Stepping into Juan Valdez’s coffee shop in Orlando can feel like you’re stepping into a Starbucks, or a Dunkin’ Donuts–at least, that was the way I felt at first, but don’t fret! This place is far from what you would expect at a fast, big-chain coffee shop. In fact, their food may have won me over more than their coffee! If you have never tried any Colombian food or pastries, I recommend for you to splurge a little while you’re there for your morning coffee. What I tried while I was there was:
Buñuelos (also known as “cheese fritters”–if you’re unfamiliar), chicken empanadas, arepa con queso (my favorite!), pan de bono, pan de queso, pastelito de queso, and pastelito de queso y guayaba.
They close their shop pretty late (well, late for a coffee shop), so if you couldn’t make your usual morning coffee run, it’s your lucky day! Juan Valdez closes at 5pm Mondays through Fridays–not including holidays. If you’re not located in Orlando, they do have other locations. Juan Valdez’s coffee shop is also located in Miami, Washington DC, Doral, and New York. They pride themselves, and rightfully so, on being the only internationally coffee brand that belongs to coffee growers.
Before we get to the yummy Colombian food bit– the coffee! This sizing of the cups were small in comparison to the other places I’ve gone to, and I always order two shots of espresso in my latte, but the strength sure made up for it! The decor in this tiny coffee shop was minimalistic and cute to say the least. They did a nice job at modernizing their cafe. There were beautiful vines that fell down the back wall, where the tables sat. A ginormous sign that read, “THE COFFEE FROM THE COLOMBIAN GROWERS”, right in the middle of the cafe. As soon as you walk in, you notice a small seating area that contains a lovely large couch and two small ones to your right, completely a different aesthetic to the rest of their cafe, but it works. There is also outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the fresh morning air.
But my favorite part that I must admit… their bathroom was the prettiest sight to see, I audibly gasped when I laid eyes on it. I suggest entering their bathrooms if you choose to visit, whether or not you have to use it, just so you can feast your eyes on the most amazing bathroom you might ever see at a cafe.
To the part you’ve been waiting for… the food! If cheese is one of your favorite products to consume, you’ll love all these warm and cheesy Colombian goodies. First up–buñuelos. Buñuelos are round and shaped like a ball. The outer layer is crunchy, while the inner layer has a pillow, donut texture. It’s not too sweet, but you still get that yummy taste of cheese.
My personal favorite was the arepa con queso. This is basically just a cheesy, corncake. They are small, flat, AND FILLED WITH CHEESE. The best way to describe this delicious cheese-filled patty is a very soft, fluffy dough. Traditionally, it is consumed for morning breakfast (although many Colombians love to eat it during the afternoons as well), and always partner it with a coffee or hot chocolate.
Pan de bono. In other words–cheese bread. Traditionally, it is consumed with hot chocolate, and in the mornings. Although, again, many people will usually snack on pan de bono throughout the day.
Pastelitos de queso y queso con guayaba was really interesting to try. Being Cuban, it was really intriguing to see how other Spanish speaking countries have the same foods, but completely make it their own. Maybe it’s because I grew up with Cuban pastelitos, but Colombian ones may just one up them. If you are unfamiliar with pastelitos, it just means pastries. The outer part of these pastries are extremely crunchy and sugary, you will absolutely make a mess, you just won’t be able to prevent that. It is very sweet, but not unbearably sweet. You’d think with the guava or cheese added into the mix, it might be a little unbearably sweet, but it’s not. It’s actually a perfect balance, specifically when you order the one with both of them together.
Remember the name Juan Valdez if you’re on your morning coffee run! If you’re in Miami, Orlando, Washington DC, Doral, or New York–this is your sign to try some tasty Colombian pastries and strong coffee to get you through the day! If you’re not in these locations, you can always go to their website and support them by buying their coffee right from the source!