Astronaut's Coffee : Would you pay $50 for a plain cup of coffee ?

The quest for unique experiences is a reality in the coffee universe for some years now Various coffee shops all around the globe promise unusual coffees - in unusual prices.

That's how Ockhyeon Byeon, a korean american coffee shop owner in New York City, seems to have thought and gave his customers what he calls the "Astronaut's Cafe". At first sight, the astronaut's coffee does not seem impressive: it's plain filter coffee, served in a simple porcelain tea. What impresses is its price: if you want to try the "astronaut's coffee", you have to pay about $ 50! 

Its extravagant price has to do with the way Beyon treats the coffee beans for these specialty cups of coffee. Having years of experience in the coffee business, Beyon has occasionally tried various ways of processing coffee, such as washing coffee beans in sea water and various cold distillation techniques. But one day, he had the idea that end up in astronaut’s coffee.

To produce this blend, Beyon selects  quality Arabica beans from a specific, small coffee producer in Colombia. Then he puts the coffee beans in a meteorological balloon, which reaches a height of nearly 50 kilometers, at the level of the mesosphere. When Beyon regains his balloon (which is tracked by GPS), the beans are slightly frozen and moist because of the atmospheric pressure.

Although Beyon claims that with this treatment, coffee becomes lighter, with fruity aromas and liquorice notes, coffee tasters who were fortunate enough to try it did not find a substantial difference in its taste. "You pay  the idea and the process, not  the taste," was their verdict, but the sales of astronaut’s coffee continue to thrive, to a small audience that searches new experiences at all costs.

If, in our own eyes, the extravagant cost of a gastronomic experience, of even doubtful value, seems excessive, we should not forget that in many countries, such as the United States, Japan or even China, there are several luxury coffees, costing a small fortune per cup,  like the Ethiopian Gesha coffee, or Kopi Luwak and Black Ivory coffees, produced from cat and elephant poop, respectively.

Of course, there are easier ways to open up your taste buds and taste quality coffee without having to spend a small fortune. A blend including the precious beans of the Jamaican Blue Mountain or an espresso from a historic café in Rome can be a special but at the same time affordable enjoyment !