Who is Juan Valdez?

Juan Valdez is a fictitious character who was created in 1959 to represent the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Columbia, founded in 1926.
He is one of the most familiar faces in the advertising world, with his moustache, sombrero, poncho and his faithful mule, Lana.



In the first commercials, Juan Valdez used to wander around in the coffee fields, picking the ripe coffee berries with his hands. He was a romantic representative of thousands of Colombian "cafeteros", or "caficultores". At the same time, his image drew a great deal of criticism on its road to success.



The real cafetero in the early days of Juan Valdez lived in dire poverty. Anti-government guerrillas and narcotics traffickers endangered his already insecure life. Poisonous DDT was sprayed on his coffee fields, often, shockingly, while he and other cafeteros were at work. The National Federation failed to represent these horrors.



In later ads, Juan Valdez moved from the coffee fields to the American housewife's kitchen, handing her a personalized bag of freshly processed coffee beans.



In TV commercials, Juan Valdez was first played by actor Jose Duval. Because Duval was no longer felt to be representative, Carlos Sanchez of Medellin took his place in 1969. In the 1980s, the Juan Valdez commercials used Rolls Royce cars and luxury residences. In the 1990s, a new slogan was devised: Grab life by the beans. Dynamic pictures showed Juan Valdez surfing or snowboarding. In the late nineties, however, Juan Valdez disappeared from the public eye for several years. The Colombian government had drastically cut back on advertising.
In 2000, Juan Valdez, in the person of Carlos Sanchez, reappeared. Andres Pastrana, President of Columbia, awarded him the silver cross medal for national merit.



In December of that year, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia opened its first "Juan Valdez" Coffee shop in Bogota airport. Juan Valdez appeared in the movie "Bruce Almighty" at a cost to the Federation of $1,5 million.



At the time of writing (2004), the symbol of Columbian coffee is trying to make a breakthrough into North America. The first "Juan Valdez" coffee house was opened in September 2004 in Washington, and the second, one month later, in New York.



Ultimately, Juan Valdez is aiming at Seattle, the heart of American coffee-making. Starbucks officials stated they do not feel threatened by the famous moustache man. Gabriel Silva, manager of the Columbian Federation, said in return that the Federation would not go as far as having 8,000 or 10,000 Juan Valdez outlets, as their competition intends.



Iulia Pascanu writes for http://www.madcoffeemaker.com where you can find more information about The Mad Coffee Maker

The History Of Coffee

Without a doubt, coffee production and consumption is a major business throughout the world. Coffee production has the second largest commodity ranking in the world (oil production is first), and coffee is a major foundation among family circles worldwide. But when exactly did this worldwide love affair with coffee start? When was it first realized that the innocuous little coffee bean would cause so much enjoyment?
There are several conflicting stories about the origin of coffee. One such story involves a goat herder in Ethiopia around 800 A.D., who noticed that when his goats ate certain beans from a bush, they became more animated than normally. So he ate some himself and got the same reaction, and so he passed some around to his fellow herders, and pretty soon the coffee bean became a rage.

That story is probably untrue, and we really don??t know exactly where or when coffee was discovered and who discovered it. We do know that the coffee plant was originally found in Ethiopia, and the plant??s beans were eaten as is. We know Ethiopia later exported the beans. Also we know that by the first millennium, coffee was very well known in most parts of the world. Arabs were probably the first to discover the ability to roast the bean and drink the resulting mixture.

Eventually coffee became very popular throughout the world as an energizing drink. By the 1500s, in Istanbul, coffee houses were first created. They became so fashionable that other European countries soon followed suit, including France and England. Of course, these houses, just like the drink itself, were probably nothing like the trendy gourmet coffee shops we have today.
A man named Edward Lloyd set up one of the first coffeehouses in England, and that house later became the famous insurance carrier Lloyd??s of London. Of course when the British came to America, they set up coffee shops throughout the 13 colonies.

