Why You Need to Try This RMB 98 Cup of Coffee
As self-proclaimed coffee connoisseurs, we visit cafes at least five times a week always in search of a good brew and tasting a range of different flavors from varying beans. This week, we had the pleasure of tasting coffee from the “King of all Coffee Beans”, a very expensive variety standing at RMB 8,900 / kg - the Geisha beans.
Photo source: Rafael Gutierrez
At the annual and highly-attended open bidding event, Best of Panama, one of our local cafes managed to invest in a collection of Geisha beans from 36 coffee plantations.
Expensive Geisha Beans
Setting new record prices and quality beans in the market
Q: How much can Geisha beans be sold for?
A: In 2017, they were sold at USD 601 / pound (RMB 8,900/kg). Various cafes in Shanghai have previously sold a cup of coffee made from these beans at RMB 1,000/cup.
Photo source: ig: onacoffee
Q: What are Geisha beans?
A: Geisha beans are one of the many varieties of coffee beans. They’re named after the Geisha Mountain in Southern Ethiopia, but are often seen grown in Panama. In 2004, at the BOP bidding, they broke record bidding prices. Since then, they’ve been in popular demand and continuously hitting record prices annually.
Photo credit: Rafael Gutierrez
Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: As it can only be grown in specific weather conditions, production is often low. What’s more, it has a special flavor that surpasses all the beans in the world – rich floral and fruity smells, not bitter yet fresh. It exhibits characteristics similar to its name “Geisha”, which means a bed of flowers.
Every Coffee Lover's Dream
Premium beans and quality taste
It's every coffee lover's dream to taste great cups of coffee made from premium beans. While the annual BOP and Geisha beans have now sold out, there's still a chance for you to grab a spectacular cup of coffee from GREYBOX COFFEE - made from beans of a similar variety.
In the short span of a year, GREYBOX COFFEE rose in popularity locally and expanded its brand to Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen and many other cities. Labeled as the “Boutique Cafe of the Year”, it’s not surprising that they have continued to impress by investing in quality and premium beans.
At the past BOP event, GREYBOX COFFEE brought Geisha beans from 36 different producers from Panama - including the original producer Emerald Farm and Elida Farm, located 1,700-2,000 meters above sea level. While these award-winning beans have now sold out, you'll still be able to get your hands on a cup of coffee made from beans from the same family from Panama.
Compared to a normal cup of coffee they're expensive (RMB 98/cup), but you'll definitely be getting a steal when taking into consideration the quality of the beans used.
Must-Try Coffee
Hand-pressed Geisha bean-based coffee
There is a popular saying in the coffee community: “If you don't know about the Geisha beans, even the elderly will be stunned” - a reflection of the bean’s popularity throughout the community.
The beauty of the bean can only be brought out in its coffee form with a professional barista, and this is where GREYBOX COFFEE comes in with its crew of professional and skilled baristas.
Each Geisha bean is carefully roasted and processed through an innovative digital roaster - IKAWA.
In comparison to other roasters, IKAWA has a special A.I. process where every step of the procedure can be coordinated using a phone or iPad!
A single cup of hand-pressed coffee showcases the beauty of the beans and the barista’s skills, and GREYBOX COFFEE’s team ensures that all the beans have been meticulously handled throughout every process - from the type and temperature of water used to the method of hand-pressing and more.
If you consider yourself to be a true coffee connoisseur, you will be able to taste the difference in both the quality of beans used and the barista’s skill while enjoying your drink.
Unlike a regular cup of coffee, there is hardly a trace of bitterness. Instead, there is a full-bodied flavor of chrysanthemum, citrus, and lemon.
After adding some ice, the cold drink provides a more rounded taste and flavor, while still retaining its fruity and floral aroma.
For the Socialite and Coffee Connoisseur
It's time for a fantastic coffee
Dirty Mocha
Taking the world by storm, there was the “dirty bun”, “dirty tea”, and now the “dirty mocha”. A layer of milk froth, chocolate sauce and a dash of cocoa powder to finish the 6-layered drink is how a “dirty mocha” is made.
