A bag of specialty coffee costs more than a bag of supermarket coffee. That raises a fair question: what are you paying for? Here are four reasons, plus a calculation to help you work out what one cup costs.

What is specialty coffee?

Specialty coffee scores 80 points or more on the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) scale. Tasters assess the coffee on factors such as aroma, flavor, and clarity. Learn more in what does 80+ on the bag mean? and what is the Specialty Coffee Association?

Four reasons for the price

1. Quality is rewarded

Buyers often pay a premium above the market price for high-scoring coffee. With commodity coffee, payment is based mainly on weight, not quality.

2. There's more manual work

Specialty farmers carefully pick and sort the beans, removing any that aren't good enough. This takes time and labor.

3. The lots are small

Specialty coffee often comes from smaller lots than commodity coffee. There's less of it, and each lot has its own flavor.

4. The coffee is traceable

You can often find out which country, region, or farm the coffee comes from. This is listed on the bag. See how to read a coffee bag.

What does a cup cost?

For a cup of filter coffee, use 15 to 18 grams of coffee. So a 250-gram bag makes about 15 cups. Divide the price of the bag by 15 to find out what one cup costs. This lets you compare coffees fairly, even with supermarket coffee.

Is more expensive always better?

Not necessarily. A higher price doesn't mean the coffee is a better fit for you. Taste and choose based on flavor. A mix of small bags helps you discover what you like. Also read what does specialty coffee taste like?