Luxury or Insanity? 7 Ridiculously Expensive Ways to Enjoy Coffee

7 ridiculously expensive ways to enjoy coffeeThere's coffee, and there's coffee. You might cherish your simple cup of Joe, all the while not knowing how much better it could be if you fed the coffee beans to a cat (a civet to be precise), let her poop them out, and made coffee out of that. Whether you're a connoisseur, or a laid back coffee lover, here are 7 of the most expensive and extravagant ways to enjoy your daily pick-me-up, and perhaps make your $4 latte seem like Sanka. From shade-grown, single origin beans to handcrafted espresso machines to a Japanese coffee bar that looks like a chemistry set, we've got lots of ways for you to blow all those thousands burning a hole in your pocket (or at least get a peek into coffee options for the extremely wealthy).

Kopi Luwak or Civet Coffee1. Kopi Luwak or Civet Coffee
You might think having been eaten, undigested, and pooped out of animal would make a foodstuff less expensive. Like maybe free. But in the case of Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, you'd be wrong. Extraordinarily wrong. The Asian palm civet eats coffee beans and while it can't digest them, it does remove their bitterness, leaving a wonderfully tasting coffee bean in its poop. Want to try some animal poop coffee? It's $30 a cup.








Related: 9 reasons why coffee is good for you








DeLonghi Primadonna Coffee Maker2. DeLonghi Primadonna Coffee Maker
Incredible at-home taste and great design can be yours. For a price. $3,000 smackers to be exact. The DeLonghi Primadonna Coffee Maker is for the serious coffee connoisseur, with pretty deep pockets. Are you that person? Invite me over for some coffee, K?














Ospina Estate Columbian Coffee3. Ospina Estate Columbian Coffee
According to their site, Ospina Coffees are made from Arabica Typica beans. The shade-grown beans are produced in the rich, volcanic mountain slopes of the Andes. The coffee cherries are then handpicked, skillfully fermented, sun dried and, finally "roasted to perfection." With whole bean prices per pound ranging from $75 to over $165 per pound, let's hope these beans make for a darn fine cup of coffee.






Related: 10 easy ways to save $3500 this year







Victoria Arduino Venus Century Espresso Machine4. Victoria Arduino Venus Century Espresso Machine
The Victoria Arduino is the iconic Italian espresso machine, so for the 100th anniversary of the machine, they made a limited edition of 100 handcrafted versions. Does the coffee taste better? Nope! But the pope has one (it was a gift), so for $20,000 you'll be in rare company.















Coffee Spa at the Yunnessun Spa Resort5. Coffee Spa at the Yunessun Spa Resort
This one falls into the extravagant category--after all, it's not every day you take a bath in coffee. According to their website, the Yunessun Spa Resort's coffee bath is based on the premise that "It has been said that coffee is an effective treatment from the recovery of fatigue." That's true, but most people get that effect by drinking it. While you're soaking in coffee, make sure to stick around long enough to witness "regular performances of pouring real coffee into the spa." Aside for the trip to Japan, a day at the Yunessun Spa will only run you about $35 dollars.




Related: The 25 biggest, most expensive homes in the world





Clover Coffee Machine6. Clover Coffee Machine
The Clover machine brews a single cup of perfect coffee at a time. This high tech contraption allows the barista to control water temperature to precisely match the individual bean. According to The New York Times, the are only 200 or so Clover machines in use around the world. If you're not ready to shell out $11,000 for one, you can pick up a cup of expertly brewed coffee at Cafe Grumpy in New York, Intelligentsia in Chicago, Stumptown in Portland, OR, or possibly at a Starbucks near you.




The most expensive cup of Starbucks Coffee7. The Most Expensive Cup of Starbucks Coffee
Apparently I am the last person on earth to learn that Starbucks wants to buy you a free cup of birthday coffee. And, it turns out that ordering the most expensive birthday drink possible is a thing too. One guy was able to order a single birthday drink that should have cost a whopping $23.60. According to CNET, the drink contained one Java Chip Frappuccino in a Trenta cup, 16 shots of espresso, a shot of soy milk, caramel flavoring, banana puree, strawberry puree, vanilla beans, Matcha powder, protein powder, and was topped off with a drizzle of caramel and mocha.










- By Elizabeth Stark and Brian Campbell
Follow Elizabeth and Brian on Babble

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