Introduction:Why does a pour over coffee cost nearly four thousand yuan? A certain coffee shop in Wenling, Zhejiang, has sparked heated online discussion with its exorbitantly priced pour over coffee, with the most expensive cup priced at 3888 yuan and requiring advance reservation. What makes these coffees so exceptional? It turns out they all use Panamanian BOP auction lot beans — some of the world’s finest specialty coffees, boasting unique flavors and ultimate quality. This article will take you deep into the origins, value, and reasons behind the high prices of these auction lot beans.

Have you heard of a pour over coffee that costs nearly four thousand yuan? Recently, a coffee shop in Wenling, Zhejiang, caused an online sensation with a pour over coffee listed at 2888 yuan on its menu, and an even more expensive option originally priced at 3888 yuan. Many netizens exclaimed, “Did someone misplace the decimal point?” “Is this coffee plated in gold?” In fact, it’s not a pricing error — the shop used an extremely rare BOP auction lot coffee bean.

BOP (Best Of Panama) stands for “Panama’s Best Coffee,” a globally renowned green coffee competition hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP). Each year, the competition attracts participation from top estates around the world, selecting those coffee beans with the finest flavors. The winning BOP auction lot beans are not only produced in limited quantities but also exhibit complex, multi-layered flavor profiles due to their unique terroir and climatic conditions.

According to the shop owner, the 2888-yuan pour over coffee uses the 2022 BOP championship lot, which scored an impressive 96.5 in the competition. This score is considered top-tier in the BOP event, indicating exceptionally outstanding flavor performance, typically featuring rich tropical fruit aromas, delicate citrus acidity, silky mouthfeel, and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

The most expensive coffee, priced at 3888 yuan per cup, comes from the 2021 Panamanian Geisha variety. That year, this particular lot set a record-breaking auction price of 2568 US dollars per pound at the BOP competition. To this day, this Geisha remains highly priced, with a single cup costing 3888 yuan and requiring a 10-day advance reservation to enjoy. Owing to the Geisha variety’s distinctly pronounced floral notes, tea-like qualities, and bright acidity, it has become the dream coffee for many specialty coffee enthusiasts.

Of course, such high-end offerings aren’t the shop’s only options. It’s been revealed that the shop also serves more affordable coffee drinks, with prices ranging from 18 to 188 yuan, catering to different consumer groups. According to information shared by netizens, the average spending per person at the shop is around 47 yuan, showing that it strikes a certain balance between the high-end and mass markets.

In response to netizens’ skepticism about the sky-high coffee prices, the shop owner explained that there is indeed a fixed customer base willing to pay for these premium coffees, mostly coffee enthusiasts or those seeking the ultimate in flavor. The owner also stated that her original intention in opening this coffee shop was to share the stories and flavors of these rare coffee beans, helping more people understand the culture and craftsmanship behind specialty coffee.

For the average consumer, a 3888-yuan cup of coffee may seem out of reach, but through these BOP auction lot beans, we get a glimpse of the efforts made by top global coffee producers and the profound influence of the natural environment on coffee flavor. If you’re a coffee aficionado, why not start by learning about the BOP competition and trying coffees from different regions and processing methods to develop your own palate and appreciation skills?

In summary, the reason a cup of coffee can be sold at such an exorbitant price isn’t just branding or marketing strategy — what matters more is the scarcity, quality, and flavor profile of the coffee beans themselves. BOP auction lot beans are the embodiment of this ultimate pursuit. They’re not just a beverage, but a sublime presentation of terroir, cultivation, and roasting craftsmanship.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.