Most Expensive Coffees

The Best Coffee in the World Come at a Steep Price

There are many fine coffees in the world and the prices don’t always reflect the quality since prices are also affected largely by the basic laws of supply and demand and not necessarily by coffee cupping (professional coffee tasting) results. All of the most expensive coffee beans come from the Arabica coffee plant varietals.

Here is a list of the top ten most expensive coffees in the world.

Civet Coffee

Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee is brewed using coffee beans that have already been eaten and expelled by a small mammal known as the Civet.

This nocturnal, weasel-like animal is believed to impart some unique qualities to the beans as they pass through the animal’s digestive tract resulting in a distinct lack of bitterness

This means that the beans only need to be very lightly roasted since roasting is done primarily to remove bitterness from coffee beans. However the unique processing of the Civet coffee beans means that you will pay much more than regular coffee beans – as much as $600 per pound. Civet coffee is very popular in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Coffee

Cultivated in Boquete, Panama in the shade of guava trees, this fine coffee is known to cost more than $100 per pound. It grows on the slopes of Mount Baru in western Panama and is known for its fine taste and aroma.

Fazenda Sao Benedito

Cultivated in the Mina Gerias region of Brazil, Fazenda Sao Benedito coffee is known to garner prices of more than $20 per pound.

Guatemala Huehuetenango Coffee

More specifically, the coffee known as El Injerto from the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala can sell for more than $50 per pound. The coffee earned a first place in the Cup of Excellence Awards in 2006, sixth in 2007 and third in 2002.

El Salvador Los Planes Coffee

Cultivated in the Citala region of El Salvador, Los Planes coffee has been known to cost more than $40 per pound. In 2006 this coffee placed second in the Cup of Excellence awards.

Hawaii Kona Coffee

Cultivated on the volcanic slopes of the Big Island in Hawaii, Kona coffee often sells for more than $30 per pound. The high cost leads many Kona coffee farmers to offer their beans as a Kona coffee blend with lower price beans mixed in.

Make sure you get 100% Kona coffee if you want to sample the true origin flavors of Hawaii Kona Coffee. The Kona coffee growing region is located on the lower western slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanos above Kona town.

Yauco Selecto AA Coffee

Cultivated in the Yauco region in the southwestern mountains of Puerto Rico, Yauco Selecto AA is known for its exceedingly mild taste and garners prices of more than $20 per pound. CHECK ADD

Brazil Fazenda Santa Ines Coffee

Cultivated in the Mina Gerais region of Brazil, Fazenda Santa Ines may garner prices of more than $50 per pound. Fazenda Santa Ines coffee earned the highest rating in Brazil’s 2006 Cup of Excellence Awards.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

More specifically the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee grown on the Wallenford Estate in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica is known for its lack of bitterness and a pleasant mild flavor.

The finest Jamaica Blue Mountain coffees are known to sell for as much as $50 per pound. About four-fifths of every Blue Mountain crop is exported to Japan which nearly corners the market on this fine Jamaican coffee.

Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

For tips on brewing the perfect cup of coffee see the Espresso Coffee Guide’s section on Coffee Brewing.

For easy to follow instructions on how to make great espresso drinks see Espresso Drink Recipes and the Barista Guide to Perfect Lattes and Cappuccinos. Also provided are tips on Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot.

For the history of espresso and coffee see World’s Best History of Coffee, and for a complete list of coffee terminology with detailed definitions see the Espresso Coffee Guide’s Coffee and Espresso Glossary.