, I just had to put their classic latte to the acid test. While not the best I've had, the steaming cup delivered a harmonious balance of robust espresso and velvety steamed milk. It smooth, comforting warmth made it a good companion to the snacks ordered.
Nevado Arequipe COP 12,900 (~S$4.25)
Taste: 8.5/10
The ice-blended drink made of espresso, arequipe or dulce de leche (Latin American confection prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk) and milk proved to be a delightful beverage. The moderately sweet decadence of the arequipe beautifully complemented the rich, smooth coffee, which was topped with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of the caramel for added indulgence.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7.5/10
Ambience: 6.5/10
Overall: 7/10
At the point of writing, there are more than 300 stores located in Colombia, along with more than 200 spread across other countries around the world. Pika's advice: While I didn't notice it during my visit, for something different, you may want to try their Tinto Campesino, which is filtered coffee infused with panela (Latin American unrefined whole cane sugar), cloves, cinnamon and lemon.
Juan Valdez Café
6-09 Calle 70
Bogota
Colombia
(Mon-Fri: 7.00am - 8.30pm;
Sat: 8.00am - 8.30pm;
Sun: 8.00am - 8.00pm)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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