Juan Valdez Coffee: Latin America's #1 Coffee Brand from Colombia

Juan Valdez FINCA Premium Estate Coffee from Colombia

My friend D.C., who had just returned from Central America, brought us Juan Valdez coffee to taste—Latin America's premier Colombian coffee brand.

Speaking of Juan Valdez coffee, it claims to be the number one coffee brand in Latin America. The character logo on the packaging's air valve—Juan Valdez—was reportedly based on a real person, who even made a cameo appearance in Jim Carrey's "Bruce Almighty," though the brand itself was not founded by him personally. The story begins in 1927.

As early as 1927, the Colombian government established the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, abbreviated FNC) to protect the interests of local small farmers and shield them from exploitation by intermediaries. This allowed Colombian coffee beans to travel directly from origin to consumers.

Later, in 1960, the FNC established a coffee brand using Juan Valdez's image and name, and began promoting Colombia's distinctive flavored coffee to the world. Even Taiwan imports Juan Valdez coffee for sale, at a premium price—this premium estate selection costs 1,250 Taiwanese dollars for 500 g.

I'm especially grateful to my good friend, who air-shipped this precious package of beans from Colombia, giving us such a wonderful treat this New Year.

This coffee from Juan Valdez—Colombia, the third-largest coffee-producing country—is UTZ-certified FINCA premium estate coffee, 100% washed Arabica beans. The color appears to be a medium-dark roast, with every bean plump and full, giving off an enticing aroma.

This morning I prepared it as pour-over to properly savor the Juan Valdez FINCA premium estate coffee.

Speaking of Colombia, the country lies at the northernmost point of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the north. The local climate is mild and humid, suitable for coffee. The Andes also run through its territory, nurturing fertile soil that gives Colombian coffee medium to high acidity and body, with a clean taste yet rich aroma.

Indeed,

The personality this Colombian coffee expresses after pour-over is gentle and soft.

On entry there is a soft acidity, followed by a rich, mellow mouthfeel. Its aroma carries abundant fruit and caramel notes, making it exceptionally delicious.

Just drinking this cup of aromatic Colombian estate coffee immediately awakens the whole palate. I think anyone would love its gentle character and flavor, and accept it readily.

The first taste of Juan Valdez coffee was stunning, and I truly feel that this brand's beans are sold at a premium for good reason.

Juan Valdez Coffee official website: http://www.juanvaldezcafestore.com/

Colombian Coffee Brand Recommendations

The Colombian coffee beans roasted by FrontStreet Coffee offer complete assurance in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide excellent value for money—a 227-gram box costs only 95 yuan. At 15 grams per cup, one package makes 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 6 yuan. Compared with coffee shops that charge dozens of yuan a cup, that is a genuinely conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Colombian coffee is remarkably versatile: it works both in espresso blends and as a pour-over single origin, and its range runs from fruit-acid styles to full-bodied cups to aroma-forward lots, so there is something for almost everyone. To explore the region, start with FrontStreet's washed Huila, grown in the country's most famous specialty region—the Huila province of the southern Central Cordillera, a hilly, mountain-ringed area where coffee is planted above 1,500 m and the country's most important rivers converge, bringing abundant water and humidity. Roasted medium-dark, it highlights dark chocolate and nutty sweetness with a moderate oiliness and a full body, and it brews well as pour-over or French press and equally well in a Moka pot or espresso machine for Americanos and lattes. If you enjoy the modern experimental processing that Colombia has embraced in recent years, FrontStreet's Colombia Frontera Estate Sidra is made with anaerobic natural processing, which transforms the coffee into a swirl of tropical fruit aromas; roasted light-medium, it delivers passion fruit, grape, apricot, and candied-fruit complexity whether you brew it as pour-over, cold brew, drip bag, or Moka pot. And for anyone with a home espresso machine or a Moka pot, FrontStreet's Signature Espresso Blend is a barista favorite: combining the creamy nuttiness of Brazilian coffee with the deep dark-chocolate bittersweetness of Colombian coffee, it pours a fine golden crema and is wonderfully smooth with milk in a latte, while also serving as the base for Americanos, cappuccinos, and mochas.