Would you pay £15 for a coffee? NY chain now sells USA’s most expensive hot drink
A New York coffee shop is now offering a staggeringly expensive $18 coffee, which at the current exchange rate is just under £15.
Extraction Lab, the coffee shop behind this decadent coffee concoction, claim that their pricey java is more than worth it, like a fine bottle of wine.
Doubling as the headquarters for craft coffee brewer Alpha Dominche, the Brooklyn-based company even use a specially adapted brewer – known as the “Steampunk” – to brew their Ethiopian Arabica that is actually grown in Panama.
The Steampunk uses steam and computer powered vacuums to produce the coffee and recreates and combines portions of many brewing methods in one machine. Replicating the French press, pour-over and Chemex brewing in one complete (and admittedly expensive) unit.
But it’s not the method of brewing that adds the cost. Extraction Lab gets their coffee from Ninety Plus Gesha Estates, which grows incredibly rare Arabica.
Just how rare and expensive? They grow one type of bean, known as gesha, which has sold for as much as $350 for 500g. Yes, that rare and expensive.
Obviously, this isn’t going to be for the average Joe, this is serious coffee aficionado brew. Baristas have reportedly praised the bean’s complexity and stated that us mere mortal coffee drinkers may find it too light and tea-like to satisfy our caffeine cravings.
This is definitely a high-end caffeine boost, and much like foie gras or caviar, prices are driven up by those looking to taste a truly luxurious item.
Buyers in Asia are willing to fork over exorbitant amounts of money on rare coffee varietals simply to have bragging rights.
For those wanting to get a Steampunk machine of their own and start creating their own $18 coffee rivals, well, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. All of the $7000 dollar machines are now sold out.
I think we’ll stick to paying ‘proper’ prices for quality coffee this side of the pond.