Anatomy of a NT$1,200 bag
Where each hundred dollars goes, from the tree to the shelf.
The split
Roughly half of a premium Taiwanese bag is farm-gate cost: picking, processing, sorting. Another fifth is roasting, packing, and the roaster's margin.
The rest is retail: rent, staff, and the fact that a 200-gram bag occupies shelf space for weeks.
You are not paying for coffee. You are paying for the number of hands.
Where to save
Buy at the farm and you remove the retail layer. Buy a farm's second lot and you remove the sorting premium without losing the origin.
Do not try to save on freshness. A stale expensive bag is worse value than a fresh cheap one.
Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links. Prices and dates checked in October 2026. Our methodology.