This NZ café is charging $55 for a single coffee - what makes it so special?

One local NZ cafe is charging the price of half a tank of petrol for a single coffee.

I mean, it is technically the human version of fuel, but what the heck makes it so special to be charging such an absurd amount?

Nelson’s Victus Café offers specialty brews that cost up to $55 NZD, but they aren’t just about grinding beans and pouring a cup of hot water with a splash of milk. 

There’s a slow, careful brewing process, and a lot more interaction with the customer, creating an experience to learn about the farm your coffee comes from, and the steps that go into making the cup in front of you.

The flavour is said to exceed the average cup of brew. As a part of their rare filtered coffee menu, Victus say they offer “fruity Colombians, Panamanian Geishas, and two very rare Indonesian coffees”.

To put it into perspective, Panama Geisha is a world-renowned, high-altitude Arabica coffee described as being a “delicate, tea-like body, vibrant citric acidity, and intense aromatic notes of jasmine, bergamot, and tropical fruits”. 

As of last year, getting your hands on some of the best beans exceeded a whopping $30k per kg.

Victus’ menu highlights a very unique selection of coffees, prominently featuring Blackboard Coffee Roasters - coming off their 2026 Roasters Champion win in Australia.

So if you’ve got the cash to spare, and consider yourself a bit of a coffee snob, it might just be worth the taste test to see what the world of coffee’s best has to offer.

And to think that we can access such top-notch brews right here in NZ is pretty cool.

But, while the rare coffee on offer might be impressive to your taste buds, Victus owner Nick Schryvers believes the best brew comes down to the experience - no matter the cost.

“The best cup of coffee is the one you enjoy. That could be one you make at home, or a decaf,” he told Stuff.

At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself as I buy my $6 latte and pretend that wasn’t already a large enough sting to my pocket.

If you do find yourself flush enough to give it a go, we’d love to hear about your experience!