The 8 Most Expensive Coffees in the World in 2024
Despite what social media financial gurus suggest, Starbucks isn’t the most expensive coffee in the world. While a $7 latte might feel like a splurge, some coffees surpass that. These premium brews come from rare beans grown in exclusive regions, often costing more than a month’s rent. After cultivation, the beans use unique production methods to create the perfect cup.
Coffee is a daily staple for many, from a morning brew to a post-dinner espresso. As the second most consumed beverage globally, it’s usually affordable and accessible. The most expensive coffees in the world buck this trend, fetching price tags that are sure to make your eyes water.
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What Is the Most Expensive Coffee in the World?
Every seasoned chef knows that great dishes start with fresh, seasonal ingredients and artisan coffee follows the same rule. While some may consider expensive food frivolous, for others, the meticulous production process justifies the cost. The world’s most expensive coffees come from regions like Thailand, Indonesia, Guatemala, Panama, Africa and Hawaii.
The world's most expensive coffee is Black Ivory, which is grown in remote areas of Thailand and is famous for its unique production process involving elephants. Other expensive coffees include Kopi Luak from Indonesia and Ospina coffee from Colombia. There are many different kinds of pricey coffee for coffee connoisseurs to explore.
The 8 Most Expensive Coffees in the World
1. Black Ivory
Black Ivory is the most expensive coffee in the world and is known for its exclusivity and quality. This coffee is grown in Thailand's fertile “Golden Triangle” region in the north, where Laos meets Myanmar. Black Ivory has a unique production process in which the coffee beans are mixed with fruit and fed to elephants who then digest the coffee beans. After excretion, the beans are collected, washed and then packaged for sale.
The natural fermentation in the elephant's digestive tract leaves the beans with a more chocolatey flavor and less of a bitter taste making this a prized beverage. Due to the time-consuming way in which they are produced, Black Ivory coffee beans are the most expensive coffee beans in the world.
With a limited availability of approximately 225 kilograms a year, purchasing Black Ivory is a highly selective process. Black Ivory is priced at about $2500 per kilogram.
2. Misha Coffee
Grown in the Andes Mountains' high altitude, Misha Coffee is one of the most expensive coffees you can buy. This coffee has a production process similar to that of Black Ivory and Kopi Luak. The coffee cherries are fed to local animals known as coati and then harvested once digested and excreted.
In the stomach of the coati, the partially digested beans mix with previously consumed fruits such as papaya and pineapple giving the beans a tropical flavor and a deep rich chocolate taste. Misha coffee is priced at approximately $1500 per kilogram.
3. Kopi Luak
Originating from Indonesia, Kopi Luak beans are some of the world's most expensive coffee beans renowned for their exquisite taste. Like Black Ivory and Misha coffee, Kopi Luak is also produced using live animals. To produce Kopi Luak coffee, the beans are fed to mongoose-like animals known as civets and then harvested from the droppings.
These beans are known for their strong earthy and musky aroma with a rich caramel chocolate flavor profile. Kopi Luak sells for approximately $1,300 per kilogram.
4. Ospina Coffee
The Ospina name is synonymous with excellence in the Colombian coffee diaspora. Grown in the lush highland climate of the Andes Mountains, these coffee beans benefit from the nutrient-dense volcanic soil and high rainfall.
Ospina coffee is one of the most expensive coffees that exclusively uses Arabica Typica plants — known as the Champagne of coffee beans. After harvest, the beans are sun-dried and hand-milled to produce a perfectly balanced sweet and velvety cup of coffee. Ospina Coffe costs around $1250 per kilogram.
5. Finca El Injerto
Finca El Injerto is the most expensive coffee grown on an eco-friendly, one hundred percent carbon neutral farm. Grown in Guatemala, the farm prioritizes sustainable practices and social responsibility. Thanks to the region's rich volcanic soil and high altitude, Finca El Injerto has a smooth taste with notes of dark chocolate, tea, rose and tamarind. Finca El Injerto costs about $1100 per kilogram.
6. Saint Helena
Saint Helena is a small volcanic island near Africa’s mainland. Famously known as the island where Napolean Bonaparte was exiled, this region has since made a name for itself by cultivating some of the most expensive coffee.
Saint Helena beans are grown in volcanic soil with a mild climate perfect for producing great coffee. Coffee farms originally started producing beans on the island in the 1800s and the legacy of great coffee has continued since then.
The small production area makes this chocolate and almond-flavored coffee a rare commodity, contributing to its status as one of the most expensive coffees worldwide. Saint Helena costs about $870 per kilogram.
7. Hacienda La Esmeralda
This family-owned business in Panama is known for its award-winning specialty coffee. Located in the highlands region of Panama, Hacienda La Esmeralda is grown under the cover of tropical mango trees on Mount Baru. With a commitment to quality and hands-on production, Hacienda La Esmeralda has made quite a name for itself in the coffee world.
Expect rich flavors of peach, vanilla, lavender and honey, with high acidity and a rich finish. Hacienda La Esmeralda is sold for $560 per pound.
8. Molokai
Hawaiian coffee is some of the most flavorful in the world. Molokai is the most expensive coffee in Hawaii due to its guaranteed quality. Grown on the Pacific island of Molokai in Maui County Hawaii, this highly prized Arabica variety is known for its rich tasting notes. The local coffee plants thrive in the island's nutrient-dense red soil, resulting in a one-of-a-kind coffee bean which can be enjoyed at various Maui restaurants. Molokai costs $97 per kilogram.
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The world of coffee growing has a rich and interesting history dating back hundreds of years. The intricate art of producing the most expensive coffee in the world is a fascinating deep dive for coffee lovers around the globe.
From rich Taiwanese beans processed by elephants to Colombian coffee beans grown high in the Andes mountains, there is a unique story behind every steaming cup. If you're a connoisseur and happy to splash out, discover exciting new flavors and regions with this indulgent guide to the world's most expensive coffee.
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