Featuring Colombian coffee in uncommon preparations & an imaginative menu created by chef Nathalie Arbefeuille, this Colombian coffeehouse chain has opened its first Malaysian branch at The Intermark. This one could be a big, buzzy hit.
This Kuala Lumpur outpost is reputedly also the first Juan Valdez Cafe in Southeast Asia; it's a supremely photogenic hangout, colourfully spacious with beautiful flourishes, helmed by a helpfully friendly team. The Juan Valdez chain was created by Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers to promote their country's beans; through fair-trade policies, Juan Valdez's customers supposedly support some 500,000 farmers who grow their coffee on small farms.
The menu here is uniquely designed for this Malaysian branch, comprising European & South American elements. The lovably luscious salmon blini works wonderfully as a refreshing snack; certainly not cheap for RM10 per piece (especially when each piece can be finished in one mouthful), but this is top-notch. By the end of this week, Juan Valdez Cafe will also feature other tapas such as foie gras cremeaux on ginger bread & cod fish brandade tartine.
The selection will expand eventually to include interesting salads with ingredients like refried beans & gorgonzola cromesquis, as well as egg-bountiful brunches, but for now, customers can try waffles with coconut praline, chocolate sauce & cream (RM20) ...
... or fluffy pancakes with dulce de leche, maple syrup & whipped cream (RM18). Note that patience is a virtue here this week; the cafe's point-of-sale system is still wobbly & the kitchen takes longer than expected to prepare the food. Whiners, stay away.
The coffee? Juan Valdez uses beans from the Colombian coffee regions of Huila, Cauca & Santander; for something that's meant to be quintessentially Colombian though and more affordable, there's tinto (basically black coffee, RM8.50 for 9oz) with panela (whole cane sugar) for a light sweetness. Might provoke contentious debate; some might like this, some certainly won't.
Macchiato with a hint of milk caramel, alongside the South American traditional 'granizado' crushed-ice beverage. If nothing else, Juan Valdez's offerings are distinctive, a trait that should always be appreciated.
Beans & macarons for takeaway; here's hoping more branches of Juan Valdez will sprout all over Malaysia in the years ahead.
P.S. Juan Valdez might be in the process of securing a liquor license. Crossing our fingers.
Juan Valdez Cafe
Ground Floor, The Intermark, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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