The Most Expensive Coffee Beans In The World

While most coffee is affordable, there are still some coffees that rank among the most expensive coffee beans in the world. Though coffee prices have jumped over the past couple of years, we can still brew a cup of coffee at home for less than fifteen cents per cup. 

But believe it or not, there are some very, very expensive coffees on the market but not usually the market that the average person shops at.  These whole coffee beans are perennially in short supply for various reasons, so it's unlikely we'll see much of sale in these premium coffee brands.

But with Christmas season upon us, a little luxury gift of the most expensive coffee might make a great coffee bean present for the inveterate coffee drinker like myself! Hint! Hint!

#1 Kopi Luwak

The most expensive coffee in the world comes from Indonesia.  Kopi Luwak is coffee made from beans that have been eaten, partially digested then excreted by the Common Palm Civet, also known as the toddy cat. 

This is a type of animal similar to a weasel which looks like a  cross between a raccoon and a cat, also known as toddy cats.  The raw red coffee beans are ingested and the outer part partially digested and eliminated.  The digestive process erases all traces of bitterness. 

The local population looks for the scat and picks the beans from it, then cleans and sells them.  Harvested beans go for up to $200 a pound and the coffee can be up to $50 a cup!

#2 Island of St. Helena

A bit less expensive is coffee from the Island of St. Helena Coffee Company at $79 pound.  This coffee grows on the island where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled, 1200 miles off the African coast. 

The bean itself was originally brought to the island from Yemen in 1732.  Production is limited; only six estates are producing it but demand is considerable.  Some years the crop is not that good because of soil and weather conditions that further contributes to its big price tag. On average, only 4,500 pounds of these beans are produced per year. 

The coffee has a bright citrus and berry flavor, spicy and slightly peppery with notes of cola nut and chocolate in the darker roasts.

#3 Brazilian Fazenda Santa

From Gerais, Brazil comes Fazenda Santa Ines at about $50 per pound.  It is a sweet coffee with bright color and flavors of lemon and clove.  It is creamy on the palate with a chocolaty body and a sweet finish. 

This coffee got the highest score in the history of the Cup of Excellence, receiving 95.85 points out of 100. 

#4 Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica is around $49 per pound and most coffee lovers agree it's well worth the price, esp. if it is the top grade. But be warned: do not buy a blend, which is only required to contain a very small amount of authentic Blue Mountain coffee or beans.

This coffee is unusually sweet with a wonderfully intense aroma.  It is nutty and fruity enough that people who usually use cream and sugar in their coffee find they don't need it.  Jamaican Blue Mountain is exactly average-or middle of the scale-in bitterness, aftertaste and acidity; this is something no other coffee has ever achieved.

If you're interested, you can read more about this most expensive coffee at Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

#5 Hacienda La Esmeralda

Boquete, Panama produces Hacienda La Esmeralda which usually sells for around $104 per pound.  Grown in the shade of old guava trees, it has a light body, is medium roasted and best brewed in a French press. 

The non-oily bean has a citrus/creamy milk aroma and light to medium body.  It feels creamy on the palate, the taste clean and delicate with fruity background notes.

Enjoy even better coffee

While the most expensive coffee beans may be out of the reach of most of us, and perhaps we don't have the necessary skills yet to enjoy or appreciate such fine coffee, the reassuring aspect to remember is: you can still find a really good coffee by

* picking better coffee beans or coffee brands from your supermarket;
* grinding your coffee properly; and

* brewing your coffee well, not boiling or stewing it.

None of these steps mean that you will be buying the most expensive coffee, nor will they cost a great deal extra in terms of money or effort. So why not experiment a little today, or splash out a little and discover some real expensive coffee beans! Your taste buds will thank you!

And Finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

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