Kopi Luwak – The Most Expensive Coffee in the World

Have you heard about Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee – the most expensive coffee in the world? A kilogram of this coffee can cost up to 600 Euros and sometimes exceeds 1300 Euros per kilogram. Today, I decided to look into and share information about this coffee, why it is so expensive, and what makes it stand out from all other types of coffee. And let me tell you, the saying “make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” is outdated. Now we’re talking about pressing thousands of Euros!

Regular Coffee

Typically, coffee is grown, then washed, dried, roasted, ground, and finally prepared as a coffee beverage. Coffee is usually made from Arabica or Robusta coffee beans. If you know a bit about coffee, there’s nothing new here. However, there are more interesting coffees processed in slightly different ways. One of them is Kopi Luwak.

The Name of Kopi Luwak Coffee

No, the name of this coffee is not Polish. But when talking about this coffee’s name, it’s important to mention its origin. Kopi Luwak comes from Indonesia, where ‘Kopi’ means ‘coffee,’ and ‘Luwak’ is the name of the civet cat. You might ask, what do coffee and civet cats have in common? Let me explain.

Unique Processing Method

It turns out that the most distinctive feature of this coffee is its processing method, which involves not only humans but also small mammals – civet cats. These small cat-sized animals, besides insects and fruits, are also fond of coffee cherries, which they ingest. The soft part of the cherries is digested, and the partially digested coffee beans are found clumped together in the civet’s feces. Disgusted yet? This is just the beginning.

Locals collect these uniquely processed beans, wash, roast, and then supply them to the global market. I’m not joking. And it’s precisely this process that makes this coffee so expensive.

Distinctiveness and Taste

The coffee beans processed in the digestive tract of the civet lose some of their bitterness due to stomach acids and acquire a unique flavor. Coffee connoisseurs claim that this coffee is special not only because it has been through the digestive system of a civet but also because this animal is particularly sensitive to taste and smell, selecting only the best coffee cherries.

The final taste of the coffee depends on the age of the civet, its stress levels, health, and other aspects that can influence digestion, as well as more common factors like roasting.

Kopi Luwak and Animal Cruelty

Due to the difficulty of producing this coffee, only a small amount is made worldwide, but the growing demand and high price encourage locals to find ways to produce more. This has led to the emergence of Kopi Luwak farms, where these animals are kept in cages and fed coffee cherries, which they no longer have the ability to select themselves but are fed.

Conditions in many of these farms are tragic. Small cages, poor nutrition, and isolation from other members of their species. Some of the pioneers in popularizing this coffee have started campaigns encouraging people to avoid this type of coffee due to animal cruelty.

Attempts to Synthesize the Kopi Luwak Process

Poor living conditions and the high labor costs of producing Kopi Luwak, whether naturally or on farms, have led to increasing efforts to mimic its taste through various fermentation processes.

Several patents have been issued for solutions that imitate the digestive system of the civet. An additional incentive to seek alternatives is the declining population of civets.

The History of Kopi Luwak Coffee

The history of Kopi Luwak begins in the 18th century when Dutch colonists brought coffee to Indonesia, where it started being cultivated. The Dutch prohibited the local farmers from drinking the coffee grown on Dutch plantations, so in the 19th century, Javanese farmers began producing coffee from civet feces found on their plantations.

In the 20th century, Kopi Luwak coffee began to gain fame worldwide. Its rarity and high labor requirements turned it into the most expensive coffee in the world. It was increasingly presented as an exotic luxury item.

Other Expensive Coffees

Besides Kopi Luwak, there are other expensive coffees. Hawaiian Kona coffee is grown on the slopes of Hawaiian volcanoes, and Black Ivory Coffee is one of the most expensive types, produced in Thailand. Similar to Kopi Luwak, this coffee passes through the digestive system of an elephant. It is unique not only for its taste but also for its unique and ethical production process.

What other interesting, luxurious coffees do you know? Share with me on Instagram @1kava.lt.