Top 30 Coffees of 2014 96 Bird Rock Coffee RoastersSumatra Ulos

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Lighter-Roasted and Higher-Rated The eleven coffees we purchased from the 3 smaller Starbucks competitors all
rated better than the Starbucks did. Much better. They all were roasted light or medium-light, they all were roasted
consistently, and they all were roasted well.
Average Scores: Starbucks Reserve: 88.25, Allegro Coffee: 92.0, Blue Bottle Coffee: 92.0, Victrola Coffee: 94.0
If we only include in our comparison the 3 Starbucks samples that were roasted moderately dark rather than full-on
dark, their average would be 91.0 – only a point lower than the Allegro and Blue Bottle averages. Which suggests to
me, again, that Starbucks Roastery Reserve is buying excellent coffees, but subjecting them to what would appear
to be arbitrary roast profiling, a profiling not related to either the potential of the green coffees or to coherent
positioning in the marketplace.
Top 30 Coffees of 2014
Coffee Review introduced 100-point reviews to the specialty coffee industry in 1997. Since then, we’ve cupped tens of
thousands of coffee samples and published reviews of nearly 4,000 coffees and espressos.
Coffee Review’s Top 30 Coffees of 2014 appear below. We selected and ranked these 30 (actually 31) notable coffees and
espressos based on quality (represented by overall rating), value (reflected by most affordable price per pound), and other
factors that include distinctiveness of style, uniqueness of origin or tree variety, certification, and general rarity.
97 Klatch Coffee Panama Ironman Camilina Geisha Review Date: September 2014 Price: $49.95/8 ounces
Read Complete Review >
96 Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Sumatra Ulos Batak Review Date: July 2014 Price: $17.99/12 ounces Review >
96 JBC Coffee Roasters Gelgelu Adame Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Organic Natural Process Review Date: March 2014
Price: $19.25/12 ounces Read Complete Review >
96 Klatch Coffee Kenya Makwa AB Review Date: February 2014 Price: $16.95/12 ounces Read Complete Review >
96 Temple Coffee and Tea Panama Los Lajones Bambu Geisha Review Date: December 2013 Price: $60.00/8 ounces
Read Complete Review >
95 Topeca Coffee Roasters Ethiopia FTO Worka Review Date: February 2014 Price: $14.99/12 ounces Review >
95 Olympia Coffee Roasting Holiday Blend Review Date: December 2014 Price: $17.25/12 ounces Review >
96 Simon Hsieh's Aroma Roast Coffees Ethiopia Washed Yirgacheffe “Mini-Me” 2014 Review Date: January 2014
Price: NT $1000/16 ounces Read Complete Review >
95 Lexington Coffee Roasters Kenya Kikai Review Date: July 2014 Price: $17.75/12 ounces Read Complete Review >
95 Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Guji Zone Ethiopia Review Date: April 2014 Price: $17.99/12 ounces Review >
95 Hula Daddy High Mountain Red Bourbon Review Date: November 2014 Price: $34.95/8 ounces Review >
95 Old Soul Co. Ethiopia Wenago Natural Review Date: December 2014 Price: $18.00/12 ounces Review >
94 Thanksgiving Coffee Byron’s Maracaturra Natural Nicaragua Review Date: September 2014 Price: $16.50/12 oz
Read Complete Review >
94 Chromatic Coffee Papua New Guinea Kunjin Review Date: June 2014 Price: $16.50/12 ounces Review >
95 JBC Coffee Roasters Ulos Batak Sumatra Peaberry Review Date: November 2014 Price: $18.50/12 oz Review >
95 Blue Bottle Coffee Colombia Granja Esperanza Gesha AAA Review Date: October 2014 Price: NA Review >
95 Flight Coffee Co. Kenya Kabare AB Review Date: February 2014 Price: $14.50/12 ounces Review >
95 Namusairo Coffee Ethiopia Ninety Plus Pheribo N2 Review Date: January 2014 Price: KRW 15,000/100 grams
Read Complete Review >
95 Temple Coffee and Tea Kenya Makwa AB Review Date: February 2014 Price: $16.00/12 ounces Review >
95 The WestBean Coffee Roasters Kenya Nyeri Giakanja Review Date: September 2014 Price: $28.00/16 ounces
Read Complete Review >
Highest Rated Coffees 2015 July 2
96 Klatch Coffee Kenya Gachatha AA Review Date: June 2015 Price: $24.95/12 ounces Visit Klatch Coffee
94 Victrola Coffee Roasters Burundi Kayanza Province Mpanga Washing Station
Review Date: June 2015 Price: $21.00/12 ounces Read Complete Review > Visit Victrola Coffee Roasters
94 Flight Coffee Co. Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Dabub Matebya Review Date: June 2015 Price: $15.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Flight Coffee Co.
