Sipping a cup of authentic kopi luwak in Bali
- SAMPLING AUTHENTIC KOPI LUWAK IN BALI
- WHAT IS KOPI LUWAK
- COFFEE BEANS + CIVET CAT DIGESTION ⇒ POOP COFFEE
- HISTORY OF KOPI LUWAK
- KOPI LUWAK PRICE
- TASTING KOPI LUWAK COFEE IN BALI
- TASTE OF BALI KOPI LUWAK
- ETHICAL CONCERNS OF THE MASS PRODUCTION
- KOPI LUWAK IS HALAL
- ANY OTHER ANIMAL POOP COFFEE?
- WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD IN BALI
- FAQ
- What is the most expensive coffee in the world?
- Kopi luwak is the most expensive type of what?
- What is kopi luwak coffee?
- What is the most expensive coffee?
- Kopi luwak coffee comes from the waste of what animal?
- What is the most expensive cup of coffee?
- What is called the most expensive coffee from animal poop?
SAMPLING AUTHENTIC KOPI LUWAK IN BALI
I must confess, I didn’t know anything about Kopi Luwak before my trip to Bali.
One of the reasons I travel is to learn. And in Bali in Indonesia, I learned about Bali Luwak Coffee.
One day, on our way from Ubud to Tegalalang rice terrace the taxi driver suddenly stopped near a Kopi Luwak coffee plantation asking my friend and me if we wanted to try civet cat coffee.
When in Bali, why not try authentic Kopi Luwak?!
With that unexpected taxi stop, my story of Coffee Luwak in Bali started.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLAIMER FOR MORE INFO.
WHAT IS KOPI LUWAK
Kopi Luwak literally means Civet Coffee. In the Indonesian language ‘Kopi’ stands for ‘coffee’ and ‘Luwak’ in the Indonesian island of Sumatra stands for the ‘Asian Palm Civet’. Sometimes kopi luwak is called also mongoose coffee.
In case you don’t know and I didn’t know it before visiting the Bali coffee plantation either, the civet is a small cat-like nocturnal mammal native to Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Civet is popularly known as the cat that eats coffee beans. To sum up, kopi luwak is coffee from a civet cat, or more precisely, coffee made from cat poop.
In short, civet crap coffee.
Obnoxious?
Guess what?! Coffee Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the World.
But does the most expensive coffee in the world mean also the best coffee in the world?!
COFFEE BEANS + CIVET CAT DIGESTION ⇒ POOP COFFEE
Cute civet cats just adore eating fresh coffee berries. As usual, as it comes with nature and animals, wild civets have a nose for the ripest coffee cherries. Wild civets are picky eaters and like to eat the best coffee cherries. But when Asian palm civets digest coffee cherries, magic happens in their digestive system. That magic is called fermentation in biochemistry. During fermentation, enzymes go into the beans making more free amino acids which results in a reduction of the bitterness of coffee beans. And the flavor of digested coffee beans changes. Naturally, the digestion process ends in the normal way with the coffee beans pooped out.
Poop coffee beans are collected from the poop, washed, roasted, brewed, and transformed into aromatic cat poop coffee.
HISTORY OF KOPI LUWAK
In the 1700s during the Dutch colonial era in Indonesia, workers on coffee plantations were not allowed to drink coffee. But Indonesian coffee workers noticed relatively clean coffee beans in civets poop, so they collected cat poop coffee beans, cleaned, roasted, and brewed them. Of course, drop coffee happened to have a better taste than coffee produced as usual. And exotic civic coffee in the World was born.
Today civit coffee is produced in Indonesia (Bali, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi), East Timor, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Civet poop coffee is also known as weasel poop coffee in Vietnam.
KOPI LUWAK PRICE
Kopi luwak is popularly known as the World’s most expensive coffee. There are 3 types of Luwak coffee: pure luwak coffee (wild), blended kopi luwak (containing at least 1% of kopi luwak coffee), and manufactured kopi luwak. The most expensive is the wild civet coffee. Wild Kofi Luwak must be labeled as ‘Certified Wild Kopi Luwak’ and it should be produced from wild civet cats, not caged Luwak cats. Remember, wild kopi luwak cat eats the ripest coffee berries and the best quality coffee is produced from the best coffee beans.
