DUBAI, 22 Oct. - (ANA) - A Dubai café is serving the world’s most expensive coffee for $980 a cup — and it’s giving the city’s specialty scene a serious buzz.

 

The Dubai specialty-coffee scene has reached a defining moment as home-grown roaster Julith begins pouring the Nido 7 Geisha, the world’s most valuable coffee.

 

Following its record-breaking purchase for AED2,218,785 ($604,080) at the 2025 Best of Panama Auction, the rare beans are now available to the public — though only 20kg exist worldwide, with a portion reserved for the Dubai Royal Family.

 

 

 

 

The Nido 7 Geisha is produced in microscopic quantities under exceptional micro-climatic conditions in Panama.

 

Judged by 22 of the world’s leading coffee experts, it achieved 98 points at the Best of Panama competition, the highest score ever recorded in specialty-coffee history.

 

Until now, no coffee had scored above 96.5 points. Six international judges even awarded it a perfect 100 — an almost unheard-of result.

 

 

 

 

With only 20kg available, Nido 7 Geisha ignited fierce global bidding, drawing 549 bids from roasters and collectors. Julith ultimately secured the lot for AED 2,218,785 ($604,080) — the highest auction price ever paid for coffee.

 

Julith now serves each cup in Dubai for AED 3,600 ($980) as part of its Panama Geisha Experience.

 

 

 

 

Of the 50 winning lots at this year’s Best of Panama Auction, six 90+-point coffees were purchased by Dubai-based roasteries — including Archers Coffee and The Espresso Lab, alongside Julith.

 

Together, they are placing Dubai among the world’s most dynamic hubs for rare, high-scoring coffees. The city has already made headlines with a Guinness World Record for the most expensive cup of coffee ever sold — albeit using uncertified beans.

 

Julith’s record purchase now adds global credibility to Dubai’s growing influence in specialty coffee.

 

 

 

 

While its price and rarity have captivated global headlines, Julith insists that Nido 7 Geisha is not a marketing stunt but a tribute to nature, craft, and time.

 

Serkan Sagsoz, Head Coffee Roaster and Turkish Champion Barista at Julith, said: “This is not a gimmick or a marketing stunt – we’re not serving it in a gold cup with extravagant extras.

 

“The Nido 7 Geisha is a remarkable coffee that only a handful of people on the planet will ever taste, and now, for the first time, that’s possible right here in Dubai.

 

“With so little of it in existence, every cup feels like a piece of history. I would be truly honoured to one day brew a cup for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. We’ve reserved a portion of the beans for the Royal Family, should they wish to visit us.”

 

 

 

 

Julith’s Panama Geisha Experience offers a guided tasting for one to four guests, tracing the journey of Nido 7 Geisha from the high-altitude slopes of Panama to Julith’s roastery in Dubai.

 

Each session features one meticulously brewed cup highlighting its floral aromatics, vibrant acidity, and profound depth.

 

Guests may also order additional cups individually, served simply and without embellishment — a rare opportunity to taste a piece of coffee history.

 

 

 

 

For Dubai, the debut is more than a luxury headline. It signals the city’s maturing creative economy, where craftsmanship, design, and gastronomy are increasingly central to its global identity.

 

With roasters like Julith leading the charge, Dubai now stands alongside Tokyo, Melbourne, and San Francisco as a recognised capital of specialty coffee.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/22 October 2025 - - -