Part of it is marketing, however there is a valid reason for why they charge more. They use arabica beans, not robusta.. . Coffee is divided into two categories, Arabica & Robusta. Arabica coffee is the superior type of coffee. Arabica beans are the bean of choice in "gourmet" or "specialty coffees". Arabica coffee beans produce the rich flavor and body found in a good cup of coffee. Robusta lacks this flavor and body.. . There are several differences between Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. Arabica coffee is difficult to grow, and prone to disease, requiring more hand cultivation, and yields smaller harvests per acre. The Robusta species is a hardy, high yielding plant resistant to the numerous pests, which afflict coffee. Arabica beans are much more expensive, which is why the large coffee companies use predominantly Robusta coffee (think Dunkin Donuts). Sometimes they will blend a small amount of coffee Arabica with a larger portion Robusta.