And the coffee beans were found to grow in different southern climates. Columbia started growing the plant in the early 1800s, with Brazil soon following suit. Of course today Columbia is one of the most famous and largest growers of the plant, as is Brazil. But also soon Hawaii got into the act with their Kona coffee, and of course the Indonesian island of Java became so widely known for their coffee, that one slang word for coffee is ??java.?? And today there are many different types of flavored coffees to choose from, for all sorts of gourmet coffee lovers

So all together it took about 1000 years for coffee to start from a possible humble beginning as goat energy snack food, to becoming the 2nd largest tradable commodity in the world. Millions of tons of coffee are produced every year, and there is no doubt that the industry will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

Best Espresso Machines

While there are a host of espresso machines catering to various needs and budgets in the market today, the espresso machines listed below have stood the test of time and are known for their quality and excellent espresso making ability. One can choose from a range of automatic, super-automatic and home espresso makers.

It should however be noted that making espresso depends entirely on the espresso maker, or barista, and the espresso machine is just a machine the maker uses. Espresso makers are available from $80 to $900 and above. The cost of an espresso machine usually depends on the features one wishes to have along with it.

Among the automatic versions of espresso machines, the Delonghi Magnificia Automatic Espresso machine is known for its ease of use and excellent quality in general. The Magnificia is a super automatic machine. It can prepare a variety of beverages like espresso, cappuccino, and latte. The Delonghi Magnificia uses CRF technology which makes it compact.

Making cappuccino is very easy using this machine, due to the separate milk boiling chamber and the frothing wand. The machine features separate controls for milk and water quantity, which makes it possible for one to customize the strength of the shots.

The Magnificia also has an integrated burr grinder, which grinds the coffee beans within the machine. It also has a removable boiler and a self-cleaning system which works automatically.

The Gaggia Synchrony Compact Espresso Machine is one of the most compact espresso machines available in the market. This machine combines the quality of Gaggia with the stylish finishing of an ABS plastic finishing. The machine has an ABS plastic finishing over a steel frame.

The machine has a 44 ounce tank and offers adjustable dosing. It features a top-filling removable water tank and a removable brew group. One of the most useful features of this super-automatic machine are the digital controls, which gives the barista complete control over the quantity and quality of the espresso they wish to make.

The Gaggia is super-compact, and therefore it doesn?t clutter space. It is perfect for office, commercial or even home use for the true espresso enthusiast.

The Krups Duomo Espresso Machine is perfect for the espresso enthusiasts who don??t want the various features of the auto and semi-automatic espresso machines. The machine is available for under a hundred dollars.

The Krups Duomo can prepare four cups of espresso coffee using the steam pressure at one go. The Duomo offers a complete package to the home users, with its steam wand and can be used to prepare coffee, espresso or cappuccino.

It features the exclusive ??deep brew?? technology which works wonders for the flavor and taste of the coffee. Switching from making cappuccino to espresso is very easy, thanks to the ease of use of this made-for-home espresso machine.

The DeLonghi Black Espresso/Coffee Maker is another machine acclaimed for its espresso quality and general ease of use. The DeLonghi Black is a steam driven espresso machine and has a swivel jet frother which produces thick milk froth. Therefore the machine is perfect to make espresso, cappuccino or latte.

For new espresso makers, the machine has a patented safety cap and a highly durable heat resistant glass flask. The removable drip tray and on/off indicator makes this the perfect machine for home use.

Espresso Machines provides detailed information on Automatic Espresso Machines, Best Espresso Machines, Commercial Espresso Machines, Espresso Cappuccino Machines and more. Espresso Machines is affiliated with Espresso Equipment.

A Coffee Gift Idea

Are you tired of receiving the same kinds of gifts over and over again? One quotation says --- It is better to give than to receive. Now is the time for you make a difference. Go and pack a unique gift for someone very dear to you.

There are many ways by which you can stuff your gifts. Usually, gifts are packed in boxes, paper bags, paper or tinsel wrappers, pail, baskets while some just give it as it is. Don??t you feel overwhelmed when someone gives you a present? I??m sure you??ll be very thankful for that person, especially when you received the gift of your choice.