The silky smooth milk froth creates a marble-like pattern when contrasted against the chocolate.
We think that the best way to drink it is to take a big gulp to enjoy the bitterness of the coffee and the sweetness of the chocolate all at the same time.
Coffee Beer
For all coffee and alcohol lovers, we think the coffee beer incorporates the best of both worlds.
Once the beer has been brewed, the coffee powder made from Kenyan beans are then added and heated to 90 degrees Celsius to make the coffee beer. The ones labeled in white are the original version and hold a refreshing flavor, while the ones labeled in grey have a sour and fruity taste.
The biggest difference from a regular beer is the caffeine included and, on a hot summer day, is a great beverage to chill out and cool off with.
Affogato
The warm espresso is contrasted against the cold ice-cream and provides a special texture and taste when taken together.
Chai Latte
GREYBOX COFFEE also provides a healthier low-calorie option - the Chai Latte.
To create the Chai Latte, fragrant and rich oat milk is mixed with clove, cinnamon, aniseed and Ceylon black tea to produce a textured and aromatic drink.
Photo from Facebook @Oatly
The oat milk used here is from the popular Swedish brand Oatly that is high in calcium and low in calories. It's a great vegan alternative with no added egg whites or beans and is lactose-free.
Minimalist Artisanal Café in the City
A great cup of coffee to start every morning
If you have ever visited GREYBOX COFFEE, you will know that they have different elements to attract customers.
The minimalist grey box interior design is complimented with the wooden furniture and plants to provide a homey and peaceful ambience.
Through its café, GREYBOX COFFEE hopes to make coffee an everyday drink and necessity in people’s lives.
For instance, the iapm mall location opens at 8:30am daily and long queues of people from all walks of life can already be seen lining up an hour later for a cup of their coffee.
Emphasizing the quality of their beans, GREYBOX COFFEE only purchases beans with a score of over 80 from SCA, and milk used here is air-flown in weekly from Australia. The coffee beans selected have to be the freshest in the season to ensure the great taste and flavors.
To allow everyone to enjoy a great cup of coffee, GREYBOX COFFEE will be opening several new branches in the city in places like the Xintiandi Fashion store, Xintiandi LuOne store, Xintiandi Hubindao store, the White Magnolia Square and LCM.
Information about the Geisha Bean
Originally from Colombia, Geisha beans are grown in many parts of the world - even in Guatemala, with Panama producing this special type of Geisha beans.
Panama’s Emerald Farm supplies quality beans which was only made possible after the owner found out that his neighboring farm was producing coffee with a rich citrus flavor, and consequently bought over the farm to grow his own Geisha beans.
Emerald Farm’s Geisha beans come in three categories: red, green and blue. Red batches of beans enter the bidding market annually and are very expensive; green batches are a level below red and are used for collection; blue batches are hand-picked and washed with fresh water.
In the recent barista competition, Geisha stood at the top of beans. In 2016, Wu Zelin, the champion barista for the 2016 World Barista Competition used Panama’s farm quality Geisha coffee bean. At the 2017 WBrC World Barista Championships, Wang Che also used Panama’s Geisha bean for his work.
GREYBOX COFFEE (iapm branch)
Address: Unit 237, 2/F, iapm mall, 999 Zhun Hai Zhong Lu
Tel: 021 54565273
GREYBOX COFFEE (Shang Yue Wan branch)
Address: L103B, 1/F, 66 Yin Cheng Lu
Tel: 021 – 50987907
*GREYBOX COFFEE Xin Tian Di boutique,
GREYBOX COFFEE Xin Tian Di LuOne branch,
GREYBOX COFFEE Xin Tian Di Hu Bin Dao Branch,
GREYBOX COFFEE Yulan branch,
GREYBOX COFFEE Pudong STAY TUNED!
*The Geisha coffee is only for sale at the iapm branch, limited to 88 cups, while stocks last.