94 Dragonfly Coffee Roasters Yemen Haraaz Red A+ Review Date: June 2015 Price: $19.00/8 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Dragonfly Coffee Roasters
94 Bird Rock Coffee Roasters El Salvador Finca Loma La Gloria
Review Date: June 2015 Price: $18.99/12 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
95 Victrola Coffee Roasters Ethiopia Sidama Ardi Review Date: June 2015 Price: $19.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Victrola Coffee Roasters
94 Kakalove Cafe Ethiopia Washed Limu Gera Review Date: June 2015 Price: $17.00/16 ounces Review >
94 Seasons Coffee Roasters Ethiopia Aricha Review Date: June 2015 Price: $24.00/16 ounces Complete Review >
94 Propeller Coffee Ace Espresso Review Date: June 2015 Price: $16.00/16 ounces Read Complete Review >
94 Simon Hsieh's Aroma Roast Coffees Colombia Special Process Microlot 511 “Memory Orchard” Espresso
Review Date: May 2015 Price: NT $2,000/16 ounces Read Complete Review >
94 Temple Coffee and Tea Costa Rica Sonora Bourbon Natural Review Date: May 2015 Price: $19.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Temple Coffee and Tea
94 Comestible Master Company The Secret Coffee Review Date: May 2015 Price: NTD $600/227 grams
Read Complete Review >
95 Temple Coffee and Tea Panama Finca Hartmann Review Date: May 2015 Price: $17.50/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Temple Coffee and Tea
94 Temple Coffee and Tea Sumatra Ulos Batak Review Date: May 2015 Price: $18.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Temple Coffee and Tea
94 Bignose Cafe Espresso Blend Review Date: May 2015 Price: NT $520/225 grams Read Complete Review >
96 AHRIRE Roasting Sillvia Solkiln N2 Level 95 Review Date: April 2015 Price: RMB $350/75 grams Review >
94 AHRIRE Roasting Sweet Maria’s Acatenango Gesha Review Date: April 2015 Price: RMB $234/125 grams
Read Complete Review >
95 Barrington Coffee Roasting Co. Keremara AA Kenya Review Date: April 2015 Price: $18.45/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Barrington Coffee Roasting Co.
94 Barrington Coffee Roasting Co. Tchembe Gedeo Ethiopia Review Date: April 2015 Price: $30.95/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Barrington Coffee Roasting Co.
95 Flight Coffee Co. Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedeo Review Date: April 2015 Price: $14.50/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Flight Coffee Co
95 Dragonfly Coffee Roasters Finca La Aurora Camilina Geisha Review Date: April 2015 Price: $48.50/8 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Dragonfly Coffee Roasters
94 Papa Lin's Coffee Roasting Sumatra Lake Toba Peaberry Review Date: April 2015 Price: $18.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review >
94 Equator Coffees & Teas Sumatra Ulos Batak Review Date: April 2015 Price: $17.25/12 ounces Review >
94 Café de Impression Ethiopian Washed Kochere G1 SO Espresso Review Date: April 2015 Price: $12.00/16 oz
Read Complete Review >
94 PT's Coffee Roasting Co. Colombia Granja La Esperanza Grand Cru Mokka
Review Date: March 2015
Price: $27.50/12 ounces Read Complete Review > Visit PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.
96 Big Shoulders Coffee Panama Esmeralda Geisha Review Date: March 2015 Price: $46.00/10 ounces
Read Complete Review >
94 OQ Coffee Co. Rum-Barrel Conditioned Ethiopia Gelena Abaya Review Date: March 2015 Price: $12.00/8 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit OQ Coffee Co.
96 JBC Coffee Roasters Finca La Mula Panama Geisha Review Date: March 2015 Price: $49.25/8 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit JBC Coffee Roasters
94 Red Rooster Coffee Roaster Milepost Kenya Nyeri Ruarai Review Date: March 2015 Price: $18.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review >
95 Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Kenya Thiriku Review Date: March 2015 Price: $17.50/12 ounces
Read Complete Review >
94 Noelia Coffee Ari-Ari Seuri-Seuri Review Date: March 2015 Price: $12.00/200 grams Read Complete Review >
94 Future Factory Jazz Apricot (Espresso) Review Date: March 2015 Price: NTD $500/16 ounces Review >
95 Olympia Coffee Roasting Ethiopia Biloya Organic Review Date: March 2015 Price: $16.75/12 oz Review >
