The Most Expensive Coffee in the World: Civet Poop Coffee

How desperate for your morning caffeine would you have to be in order to try drinking coffee found in animal excrement? In short: ask the Indonesians, who would then blame the Dutch.

In 1696, the Dutch governor of Malabar (southern India) sent Arabica seedlings to the governor of Batavia (modern-day Jakarta), who was also Dutch. Fifteen years later, the Dutch East India Company was exporting Indonesian-grown coffee to Europe, and by 1725, the company had a monopoly on the coffee trade, which now consisted of over 60 tons of beans per year. As one might expect, the company made a large amount of money.

However, the situation was less rosy for the Indonesian farmers, who (quite literally) saw little fruit for their labor. For the forty years of Cultuurstelsel, colonialists grew Arabica coffee on large plantations as a cash crop while refusing to allow native farmers and workers to pick coffee berries for their own use. As often happens when someone tells you that you can't have something, the farmers' desire for coffee grew, and one day they discovered that undigested beans could be found in the droppings of the Asian palm civet, or luwak.

It takes something special to move from discovering undigested coffee beans in excrement to deciding to clean, roast, grind, and brew a pot from the stuff, but apparently the farmers were crazy enough to think that this was a good idea. The resulting coffee was unexpectedly delicious - so delicious, in fact, that the Dutch plantation owners who brought about the insanity to begin with also started drinking the concoction. It even became their most prized coffee. (One wonders how long it took the farmers to tell their bosses the origins of their new favorite beverage.) As soon as the Dutch developed a taste for the brew, prices were high - though to be fair, the rarity, complexity, and repugnant nature of the process ensured that it would never be cheap. Japanese soldiers, who occupied Indonesia during World War II, were the next lovers of Kopi Luwak, though the drink nearly disappeared in the late 1950s. It's only recently that the coffee has gained attention in the US, Europe, and East Asia.

So is Kopi Luwak worth $30 a cup (or, for the most expensive version, Vietnamese weasel coffee made from the droppings of wild civets, $1363 a pound)? I haven't tried the beans myself, but apparently the resulting drink is quite smooth, with strong hints of chocolate. Enzymes in the civets' stomachs break down the coffee's proteins and, while there, the beans begin to germinate, both processes that result in less bitterness than ordinary brews. And yes, according to research from the University of Guelph, civet poop coffee is quite safe - it has a lower bacterial count than ordinary coffee.

But what do modern Kopi Luwak cultivators think about all the fuss and expense? Why are foreigners willing to pay so much for the stuff? As one said,“We are a bit surprised. A bit perplexed.”

Comments

  1. You sure do learn something new every day, never in my wildest imagination I ever thought a coffee could be harvested in this method but it seems the natives were driven at the point where all they wanted was a good cup of coffee. $30 seems to be worth to test it out however $1363 sounds a bit too steep for coffee in my opinion.


    Ralph

    ReplyDelete
  2. Agreed. Though the $1363/pound stuff that was given to Vietnam's VIP guests would make 32 cups of coffee - more expensive per cup than the brew served in American cafes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had heard of civet poop coffee, but did not know any of the details until now. Thanks for filling me in.

    Y'know, I would actually be willing to pay $30 for a cup - just once - I think.

    Thanks again for joining in on the Traveler's Show & Tell blog carnival this week over at http://www.mentalmosaic.com/blog

    I hope you will join in again soon!
    ~Tui

    ReplyDelete
  4. Loved the final comment from the cultivator... Can't say I blame him!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes i am totally agreed with you that civet coffee is the most expensive coffee in the World. But the truth is behind that the taste of this amazing coffee is beyond of imagination. I just love it. Thanks for the nice post.
    Kopi Luwak

    ReplyDelete
  6. i had this type of coffee and all i can say that it is very good but you need to be carefull when you prepare it and to be sure that you capture all the flavours.
    Lori @ best cappuccino maker

