Kopi Luwak
The world’s most expensive coffee is not one coated with gold shavings or anything conventionally fanciful as one might imagine: in fact, it has a ludicrous source. Kopi Luwak, a famously infamous Indonesian coffee, is this coffee. What makes this coffee so fanciful? It is made from the beans of coffee cherries that have been eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet!
History of this coffee: The history of Kopi Luwak dates back to the early 18th century. This is when Dutch colonizers introduced coffee cultivation to the Indonesian archipelago, particularly in Sumatra and Java. The native population were tasked with harvesting the beans, but were not coffee drinkers themselves. However due to the low wages paid to them, they were forced to find a way to supplement their income. The Indonesian farmers' solution for this was to collect the droppings of the civet, a small cat-like creature that lived in the coffee plantations and ate ripe coffee cherries. These mammals, the Asian palm civet, excreted coffee beans after eating the cherries, and farmers processed the beans found within them. The locals were also prohibited from harvesting coffee seeds for themselves, so began using civet coffee for local coffee brewing as well. Over time, the unique taste of the coffee produced by this method became highly valued by coffee connoisseurs leading to its rise in popularity.
But why would people drink poop coffee? Civet cats eat only the best and ripest cherries, which means the harvesters end up with some of the best beans on the plantation. The civet coffee beans are also altered by the enzymes in the digestive system. Passing through the digestive tract, the coffee beans are completely stripped of its fruity exterior, thus ending up ensuring that mold does not occur on the beans and preparing it directly for dry roasting after thorough washing. This process ends up producing a smoother cup of coffee.
How expensive is it? Kopi Luwak is one of the rarest coffees in the world, partly due to the limited supply, as the process of collecting and processing the beans is time-consuming and labour-intensive. In addition, the unique flavour profile of the coffee, which is said to be smoother and less bitter than traditional coffee, is highly sought after. Hence, Kopi Luwak coffee is 20-60 times more expensive than the average coffee! However, the production of Kopi Luwak coffee has come under the fire due to concerns about animal welfare. Civets in captivity are often force-fed with coffee cherries, thus leading to their health problems as well as a decrease in the quality of coffee. In response to these concerns, some coffee producers have begun to focus on sustainable and ethical production methods. This means the cultivators allow their civets to roam freely and naturally consume the coffee cherries. They also develop systems to ensure that the animals are not mistreated or exploited in the production process.
How does one drink Kopi Luwak coffee? Kopi Luwak coffee can be consumed both black or with creamer/milk and sugar. However, more sophisticated ways of brewing this coffee include using a French press, a drip coffee maker or a traditional Indonesian coffee pot, Jebena.
The rich history and unique production process of the Kopi Luwak coffee makes it one of the most sought-after and expensive coffees in the world. Whether consumed black or with milk and sugar, Kopi Luwak remains a beloved and intriguing coffee that continues to captivate the palates of coffee lovers around the world. In India it is produced in Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka.
