Why Single-Origin Coffee Is So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Insider Business

Single-origin specialty coffee can cost over $30 per pound, more than five times the average price of 1 pound of ground coffee in the US. “Specialty” is the term for the highest-quality coffee, and aficionados describe its taste with words more frequently used by sommeliers, like “floral” or “fruity.” Reaching this level of quality requires investment and labor at every step of production. But despite the prices a roasted bag of single-origin coffee can reach in the world’s wealthiest countries, the farmers who handpick each coffee cherry struggle to earn a profit.

We went to Kenya to find out what it takes to grow high-quality coffee, and why it’s so expensive.

Intro 0:00
Growing coffee 0:44
Harvesting 2:01
Commodity vs. specialty coffee 2:56
Sorting 4:23
Washed process 5:09
Roasting 6:46
Drying and Milling 10:13
The price of coffee 11:48

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Why Single-Origin Coffee Is So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Insider Business

[njangemaina]

Most of us coffee farmers from Nyeri, Kenya live in poverty despite the product fetching high prices. Too sad that we have been exploited to the third generation.

[maihan]

These farmers deserve all the support they can get ❤

[Ibrahimbenamira]

I love coffee and I'm willing to pay more for it, not for the sake of your fake branding and packaging serving marketing purposes but for the brave farmers who sacrifice alot of sweat to bring us the amazing flavors. These farmers deserve more.

[jensencastro]

"Why Single-Origin Coffee Is So Cheap" fixed the title for you.

jokes aside, hats off to Insider for shedding light on the reality behind being a coffee producer. It sucks that they are the ones that suffer the most when the supply chain is exploited.

[officialvictor]

Wow.... I can't describe the joy of knowing my local region Nyeri could end up in the best channel to cover about our black gold "Coffee". Thanks

[mystrength]

These decent, hard working coffee farmers in Kenya, should be rewarded accordingly!!

[CarrerasCorradosCoffee]

After exploring the world of speciality coffee brewing, I started researching the problems with coffee pricing and ineffective coffee cooperatives. I'd recommend making a video on why "the rain forest alliance" is regarded as a very successful group, while "fair trade" groups are known to be ineffective scalpers.

[davidchua]

As someone from the specialty coffee industry, I truly thankful for the existence of this video, it has been my years challenge just to spread more information about specialty coffee producers, and creating sustainable way to improve what we are doing.

[madkrome]

I saw that one of the roasters was using a honey'd process Costa Rican and I really miss the one my shop had last year 😭 Great job at pointing out the discrepancies in coffee farming. It would have been neat if you were able to cover natural processed beans as well! I saw another commenter mention this, but a big lesson in the world of coffee: "Fair trade" isn't always fair

[MarlinMakayla]

Probably one of my favorite episodes so far. As someone who isn’t a coffee drinker, seeing the process and the massive labor load really puts things into perspective.

[leirbagml]

Congrats for this content, you showed the reality of the coffee farmers, and the real difference between what is a high quality coffee and what isnt. Is the content we need to keep bringing support to direct trade with farmers, fair trade and specialty coffee culture.

[AwokenEntertainment]

What a process! 
Makes you really appreciate the coffee you drink..

[macadamiaAfrica]

Thank you for the wonderful documentary, the farmers deserve more of their hard work

[MartinJungblut]

Living in Brazil, I'm quite happy to be able to get single-origin coffees for a very reasonable price, all locally grown by farmers who are respected and not exploited. The states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo have been producing and exporting coffee for hundreds of years. We're definitely privileged in this regard, and the overall quality has only increased in recent years. Definitely some of the best beans I've ever tasted are from here.

[mcantarino]

Just for the record, there is A LOT of special coffee producers in Brazil

[vicgofreeformblock]

Switched to single origin and I'm never going back. It makes you appreciate the coffee so much more, and yes, you can actually taste the difference.

[Jeff-]

Glad to see Metric getting the attention they deserve. They’re my go-to roaster and they’re one of the most transparent coffee companies in the industry.

[SkitHertz]

Can't live without single-origin coffee ... hope the farmers get what they deserve 🙏

[Deletaste]

I know that's not what Insider Business aims for but it would be great to have a more in depth video about the whole supply chain of coffee from countries like Kenya, Colombia, Panama and Brazil. You know, how the farmers organize themselves, what's the role of the local government, corruption and exploitation, and much more. If anyone know where I could watch or read something in those lines let me know.

[JodySeltzer]

Well done video. Glad to see the focus on the issue for producers. Hopefully people support local rosters that partner with producers to keep thing fair and profitable for all.