Fact: Ubean Coffee is expensive. At a minimum of $19.24 for a 12-ounce bag (as of mid-September, when we wrote this post), we know that many people may balk at purchasing it from one of our independent distributors due to its high price.
Yet we – and other specialty, premium coffees – are worth it. Here’s why.
We use only Arabica coffee beans.
There are two types of coffee beans, Arabica and Robusta. Most coffees sold today are from Robusta beans. Robusta coffee bean trees are hardy and can grow in more kinds of soil and climates than can Arabica coffee trees. Arabica trees also take longer to grow and bear fruit (about two years). What’s more, they are grown at higher altitudes, making commercial farming difficult; they therefore often are picked by hand, increasing their costs.
But, more importantly, Arabicas have a “more delicate flavor potential” than Robusta beans, so they tend to pick up the “flavors” found in the fruits and flowers around them.
Arabica beans, in short, are better than Robustas and better almost always costs more to purchase.
Specialty coffees have to be provably special!
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) has specific standards any coffee must meet in order to earn the “specialty coffee” designation: those involved in the growth and production of the coffee – from seed to sale – must “work in harmony and maintain a keen focus on standards and excellence from start to finish.”
The SCAA has stringent coffee standards consisting of qualifiable and quantifiable measurements that are based on scientific standards.
In order to be deemed a specialty coffee, any green coffee beans that have been processed can’t have more than five “full” defects in 300 grams. In addition, the coffee needs to have a moisture content between 9 and 13 percent; can’t have any unripened beans (quakers); has to be a certain size; and has to have at least one distinguishing attribute either in its acidity, aroma, body, or flavor.
In short…..
High quality coffee is worth it because it’s planted, grown, harvested, processed, shipped/stored, roasted, and delivered following strict standards.
Premium organic, fair-trade coffee such as ours has been grown in a sustainable manner, in a way that treats the environment – and the grower – in a proper and responsible way.
All in all, premium coffee is grown such that the chain between grower and your coffee pot is shorter, keeping as many “middle men” out of the process as possible.
Premium coffee simply tastes better!
- It tastes less bitter and leaves no bitter aftertaste in your mouth.
- It will offer you the sweet hint of the fruits or nuts it grew next to.
- It’s smooth – doesn’t feel “thick” in your mouth.
- It offers a fine balance between acidity and sweetness.
So, yes, Ubean Coffee is expensive and we are proud of it! Try our coffee for yourself and contact one of our independent distributors.