A new London coffee shop is charging £30 a cup for its espresso.
Jacu Coffee opened its doors in Westminster on Monday 27 January, but from today will add the pricy hot drink to its menu. Although there is no official statistic, it is believed that this will be the most expensive cuppa in the whole of the UK.
Both the espresso and the coffee shop itself get their name from a rare South American bird. Surprisingly, the espresso is brewed from the excrement of the bird, which has evolved to seek out the ripest coffee cherries in the forest. The bird then uses its digestive system to break down the cherries outer layer and reveal the bean inside, which is said to result in a distinctive, high-quality flavour.
Jacu is the first UK coffee shop to serve the sought-after coffee, but the beans are already available to buy at luxury department store Harrods, where the beans are sold at £1,400 per kilo. Visitors to Jacu will have the chance to purchase beans to take home with them, clocking in at £120 per 100g.
It’s already clear that Jacu is not your ordinary coffee shop, and this is also true of the food menu. Peckish visitors will be able to enjoy their premium coffee alongside the luxe likes of Wagyu beef burgers, fillet steaks and homemade pizzas with lavish toppings.
Jacu is the brainchild of restaurateur and nightclub owner Arif Graca, who already operate popular bars and restaurants in Sao Paulo, most notably the famous Terrazza Rooftop and Sutton Sao Paulo.
Graca plans to open five further coffee shops in the capital this year, with plans to make Jacu a household name.
If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to £30 for an espresso, check out our pick of more affordable London coffee shops we love.