Who said that Starbucks would drive Juan Valdez out of town? Here in the Centro Nacional, the two café's operate side-by-side, and both seem to be doing okay. I don't know the prices, but have been told that Starbucks appeals to a higher-income market. These two, however, appeared to have pretty similar clientele: businessy-looking people pecking at laptops or staring at their smartphones.
At least, they're both serving up Colombian beans, even if the farmer likely gets only a drop from each cup.
Coffee, it's worth noting, was a big productivity booster when introduced in Holland centuries ago. Of course, it gives drinkers a lift. But back then it also replaced beer, whose consumption didn't have the best effects on productivity.
According to their websites, there are 106 Juan Valdez cafés in Bogotá and 10 Starbucks.
By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours
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