Kopi luwak

Kopi luwak is a coffee made from beans that have passed through the digestive tract of the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and been excreted with its droppings. Originating in Indonesia, it is among the most expensive coffees in the world, although it is better understood as a processing method than as a coffee variety.

History

The origin of kopi luwak is closely tied to the history of coffee growing in Indonesia. Dutch colonists set up plantations in the archipelago and imported plants from Yemen. In the nineteenth century, according to the accounts, farmers in central Java began brewing and drinking coffee made from beans collected on their estates, a habit that gradually became a commercial product.

For a long time collection was wild: beans were gathered from the forest floor where civets had left their droppings. As international demand grew, some producers turned to caged farming, where the animals are force-fed coffee cherries. This shift has drawn criticism over the animals' living conditions and high mortality rates.

Culture

Today it is produced mainly on Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and East Timor, and also in the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Ethiopia. In the Philippines it goes by names such as kape alamid, while in Vietnam it is known as cà phê chồn, where robusta beans are used and chemically imitated versions also exist. It is sold mainly in Japan and the United States.

Its supporters argue that the animal's selection of cherries and its digestion improve the flavour. However, many coffee professionals regard it as a novelty product rather than a mark of quality, and some tasters describe it as thin. Its high price and reputation for exclusivity have made it a frequent prop in films and television, often as a symbol of luxury.

Trivia