94 Kickapoo Coffee Roasters Organic Ethiopian Worka Special Prep Review: March 2015 Price: $17.75/12 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Kickapoo Coffee Roasters
94 Kakalove Cafe Ethiopia Washed Yirgacheffe Alemu Station Review Date: February 2015 Price: $18.00/16 oz
Read Complete Review >
94 Dragonfly Coffee Roasters Kenya Kianjuri AB Review Date: February 2015 Price: $18.00/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Dragonfly Coffee Roasters
94 Victrola Coffee Roasters Kenya Nyeri Tambaya Peaberry Review Date: February 2015 Price: $19.50/12 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Victrola Coffee Roasters
94 Dragonfly Coffee Roasters Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Idido Natural Review: February 2015 Price: $18.00/12 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Dragonfly Coffee Roasters
95 GreenAlives Kenya AA Review Date: January 2015 Price: NT$500/8 ounces Read Complete Review >
95 Paradise Roasters Ethiopia Suke Quto Organic Review Date: January 2015 Price: $14.95/12 ounces
Read Complete Review > Visit Paradise Roasters
94 GreenAlives Espresso Blend Spring 15 Review Date: January 2015 Price: NT$290/8 ounces Review >
96 Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Esmeralda Leon Natural Geisha Review Date: January 2015 Price: $45.00/8 oz
Read Complete Review > Visit Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
94 Hula Daddy Laura’s Reserve SL-28 Review Date: December 2014 Price: $35.95/8 ounces Review >
Visit Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
All About Kopi Luwak –
The Most Expensive Coffee
In The World!
Kopi luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee. The main factor of it’s high price is the uncommon method of producing
such a coffee. It has been produced from the coffee beans whichhave been digested by a certain Indonesian cat-like
animal called then palm civet or also civet cat. This is the reason kopi luwak is also called cat poop coffee or civet cat
coffee. The feces of this cat will be collected, finished and sold as kopi luwak. On this website you will find all relevant
information about the production process, the cat, certified kopi luwak producers, the kopi luwak coffee itself and it’s
unique properties and taste. The short supply, in comparison with the high demand, the different taste and the uncommon
production methods define the value of kopi luwak – the most expensive coffee in the world.
Here is a price comparison of a kopi luwak coffee with an average coffee brand:
kopi luwak
(most expensive coffee)
Average coffee
$35 to $100
(price per cup of coffee
ordered
in a regular coffee shop)
$2 to $5
(price per cup of coffee
ordered
in a regular coffee shop)
$100 to $600
(price per pound or ~500g)
$3 to $10
(price per pound or ~500g)
500 to 1000 pounds
= ~250kg to 500kg
(kopi luwak production per
year)
1.8 mio. tons
of Brazil’s green coffee
= ~900 mio tons kg
(coffee production per year)
Why is Kopi Luwak so special and the most expensive coffee?
The most important reason of the coffee’s specialty is the production process. Have a look at the pictures below to see
how the most expensive coffee is produced: from beans fallen from a coffee tree to a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. If you
want more details about each step, just click on “more..” in each section.
The coffee tree, Coffea, is a flowering evergreen plant native to tropical Africa and Asia. In the 17th century it was also imported to
Latin-America. (more..)
In fact, coffee beans are seeds and not beans. They contain caffeine as a plant defense against animals. However, this is no protection
against the palm civet cat.(more..)
During the digestion process the coffee cherries and the pulp are removed but the coffee beans are not digested. During this process
some kind of unique fermentation occurs which is responsible for giving the civet coffee its special flavor. (more..)
Palm civets, also known as civet cats, are small mammals which belong to the Viverridae family. Normally they prefer to eat just the
ripest coffee cherries. In Indonesia these animals are known as luwaks. (more..)
After about 24 hours the coffee beans are defecated by the civet cat. In Southeast Asia these feces are considered golden. They are
collected from farmers and processed into coffee. (more..)
In the next steps the coffee beans are washed, dried, pounded to remove the skin, sorted and finally roasted . (more..)