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes i am totally agreed with you that civet coffee is the most expensive coffee in the World. But the truth is behind that the taste of this amazing coffee is beyond of imagination. I just love it. Thanks for the nice post.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes i am completely concurred with you that civet espresso is the most costly espresso in the World. In any case, the fact of the matter is behind that the essence of this stunning espresso is past of creative energy. I simply adore it. Much obliged for the decent post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I gotta bookmark this website it seems very helpful extremely helpful ,
    Really appreciate thanks for sharing the value post !!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Why do only so much written on this subject? Here you see more.
    mold in coffee maker

    ReplyDelete
  11. that is each unmarried one enticing content! i have adequately loved reading your factors and have agree the conclusion that you are right about lots of them. you're big. PAKISTANI ESCORTS

    ReplyDelete
  12. We were sufficiently blessed to have the pink coffee maker to talk with Winston, one of the top best in class Barristers in the Country.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you so much for sharing this great blog.Very inspiring and helpful too.Hope you continue to share more of your ideas.I will definitely love to read. Helix Coffee

    ReplyDelete
  14. A portion of the chlorine may filter into the coffee during the preparing procedure. The faded channels may likewise contain risky sterilization results, for example, dioxin.virtuoso+

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. monodosis ese

    ReplyDelete
  16. Otherwise, you are undoing all the health benefits of coffee. Excess sugar intake increases the risk of insulin resistance, suppresses the immune system, and perpetuates addictive food behavior.coffee

    ReplyDelete
  17. Colombian coffee is one of the most recognized worldwide due to its efficient branding. It is grown along three northern Andes mountains in generally small plantations.Coffee extraction

    ReplyDelete
  18. The espresso made by this machine isn't just thick, yet additionally foamy. It is similarly less expensive than some other better quality machines that are accessible available.commercial coffee machines

    ReplyDelete
  19. These stores have a vast number of coffee mugs for you to choose from, whether you want a personalized design or just a plain mug. The mugs they offer vary not only from designs but you can also pick the size of the mug the will fit your needs.coffee mug

    ReplyDelete
  20. CBD has natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. cbd coffee uk

    ReplyDelete
  21. CBD works by impacting cannabinoid receptor activity inside the body, reducing irritation, and interacting with neurotransmitters.https://growthnetworkholdings.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was also having a hard time coming up with my brand name but all thanks to this agency, they indeed amazed me how entertaining and informative their online course was! YOu guys should check them out. learn more

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also how long do kratom capsules take to work

    ReplyDelete
  24. These are all really solid tips. I can’t tell you how often I see a comment on one of the blogs I write for that amounts to “nice post” and nothing more. I’ve even worked at a couple of sites that delete comments that don’t add to the discussion!출장안마

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your style is unique compared to other people from whom I have read material. Thanks a lot for posting when I get a chance, guess I'll bookmark this site. Complete the online application to Turkey from on the Turkish eVisa website and confirm your application and pay e visa Turkey Cost. Within minutes

    ReplyDelete
  26. For many people this is the best solution here see how to do it. Best Chefman Air Fryers

    ReplyDelete
  27. Superb! This blog gives a lot of information... Thanks for sharing... The Indian e visa cost depends on your visa, and your nationality. with one click you can check all types of visa and their cost, and clear all the doubts.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This article with the latest updates was very informative and helpful to me. The online process allows visa India USA to be applied for and tracked easily and quickly for 30 day, 1 year, and 5 year visas.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hii friends, I wanted to write a little Info related to Visa. Are you interested in traveling to any country? Yes, you can e visa apply online. You can fill out your visa application form online within 5 to 10 minutes via our Visacent website. We offer visas to citizens of over 190 countries. You can read more info about visas via our website.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow you have nice content on your page. Your audience will enjoy it while they are read. Turkey visitors can check Turkey visa requirements. The process is easy and convenient which saves your time & money.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Gratitude for finding opportunity to examine this, I have a firm opinion about it and love learning more on this subject. If conceivable, as you gain aptitude, would you see any problems with refreshing your blog with more data? It is very useful for me.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts