A Scottish dairy farm is elevating eyebrows with a $344 cup of coffee, which it claims is the costliest within the United Kingdom.
Whereas the worth tag for the flat white—a double shot of espresso topped with steamed milk—could appear exorbitant, the fee features a share within the Mossgiel Natural Dairy, a part of a crowdfunding marketing campaign geared toward increasing the sustainable farming operation.
The promotion is a part of a fundraising effort by Bryce Cunningham, proprietor of Mossgiel Natural Dairy in Mauchline, Scotland, to safe $376,000 from small buyers.
Every participant who invests £272 ($344) for 34 shares within the farm receives a certificates redeemable for the premium espresso at one in every of 13 Scottish coffee shops that use Mossgiel’s milk.
“This espresso prices practically 80 occasions the worth of a median flat white within the U.Ok.—nevertheless it’s way more than only a beautiful drink,” Cunningham mentioned.
Tristan Fewings/Getty Photos
Who Serves the UK’s Most Costly Cup of Espresso?
The hefty price ticket tops a earlier report set by Shot London, a Mayfair espresso store, which bought a £265 ($331) flat white in 2023 made with uncommon Okinawan beans from Japan.
Based on British newspaper The Telegraph, that cup was the UK’s most costly till now.
Mossgiel Natural Dairy is not any stranger to reinvention. After taking on the farm in 2014 following the deaths of his father and grandfather, Cunningham transformed the operation to an organic dairy.
The dairy has historic roots—its lands have been as soon as farmed by Robert Burns, Scotland’s nationwide poet, who labored the land within the late 18th century whereas penning iconic works like “Auld Lang Syne.” In the present day, Burns’ picture graces every glass bottle of Mossgiel’s milk.
The farm employs an progressive course of to “brew” milk, making a wealthy, creamy texture akin to uncooked milk.
“We all know it sounds loopy, however whenever you break it down, it is a fairly whole lot. How a lot is the way forward for farming price?” he mentioned.
Mossgiel Natural Dairy by way of AP
What Do Mossgiel Traders Get as A part of the Bundle?
Cunningham hopes the marketing campaign will assist safe a $1.13 million mortgage to double the farm’s output and develop by promoting produce into London.
Traders additionally obtain perks together with farm excursions, reductions on milk deliveries, and invites to particular occasions. Nevertheless, as with all funding, there are dangers.
These prepared to splash the money are additionally given a normal warning that they might lose some or the entire cash they make investments—apart from the espresso.
Alternatively, prospects seeking to merely style the espresso with out the funding bundle will probably be in a position to take action on the a lot cheaper price of just below $4.
PAUL ELLIS/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Native Baristas Say ‘Theirs Is the Finest’
For espresso store homeowners like Todd Whiteford of The Good Espresso Cartel in Glasgow, Mossgiel milk is important to crafting the right cup.
“Theirs is the most effective. I am going to argue with anybody about that,” Whiteford mentioned, noting the milk’s high quality provides a “rounder, smoother, and sweeter” style to lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.
Regardless of the excessive value, Cunningham believes the espresso provides greater than only a caffeine enhance.
“They will have the self-transcendence that espresso is doing larger good than simply maybe shopping for it in any other case,” he mentioned.
This text contains reporting from The Related Press
