Do you know which is the most expensive coffee on the planet? Well, if you haven’t guessed it by now, it is Kopi Luwak, commonly known as cat poop coffee. It has recently become quite popular among coffee lovers all over the world, and we’ll tell you more about it below.
What is Kopi Luwak Coffee? Let’s Discover the Origin:
This particular coffee comes from the civet cat (an Asian palm civet). This is a small mammal that is found on the islands of Indonesia, who belong to the Viverridae family. However, this animal can also be found in regions of Africa and Europe.
Although this specialty coffee was first produced by Europeans in Indonesia, it is currently being produced in other areas including East Timor and the Philippines. Its popularity has quickly sparked an increase in production in different regions around the world.
How Is Cat Poop Coffee Created?
Understand that civet cats love consuming coffee cherries, so they will often go to coffee plantations to have a quick snack. During the digestion process, only the pulp and skin of the cherries are removed.
The beans are left undigested and only go through a fermentation process. After about a day, the beans can be extracted from the feces of the civet cats in clumps. Usually, the coffee beans are always intact and look like unusually disgusting granola bars.
After the coffee beans are collected from the feces, they are then harvested and thoroughly washed. After washing, the beans are dried and carefully pounded to remove the skin. Then they go through the final step, which is being sorted and roasted before they are packaged.
How Does Cat Poop Coffee Taste?
Most people tend to wonder what cat poop coffee (called different names, according to which region it’s sold in) tastes like. To put it into simple words, cat poop coffee has an earthy, nutty, and smooth taste. It lacks the bitterness that normal coffee brews have, due to the digestion process of the civet cat.
Kopi Luwak coffee will give you a high-quality cup of refreshing coffee. If you’re ready to put your apprehensive thoughts aside and try something new, you will enjoy a unique cup of coffee with no after taste. You will certainly enjoy the tasty flavor of your coffee with every sip.
Is Civet Coffee Really Worth It?
There are a lot of controversies and facts surrounding cat poop coffee. One of the controversies is that some individuals view it as nothing more than a tourist trap. According to these individuals, it is not a specialty coffee, but rather a way to make money from tourists and coffee lovers.
However, the main selling point of this unique coffee is the processing method. Indonesians have found a way to turn poop into gold by using the civet cat to start the processing of the coffee bean for them.
The farmed method could fetch over $100 for 4 cups of beans, while the wild collection method could bring in over $1,300 and over for the same amount.
Since every cat is different, no two cups of civet coffee will taste the same. This is one of the huge selling points, especially when you want to experience a new subtle flavor with every cup. Now that we’ve explained what civet coffee is and what it tastes like, here are some products to try.
Cat Poop Coffee Reviews / Kopi Luwak Coffee Top Recommendations:
#1. Wild Kopi Luwak – Sea Island Coffee
Sea Island is a reputable company that has been in the coffee market for a long period of time. They pride themselves on selling high-end coffee beans with a rich and unique taste. If you are looking to enjoy a cup of civet coffee, they are an excellent choice.
The Wild Kopi Luwak offered by Sea Island comes from the wild civets located in the Gayo Highlands. You will get to enjoy a caramel sweetness that has cocoa and hazelnut notes. The coffee is smooth and will leave you craving for more, according to several customer reviews.
It’s worth noting that Sea Island works with animal welfare establishments and food certification experts to create an accredited standard for cat poop coffee. The company aims to ensure that there is no animal cruelty in the entire process.
This is especially important, since the coffee market is flooded with bogus beans that usually result in animal cruelty. You would have piece of mind knowing that the cats are treated well while you sip this brand of delicious coffee.
#2. Wild Kopi Luwak – Sumatera Lintong
The Wild Kopi Luwak by Sumatera Lintong is manufactured from wildly-sourced arabica coffee beans. All of these beans are harvested by a small, organic cooperative of farmers known as Humbang in the North Sumatra region.
The cooperative is owned and run by smallholders with years of experience in the coffee industry. Because they sell their beans directly to large companies, they effectively cut off the middlemen.
Due to this fact, this civet coffee is ethical, cheap, and the real deal. You will truly enjoy a cup of this awesome coffee.
This coffee is intensely aromatic, with a complex and delicate flavor profile. The good news is that the proceeds from these beans go toward vocational training and education for the people of Lintong Nihuta.
Spending a considerable amount of money on this product is always worth it when you consider all the good that it does for the community.
#3. Whole Bean Kopi Luwak Coffee – The Kopi Luwak Company
When you want to enjoy an extensive variety of Kopi Luwak Coffee, the Kopi Luwak Company is an excellent choice. They include a huge selection of civet coffee, including whole bean, which is perfect for coffee drinkers who love grinding their beans.
All cat poop coffees by the Kopi Luwak Company are ethically sourced from wild civet cats in Indonesia. Ensure that you sample both the Shangri-La Coffee and Monkey Business Coffee from the company to experience the sweetness of Kopi Luwak.
What we love about the whole bean coffee is that you get the chance to create your own blend. You can dictate the strength of your cup of coffee and enjoy it with friends and family.
Cat poop coffee is worth every penny you will spend to sample a cup. It features a smooth, earthy, and nutty taste that will have you craving for more. However, ensure that you purchase a product from an established company to get the ‘real deal.’
Do your research to make sure that the brand you buy treats the civets humanely, and preferably still in the wild, instead of being kept in cages.
