San Francisco shop brews $75 cups of coffee

SAN FRANCISCO -- The world's new record holder for the most expensive cup of coffee will soon be available at one roasting company in San Francisco.

Klatch Coffee Roasters has one location in the Bay Area and several locations in Southern California. Together, they'll be splitting 10-pounds of the super exclusive Elida Geisha 803 which costs $803 a pound wholesale. After roasting, it's closer to $1,200 a pound.

Co-owner of Klatch's Northern California location is Bo Thiara. His excitement in describing the exclusivity and quality of the Elida Geisha 803 is palpable, KGO reported.

"It's a unique coffee that comes from Panama," Thiara said. "It's by far better than any of the coffee you hear about that comes from animals."

Thiara said the Kopi Luwak variety of coffee, made from cat-like mammals that are fed the beans and then pooped out, which to many is considered more a fad than specialty that attributes to the coffee's taste.

He believes this market is ready for $75 Panamanian coffee.

"San Francisco is one of those places where people appreciate fine stuff," Thiara said.

If that's the case, Klatch Coffee's latest offering is the finest of the fine, at least according to Best of Panama competition.

"It's the Oscars for coffee! Just like wine, on a scale of up to 100 this coffee got the highest rating ever," Thiara said.

The Elida Geisha 803 was auctioned off to buyers all over the world. Out of an available 100-pounds, Klatch roasters owns the only 10-pounds in the entire United States. Do the math and that's just 80 cups across the entire United States, split between San Francisco and LA.

It's so exclusive, even the baristas, who according to Thiara train 406-hours to work at Klatch wanted to be extra careful preparing us the Elita Geisha 803.

"I actually practiced with something completely different hoping this would go good...and it's almost done so this is actually going great." Smiles one barista as she calculated water temperature and time so precisely, her notes were written on a sheet of paper next to the cup.

Thiara said the fruity notes come out and evolve as the coffee begins to cool down and change temperature. Upon trying a first sip, it becomes apparent the fruity blueberry-like notes and smoothness.

"This coffee is not over roasted like what you get at other places, Thiara said. " It's roasted how coffee used to be roasted back in the day."

The beans of the Geisha 803 are organic and from a single source and direct trade as are all of Klatch's offerings. Education and knowing exactly where the coffee comes from down to the elevation (Geisha's is harvested from 1670-1820 meters above sea level) are made clear to consumers.

While Thiara knows the Geisha 803 isn't for everyone, and there are coffees at different price points at Klatch ranging from 4 to 12 dollars, he said there is a different purpose to how they present their products.

"The objective is to just introduce people to this great coffee," Thiara said.

The first of several tastings for the $75 Geisha variety of coffee begins on Saturday. You can learn more about Klatch here.

You can also get tickets to the event here.