Coffee bean price benchmark: When is it considered expensive?

When is it considered expensive?

As a popular beverage ingredient, coffee beans also attract much attention for their price. But when can we say that the price of coffee beans is expensive? This article will use the price of coffee beans as a benchmark to explore when it can be called "expensive".

1. Variety and origin

First of all, among the factors that determine whether coffee beans are expensive, the variety and origin are one of the important considerations. Coffee beans of different varieties and origins have different prices in the market. For example, Blue Mountain coffee from the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica is recognized as one of the best coffees in the world, and they are usually sold at a high price.

Additionally, in some special cases, rare or uncommon varieties can also lead to high prices. For example, the elephant feces used in the Indian Malbar Black Ivory Latte is very rare and unique worldwide; this makes it an extremely expensive, luxurious and rare item.

2. Harvesting and processing methods

The way coffee beans are picked and processed also affects their price. Generally speaking, hand-picked coffee beans are of higher quality because only coffee cherries of the right maturity are selected. Mechanized picking may result in the mixing of unripe or overripe cherries, thus reducing the overall quality.

In addition, different processing methods will also affect the price of coffee beans. For example, there is a difference between dry processing (natural air drying) and wet processing (removing the pulp and fermenting). Wet processing usually requires more time and labor, and can produce a clearer, brighter, and higher acidity taste; this makes wet-processed coffee beans tend to be more expensive than dry processing.

3. Storage and transportation

Proper storage and transportation is one of the key factors to maintain the freshness and quality stability of coffee beans. During long-term transportation, if the temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions are not properly controlled, it may cause oxidation, mildew and other problems.

To ensure the best quality, some high-end coffee beans may be shipped in special ways, such as air transport or cold chain logistics. These additional costs will also be reflected in the price of coffee beans.

4. Coffee market supply and demand

Finally, the relationship between supply and demand in the coffee market is also an important factor affecting the price of coffee beans. If the supply of a particular variety or origin of coffee is limited and the demand is high, they tend to sell at a higher price.

In addition, factors such as the global economic situation and exchange rate fluctuations may also have an impact on the price of coffee beans. For example, during periods of currency depreciation, importing countries need to pay more local currency to purchase the same amount of imported goods; this may result in higher purchase costs for local consumers.

Summarize

In summary, when judging whether coffee beans are expensive, we need to consider multiple factors: variety and origin, picking and processing methods, storage and transportation, and market supply and demand, etc. Only by considering these factors comprehensively and judging based on personal perception of value and quality can we determine when it can be called "expensive".

Of course, the definition of coffee bean price may be different for everyone. Some people may be willing to pay a higher price to taste rare or high-quality coffee, while others pay more attention to cost performance. Therefore, when buying coffee beans, you need to make a reasonable choice based on your needs and budget.