Kopi luwak
(Civet coffee)
Indonesian kopi luwak is often cited as the most expensive coffee in the world. It is made from coffee beans that are digested and excreted by the civet (luwak)—a catlike mammal that is native to Southeast Asia—before they are washed, ground, and roasted.
It is believed that when the coffee beans pass through the animal’s digestive tract, they lose their astringency, which makes the coffee softer, smoother, and less bitter. The coffee was allegedly discovered in the 19th century during the Dutch colonial rule when the local farmers were forbidden to harvest coffee for their personal use.
They accidentally found that civet’s drippings contained undigested coffee beans, which they later used to brew coffee. Although kopi luwak nowadays enjoys immense international popularity, there are many who argue against the entire kopi luwak trade. Read more
Since it is almost impossible to get the beans from wild animals, most producers keep the animal in cages, and in some cases, the civets are force-fed. These conditions often raise concerns over animal rights and the entire future of the civet population.
Although kopi luwak has many supporters, there are also those who claim that the hype is not justified and that the price—which can reach astronomical prices of $80 per cup—is not reasonable.
Best Kopi luwak
