Why Geisha coffee beans can reach 1,800 yuan a cup

The 1,800-yuan cup sold at a Shanghai chain coffee shop is a pour-over made from Panama Sofia Estate Washed Geisha, a bean that placed runner-up in the 2024 reliable of Panama Geisha Washed category. Its listed flavor notes are jasmine, bergamot, lychee, and honey. Staff say the cup must be booked ahead, almost nobody asks for it, and they have never seen or tasted it in over a year.

Geisha is not the same as the more common Panama geisha coffee beans sold in the 158 to 280 yuan range for varieties such as Emerald Red Label, Deborah, Indonesian Kopi Luwak, and Ethiopia COE No. 7. The shop's reliable of Panama micro-lot menu runs 128 to 228 yuan. Beans are ordered from overseas estates, so arrival dates stay uncertain, and the same 1,800-yuan price appeared last year for a Guaguaguo Estate natural Geisha.

A cup of coffee priced at 1,800 yuan is not a fantasy, but a real menu option at a chain coffee shop in Shanghai. This pour-over coffee uses Panama Sofia Estate Washed Geisha, a bean that won runner-up in the 2024 BOP Geisha Washed category, with flavors described as jasmine, bergamot, lychee, and honey. In fact, this price appeared on social media as early as last year, when it corresponded to Guaguaguo Estate Natural Geisha, also priced at 1,800 yuan. Staff revealed that such coffee requires advance booking, with almost no one inquiring, and that in over a year of working there, they had never seen it, let alone tasted it. The brand manager explained that the consumer base is mostly regulars, and the beans must be ordered from overseas estates, with uncertain arrival times. This article will trace the origins of this sky-high coffee and present other rare varieties and price ranges on the menu.

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Recently, a coffee shop in Shanghai selling coffee at 1,800 yuan per cup has sparked heated discussion.

It is reported that this is a chain coffee shop with six locations in Shanghai. The 1,800-yuan cup is a pour-over, using Panama Sofia Estate Washed Geisha (which won runner-up in the 2024 BOP Geisha Washed category), with flavor notes described as "jasmine, bergamot, lychee, honey."

From images circulating online, this coffee is listed first in the "Rare Coffee Beans" menu, followed by varieties such as Panama Emerald Red Label Geisha, Deborah Geisha, Indonesian Kopi Luwak, and Ethiopia COE No. 7, with prices ranging from 158 to 280 yuan. Additionally, the shop has launched a "Competition-Grade Micro-Lot" menu specifically for Best of Panama, with coffee prices all in the 128–228 yuan range.

In fact, the "1,800 yuan per cup" pricing did not appear only recently. As early as last year, multiple netizens on social platforms posted the same menu from this coffee shop, which not only shattered many consumers' understanding of "coffee" but also sparked intense discussion about "Shanghai prices."

According to netizens, at that time the menu's coffee prices also started at 128 yuan, with the most expensive reaching 1,800 RMB, corresponding to Panama Guaguaguo Estate Natural Geisha (which won the 2022 BOP Geisha Natural category championship), with flavor notes described as "citrus, apricot, yellow sugar, berries."

Regarding the astonishing price, a media reporter called one of the brand's branches. The staff confirmed that the coffee does exist but requires advance booking; their location does not sell or brew it individually, and bookings must be coordinated with the parent company. Another relatively expensive Guaguaguo Estate Geisha is priced at 780 yuan per bag, but it is currently sold out.

Perhaps to avoid controversy, some netizens noticed that the menu originally labeled "1,800 yuan per cup" has now been changed to "requires booking."

When the reporter asked the staff whether the "1,800 yuan per cup" coffee was still available, they admitted that it is no longer on the menu and can only be obtained through "booking." Regarding how often this coffee is served, the staff said almost no one inquires, and in over a year of working there, they had neither seen nor tasted this coffee.

Subsequently, the reporter contacted the brand manager. The manager stated that the coffee beans used for the 1,800-yuan cup are indeed Sofia Estate Geisha, the most expensive coffee in the shop. "It's usually ordered by regulars and requires advance booking. After receiving customer requests, we place orders with overseas coffee estates, and we don't know the exact arrival time."

However, when the reporter asked about the coffee bean origin, sales volume, coffee content per cup, and main consumer group, the manager declined to respond, citing that she is not responsible for specific operations. She also stated that the espresso and pour-over coffees sold at the shop range from 50 to 200 yuan, fully in line with Shanghai's coffee market prices and quality.

Image source: Online screenshot

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