Kopi Luwak coffee can be brewed like any other coffee. Avoid using sugar, milk or cream in your kopi luwak, because with these
ingredients you will not be able to taste its unique flavor. (more..) enjoy the cup!
Important: You should pay attention when buying Kopi Luwak!
The keyword in this sense is animal friendly and “authentic“, which means it’s coffee cherries have been eaten, digested
and excreted by wild living and non-caged civet cat, collected by farmers and sold to roasters to prepare for human
consumption. The potential in selling of kopi Luwak is high, which allures alot business people trying to skim the market
with wicked methods:
1.) “Fake” kopi luwak / Civet coffee
A book about all the problems of fake kopi luwak
Around 70% of kopi luwak coffee or civet coffee available at coffee stores and the Internet is NOT 100% pure kopi luwak
and sometimes it does not contain anything of the genuine coffee. Mark Prince of the popular industry forum Coffee
Geek has stated, “There is probably 5,000 percent more kopi luwak sold each year than there is actually produced;
production of the legit stuff runs less than 5,000 pounds per year. Why? Because there’s lots of snake oil salesmen
packaging up plain Jane inferior commodity grade Indonesian coffees under this banner and trying to get $300 per pound
for it.” If you need a detail explanation of the fake potential of kopi luwak, we recommend reading “Don’t Buy kopi luwak
Coffee Before You Read This Book”, which gives some great advices. The “Fake” seller try to sell the “most expensive
coffee” for a high price with low producing costs.
2.) “Cruel” kopi luwak farms / caged civet cats
Natural kopi luwak, which is harmless to the animals, is found on plantation grounds and collected for roasting.
Unfortunately, the farmers of this expensive bean found too high a demand for the coffee and started to harvest the
beans unnaturally. Farmers stopped worrying about the natural cultivation of the product and rather looked for ways to
yield the highest profit. The answer? Farmers gathered and caged an over-abundant amount of civets and started to
almost exclusively feed them coffee beans. High-end pricing turned farming civet cats for kopi luwak coffee into a
enslavement industry. Hundreds of the animals can be caged together where they fight or gnaw at their own limbs due to
mental distress. Many farmers are uneducated on how to care for their animals and stand by as many succumb to illness
and death.
DIFFERENCES BETW EEN KOPI LUW AK FROM FARM ED AND W ILD CIVET CA TS:
FARMED CIVET CATS
WILD CIVET CATS
Q U A L I T Y: farmed vs. wild
Kopi luwak has traditionally consisted of the best quality, ripest coffee cherries the luwak has selected and chosen to eat while
leaving the vast majority of presumably inferior cherries uneaten. This is certainly a major factor in the final quality of the kopi
luwak produced. Feeding luwaks coffee cherries to the exclusion of other foods will of course ensure they eat the cherries;
however the cherries have not been selected by the luwak and are therefore not of the standard that is produced when the luwak is
free to roam a coffee planation. The result is that kopi luwak produced by animals that are caged and farmed is inevitably of
lower quality than wild/ free range luwaks.
Farmed civet palms do not select the ripest coffee cherries
Wild civet palms select only the ripest coffee cherries, which
but merely eat to satisfy their hunger from the provided
bears comparison with an automated filter for ’best quality’
options.
berries.
C R U E L T Y: farmed vs. wild
Farmed civet palms are kept in a small wooden cell where its job is to eat and defecate. The animals select their berries from
bowls instead of bushes. No more roaming the forests for these graceful cat-like creatures; a practice some connoisseurs’ claim
leads to beans literally tainted by stress. Due to overfeeding of unripe coffee cherries while captive, the civets become ill. It is
evidenced by bloody feces; however, once bleeding occurs, it is often too late to save the creatures

Health problems

They fight among themselves

Gnaw on their own legs

Passing blood in their scats

Frequently die very quickly

Stress-free

Freely roaming with optimum selection

Natural enzymes required to enhance the
beans flavor are optimized

Delivers unique and authentic flavoured
coffee beans