The most expensive coffees worldwide are sought after by enthusiasts who appreciate one of the finest brews on the planet. Since it is impossible to reveal all of the world’s most expensive coffees, here are ten of the most popular.
10 Most Expensive Coffees in the World… and Where to Buy Them!
Coffee is the world’s most popular beverage, and the most expensive coffee in the world is surprisingly affordable!
In fact, the most expensive coffee you can buy costs only $15 a cup!
But there are many other high-end coffees you can buy that will set you back hundreds or even thousands of dollars a cup!
So what kind of rare beans make a super-premium brew? Well, we’ll tell you all about the most expensive coffees in the world and the flavors that make these your favorites. Then we’ll reveal where you can get them!
1) Arabica beans: are the most widely grown coffee in the world and are native to the highlands of Ethiopia and Yemen. Arabica beans are known for their sweetness and floral qualities and are usually processed to remove the fruit from the bean. But Arabica beans grown inland from Ethiopia and Yemen have high acidity and sharp flavor, which gives them an earthy character.
The most expensive coffee in the world is Arabica from Ethiopia! The “Yirgacheffe” variety is grown within the Kochere region of Oromia province in southern Ethiopia. The bean is picked by hand and roasted lightly to preserve its flavor, and then washed for three to five days.
With fruity acidity and acidic flavors such as lemon and orange citrus, this coffee is highly sought after for its surprisingly bright aftertaste and rich taste. Option to buy here
2) “Kopi Luwak” or Civet Coffee: Civet cats live in the wild in Southeast Asia and are attracted to the coffee bean’s fruit. The civet cats eat the beans and poop out the beans with the fruit still intact. The coffee beans are then collected and composted until ripe, whereafter they are washed and dried in the sun.
Because of the extensive washing process, Kopi Luwak coffee is naturally resistant to mold and disease. The beans are large with an unusual shape but have a flavor that is similar to a dark roasted robusta. The coffee can be sweet and fruity with dark cocoa and caramel flavors.
Kopi Luwak coffee beans can fetch $100 a cup! This coffee is heavy on the palate with a full body and heavy acidity with hints of pepper and butterscotch. Get it here
3) “Geisha” or Typica Coffee: Typica is a variety native to Ethiopia and Yemen and is one of the rarest coffees in the world. There are fewer than 500 hectares of Typica coffee worldwide, and only a small proportion is grown at an optimal altitude of 1,700 feet. The “Geisha” variety takes three years to mature and is characterized by its small and fragile beans.
The most expensive coffee in the world comes from the Kaffa region of Ethiopia and is characterized by buttery and floral notes. The lemon and lime flavors are balanced with sweet flavors of honey and caramel. The coffee is known for its earthy and full-bodied flavors with a crisp aftertaste. Available here
4) “Costa Rican” or Bourbon Coffee: Bourbon coffee is grown in Costa Rica and Nicaragua and has a bolder flavor and richer taste than regular Arabica beans. The beans have a distinctly sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and caramel. The coffee has a medium body with a smooth texture and a sweet aftertaste with hints of chocolate.
The most expensive coffee in the world is Costa Rican honey bourbon! Costa Rica bourbon has a smooth texture and rich flavor with notes of brown sugar and caramel with hints of mint and ginger that lingers on the tongue. This full-bodied, rich, and long-lasting coffee is sought after by coffee aficionados for its unique flavor profile and sweet aftertaste.
5) “L’Estate” Coffee: L’Estate is a variety found in the Reunion Islands in the Indian Ocean. This coffee is known for its full body and strong, lingering taste. The beans are large and round with uniform size and a rich, nutty flavor with subtle notes of cinnamon and hazelnuts. The coffee has a rich and creamy texture and a strong aftertaste with a smoky finish. This coffee is characterized by its full body and pungent flavor with a satisfying aftertaste.
6) Ethiopian Yirgacheffe: This coffee has a medium to dark body and notes of honey and molasses with a spicy aftertaste that is sharp and tangy.
The well-balanced body of the coffee and the earthiness in the aftertaste are a result of its slow maturation process, which is weeks instead of days. Try it here
7) Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee: Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee comes from a plantation in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica and is known for its strong flavor and distinctive taste. The beans are sun-dried and carefully sorted before roasting in small batches.
The flavor is full-bodied with notes of fruit, cinnamon, and caramel with a syrup-like consistency. The coffee is sweet, creamy, and rich with hints of cherries and berries and a clean aftertaste with hints of citrus and vanilla. Get it here
8) Guatemalan Finca La Esmeralda: Finca La Esmeralda is the highest elevation coffee farm in Guatemala and produces the rarest and most expensive coffee in the world! The beans are harvested by hand and then roasted carefully to retain the original flavor of the bean. The medium-bodied coffee is mild and earthy with notes of berries and a hint of chocolate with a smooth finish and a clean aftertaste.
9) Yemeni Mocha Coffee: The most expensive coffee in the world is the Yemeni Mocha which is grown in mountainous regions Yemeni of Mocha and is often referred to as “the champagne of coffee” for the subtle nuances in its flavors.
The beans are small in size and are carefully processed to preserve the original flavor and aroma of the bean. The beans are small in size and are carefully processed to preserve the original flavor and aroma of the bean. This bright, fruity coffee has notes of cocoa and berries with a crisp finish and a clean aftertaste.
10) Kopi Luwak: This coffee is the most expensive in the world at $100 a cup! The beans are collected from the feces of the civet cat and processed to preserve its unique flavor. This coffee is characterized by its rich flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel and has a slight astringency in the aftertaste that balances the rich flavors with a sharp aftertaste. The smooth texture of the coffee is rounded with notes of citrus and berries with a crisp finish and a clean aftertaste. Now you can drink your espresso and latte knowing you’re drinking one of the world’s rarest and most expensive coffees! Which do you prefer? Arabica? Or Ethiopian Yirgacheffe? Let us know in the comments below!