Some people give gifts during birthdays, Christmas, New Year, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, house blessing, graduation, baptismal and many others.

It has already been a custom, that people give gifts whenever there??s an occasion. But is a special occasion really necessary, before you decide to give? It will cause someone to thank you if you give him/her a present in ordinary days. You can give to show someone your appreciation.

There are several ideas by which you can be creative in packing your gifts. Use your imaginations. Be inventive and artistic. For coffee lovers, a basket full of assorted coffee would be a good choice. You can mix and match roasted coffee with instant ones. You can also include cups and saucers and mugs too.

Coffee gift basket could be a pleasant gift for all occasions. It would be great for couples, as well as for small and large groups. Since break time is coffee time, this gift would surely promote sharing of thoughts and ideas during meetings and small gatherings.

Gift baskets are readily made and available for order and immediate purchase in coffee stores. However, you can do it yourself for a more artistic touch of your hand. In case, you don??t have time doing so, the internet is there to accompany you to the well-known coffee basket dealers.

With a little research and some initiative you can get great coffee and arrange for it to be packed in a gift basket with other coffee related items, even some mugs or an espresso machine, and create a wonderful coffee gift basket. If you know the people who you are buying to coffee for you can take advantage of that and get them things you know they like, or things you think they will particularly enjoy.

Celia Namart an avid traveler has collected her thoughts and ideas during her many travels around the world. A recent discovery is the option of using coffee as a great gift idea, read about how to setup a great Coffee Gift Basket as a surprise for your friends and family.

Steps for World Class Gourmet Coffee

For a change, a good cup of coffee would be nice. It does take some time and some energy to find a great cup of gourmet coffee these days. If you do know of a perfect coffee shop, you are one of the lucky ones. But, did you know that you can actually make a wonderful cup of coffee on your own from home?

Here are 7 simple steps that you can take to produce the perfect cup of coffee every time.

Start with quality. One of the most important aspects of coffee drinking is the quality of the coffee that you start off with. If you have a favorite flavor, then purchase whole beans in that flavor. If you can do this, it will allow you to get the freshest coffee available.

Grind away. Purchase a quality coffee grinder. Some of the best grinders available today are easy to use and easy to clean up. By grinding your own coffee beans, you??ll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.

Store It Right And Tight. It is very important to store your coffee tightly. Air oxidizes the coffee and can cause it to get bitter quickly. Metal canisters can also allow a metal taste to get into the coffee, making it taste bad.

The best solution is for a plastic or ceramic air tight container for your coffee and coffee beans. Also, store it at room temperature because the moisture in the fridge or freezer can make it go bad faster.

Getting To The Coffee

The Maker. The coffee maker that you use is also important. No matter what style that you go with, you can get a good cup of coffee out of it if you take the necessary steps to keeping it fresh.

For example, you should insure that the coffee maker is kept clean after each use. In fact, you??ll need to make sure that you detail clean it, with the help of vinegar, every so often as well. Your preferences will ultimately determine which style of coffee maker you will use. Make sure that it uses a permanent filter in it.

Even In The Water. Even the water that you use is important to the quality of the coffee you will get from it. It is essential that you use water that is free from chlorine and minerals.

Often, using bottled water rather than tap water will improve the quality of the coffee. Also, keep the water nice and hot. A good temperature for the water is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Provide The Right Amount. It is also important for you to use the right amount of coffee beans and coffee grounds in the maker. Too many and you will have a very strong cup of coffee and too few will make it to be too weak. Follow the directions provided by the coffee producer for the best cup of coffee.

Lastly and probably the most important aspect of getting a great cup of gourmet coffee is to make sure to enjoy your coffee when it is hot and fresh. Most restaurants are told to keep coffee for less than thirty minutes, but at home, the best coffee is the coffee that hasn??t sat for more than twenty minutes