'I tried one of the world's rarest coffees – there's one reason I'd never get it again'
A food connoisseur has sampled one of the globe's rarest coffees, but would think twice about ordering it again for one very specific reason
Forking out £265 for an espresso might seem excessive even in the most expensive parts of the country like London's Mayfair, but coffee expert James Hoffmann contends that some brews are worth their hefty price tags.
The rarity of the beans justifies the steep cost, compelling aficionados to spend significantly more than they would on their average brew. Hoffmann considers his purchases "experiential," with the flavour and experience of sipping the coffee factored into the cost.
Before savouring the costly espresso, Hoffmann stirred it with a tiny gold spoon and outlined three key considerations in his TikTok video's description.
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He pointed out the bean's scarcity, noting there's "only a very tiny quantity of this particular coffee produced," and also highlighted the competitive industry pricing and preparation methods.
He disclosed: "This particular coffee comes from a small estate in Japan where the beans are processed naturally, therefore making it scarce enough to raise its price considerably when exporting it to the UK. This is on top of the cost of production, which is higher in Japan than in typical coffee producing areas."
Hoffmann's final take on the coffee was unexpected, revealing: "Way, way more acidity than I was anticipating, in a good way."
"It's a well-brewed shot, barista did well. Really nice barista in there. A little dry on the finish. Decent body to it, actually. Nice texture. As it cools there's a touch of woodiness in there maybe. Like, you can sort of detect a little bit of that low altitude, but I don't think it has the sort of origin characteristics, particularly unusual or wild or distinct to it."
"It tastes like ripe coffee from reasonable altitude, processed well, roasted well. But its taste and its price I don't think are particularly connected. Is it £265 tasty? Can anything be £265 tasty? "
As Hoffmann previously noted, the price for the coffee included the experience and process in getting it, but for many, it was an extravagance too far. While some were left scratching their heads over the hefty price tag, one user offered an explanation: "I'm betting that it's because Japan isn't a traditional coffee growing region so it's difficult to cultivate. Scarcity + unique origin + lux place fleecing the rich."
Another chimed in with a personal anecdote: "I went on a coffee making and tasting course, had great coffees, learned a lot, got to make our own coffee too, it cost 10% of the price of that coffee."
