In the ever-evolving world of beverages, craft coffee has taken center stage, gaining a significant following among coffee enthusiasts. This rise in popularity often comes with a hefty price tag, leading many to ask: Why is craft coffee more expensive than regular coffee?
Understanding the journey from bean to cup can shed light on the value and complexity behind each sip. Let’s dive into the intricate process of coffee production and explore why the price is worth the flavour.

What we are covering in this article:

• Why is Craft Coffee Expensive?
• The Journey of Coffee: From Bean to Cup
• Why the Price is Worth the Flavor
• Craft Coffee price compared to coffee pods, and why you might not see that you are already paying a specialty for day-to-day coffee

Factors influencing bean quality include:

• Climate and Altitude: Beans grown at higher altitudes in ideal climates tend to have better flavour profiles. Regions such as Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala are renowned for their coffee.
• Soil Composition: The nutrient-rich soil in these regions contributes to the distinct characteristics of the coffee beans.
• Harvesting Methods: Craft coffee often involves hand-picking ripe cherries to ensure uniformity and quality.

• Shade-Grown Coffee: This method promotes biodiversity and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Organic Farming: Avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, promoting healthier ecosystems.
• Fair Trade Practices: Ensures that farmers receive fair compensation, improving their quality of life and the sustainability of their communities.

• Roast Profiles: Different roast levels (light, medium, dark) bring out various flavours. Light roasts, for instance, preserve the bean’s original flavours, while dark roasts create a bolder taste.
• Roasting Equipment: High-quality, often custom-made equipment is used to achieve consistent and precise roasts.
• Roast Masters: Skilled roasters, often with years of experience, meticulously monitor and adjust the roasting process to achieve the perfect balance.

• Sampling: Small samples of beans are roasted and brewed for tasting.
• Cupping Sessions: Expert tasters, known as Q-graders, assess the coffee to ensure it meets the desired standards.
• Adjustments: Based on feedback, roasters may make adjustments to the roasting process to enhance the final product.

• Fruity and Floral: Often found in Ethiopian coffees, offering vibrant and complex profiles.
• Nutty and Chocolatey: Common in Central and South American beans, providing a rich and comforting taste.
• Spicy and Earthy: Typical of Indonesian coffees, delivering a bold and intense flavour.

While coffee pods offer convenience, their cost per cup can be higher than that of craft coffee, especially when considering the quality and flavour differences. For both coffee types, you’ll have an initial investment in equipment which can be spread out over time, reducing the overall cost per cup significantly.

The main price difference is what you end up paying for the actual coffee. For the five grams of coffee in each Nespresso pod, you end up paying an incredible $88+ per pound of coffee while you can purchase the 6-time Golden Bean medal winner Reserve Espresso Coffee for $22 per pound. So if you are buying pod coffee, you pay 4 times the price of our specialty coffee.

Take that into consideration when choosing your next batch of coffee, you’ll have a better deal going with recognized, award-winner coffee instead of pods that may fall short in areas that true coffee aficionados prioritize, such as freshness, complexity of flavour, and the ability to customize the brewing process.

Ready to try Craft Coffee? Here is our selection from Oughtred Coffee: