Recently, Chinese netizens posted that a coffee shop at the BFC Bund Financial Center in Shanghai has introduced a sky-high-priced coffee, with “a cup of hand-drip coffee priced at 12,899 yuan, using only 13-15 grams of beans per cup,” sparking a sensation online.
According to a report by Jiangsu Television on November 28, the staff at the store said that the scarcity of the coffee beans led to a high premium. This coffee uses the 2025 BOP (Best of Panama) Standard King coffee beans, of which only 20 kilograms are available globally, produced at the famous Emerald Estate in Panama.
The staff mentioned that the coffee beans are lightly roasted to fully release the fruity flavor and layers of taste, and the store only uses hand-drip methods for preparation. Each cup of coffee uses about 13-15 grams of coffee beans, brewed at a ratio of 1 gram of coffee powder to 15 milliliters of water, resulting in a final output of about 200 milliliters.
“The cost of these coffee beans is extremely high, and their shelf life is limited. We do not stock a large quantity, and currently, there is only a small amount left in the store,” added the staff. Due to the tight inventory, most customers need to make reservations in advance to make a purchase.
However, due to the high pricing, there are not many consumers buying this coffee. Yet, the staff revealed that there are regular customers who place orders monthly to taste it.
According to information on an e-commerce platform, the same BOP Gueisha Dried Sun “Standard King” coffee beans are sold in a limited edition gift box, which includes one can of 50 grams of Standard King beans and one can of 50 grams of Black Label beans, priced as high as 22,999 yuan. The product details page indicates that the Standard King coffee beans are globally limited to 20 kilograms.
This incident has since sparked widespread attention on the internet.
Netizens expressed, “In fact, no matter how much a cup costs, in a commercial society, as long as the pricing is transparent, it is normal. After all, coffee is not a daily necessity for the majority, so it doesn’t need regulation. With only 20 kilograms produced globally, considering how many wealthy people there are worldwide, as the saying goes, rarity leads to value. Just because it’s scarce, it can be seen as a treasure. Regarding the taste, opinions may vary, as expensive things are not necessarily enjoyable.”
“High gates have stinky meat, and the roads are lined with frozen bones.” “Poverty limits my imagination.” “This coffee is so expensive, yet there are regular customers ordering it every month. The joy of the rich is beyond our understanding. Ordinary people might have to agonize over a latte that costs a couple of dozen yuan, while someone spending tens of thousands on a cup of coffee might treat it as casually as buying a bottle of happiness water.”
“Each cup uses 13-15 grams of coffee beans, calculated at around 860 yuan per gram, and there are regular customers every month…” “In an era of economic downturn, there is still such extravagant coffee! Who exactly is consuming this? Top-tier billionaires? I presume even top-tier billionaires are busy safeguarding their wealth!”