A cup of coffee for €10, without Kopi Luwak

Relaxnews
Tuesday 04 May 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments
(Grant Terry/shutterstock.com)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

For years, coffee enthusiasts have talked about the world's most expensive coffee, known as Kopi Luwak, a bean that is eaten and pooped by a civet and costing $600 (€455.73) for a pound of beans or $50 (€37.98) per cup. Now there are two more palatable and affordable rivals.

The alternatives are Aida Grand Reserve beans from El Salvador ($13/€9.89 for a cup) available at a Baltimore coffee shop Spiro and Nekisse beans, "'dried on a raised African drying bed' (so they don't sit on the ground). Roasted on site, they yield 'flavors of apricot, pineapple, bergamot, kiwi and lime. The deeper tones are levels of chocolate, and the finish is super clean," wrote Grub Street, a food news blog from New York Magazine. A cup of Nekisse runs $12 (€9.11) at Brooklyn's Café Grumpy.

Are we still talking coffee? Both of these beans when brewed are described and priced like wines.

Supposedly adding milk and sugar is a faux pas - akin to diluting the black gold flavor. Although many customers had this to say about the flavor value to the New York Post:

- "'I've spent $12 on a cocktail, but I'd be reticent to pay that much for a cup of coffee,' said Whitney Reuling, 25, after taking a taste. 'It's good - but I can't taste the difference. My palate is not at an advanced level for coffee - a $2.50 cup is fine.'"

- Kate Weinberg, 24, told the Post she could definitely taste the extra $10."There is a huge difference over a $2 cup - a sweetness and a tartness to it," she said. "I would not spend $12 on a cup of coffee, but it is good."

Sources:

http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2010/05/coffee_is_officially_as_expens.html

http://www.nypost.com/iphone/story.php?feed=news.xml&id=4.2.1165055769&pos=news_topstories_07

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in