Coffee Luwak price
Kopi luwak coffee price ranges from 100 to 600 USD per kilo, depending is it pure or not. In the case of pure Kopi Luwak, the average price of Kopi Luwak coffee is 600 USD per kilo. But, the price of authentically produced Kopi Lowak can go up to 3,000 USD per kilo.
The annual world production of Kopi Luwak is estimated at around 600 kilos. Unfortunately, because of the exclusivity of coffee Luwak and related high prices, today about 80% of coffee Kopi Luwak on the market is fake. If you seek authentic Kopi Luwak, Luwak coffee beans should be from Indonesia (Luwak coffee Bali, Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi), East Timor, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
If you look for authentic cat poop coffee, you should look for Indonesian cat poop coffee, cat poop coffee Bali, Sumatra cat poop coffee, cat poop coffee from East Timor (where is also called ‘kafé-laku‘), cat poop coffee from the Philippines (where is called ‘motit coffee‘ and ‘kape alamid‘) and Vietnam cat poop coffee.
TASTING KOPI LUWAK COFEE IN BALI
Our taxi driver stopped at a Kofi Luwak farm and plantation called Alas Harum Agro Tourism near Ubud. The entrance was free and we had a free guided tour of the plantation where we saw some civet cats and learned about the process of production of Indonesian coffee Luwak. The civet cats were in cages but they seemed to be looked after well. The Alas Harum is a huge Bali plantation with many fruits, spices, herbs, plants grown and used for coffee and tea flavoring.
At Alas Harum, we were offered several kinds of tea and coffee for tasting, except coffee Luwak Bali. If you want to try Bali coffee Luwak, you need to pay for it. Well, you know, Bali poop coffee is the most expensive cup of coffee after all.
Kopi Luwak price in Bali and Kopi Luwak coffee price per cup
But unlike in the US where cat poop coffee price per cup goes from 30 to 100 USD, we got our Bali coffee poop much cheaper at Alas Harum on Bali.
A cup of kopi luwak coffee costs 50,000 IDR (∼4 USD) at Alas Harum. We were in Bali in Indonesia and we were drinking Indonesian cat poop coffee. Therefore, that wasn’t pricy at all considering how much we would have paid for a cup of Kopi Luwak outside of Indonesia.
Luwak coffee Bali price
In Alas Harum shop, you can buy authentic Luwak Coffee. A bag of 100 gr of Bali Luwak Coffee costs 420,000 IDR ( ∼30 USD) in the shop.
At Alas Harum, along with Kopi Luwak Bali we also tried Bali coffee, Bali ginseng coffee, vanilla coffee, coconut coffee, ginger coffee, and chocolate coffee. And some great teas as well: mangosteen tea, ginseng tea, ginger tea, cinnamon tea, saffron tea, lemon tea, and rosella tea.
MAYBE YOU ALSO WOULD LIKE TO READ: The Most Beautiful Bali Rice Fields
TASTE OF BALI KOPI LUWAK
I am not a coffee connoisseur by any means, but coming from Croatia, a country with a strong hedonistic coffee culture where Italian espresso and Turkish coffee are sipped daily side by side, I am used to strong coffee flavors.
Kopi Luwak’s taste was strong, fresh, earthy and I would tell a lie if say that I didn’t like Luwak coffee in Bali. My friend and I agreed on the taste of Bali kopi luwak.
But coffee experts claim that the taste of authentic kopi luwak can vary significantly from one batch to another, depending on the quality of the beans that the civet digest. Once again, the taste of pure wild Kofi Luwak is the best because wild civet cats eat the best coffee cherries.
ETHICAL CONCERNS OF THE MASS PRODUCTION
Wild civet cats inhabit the Indonesian jungle and naturally eat coffee berries as a part of their varied diet. But because of the market demand for coffee Luwak, many coffee Luwak farms occurred where wild civets are kept in cages and are force-fed. Many concerns are raised about how civets cats are treated, living in unnatural environments and conditions. Therefore, mass production of cafe luwak is followed up with some ethical issues.
If you would like to taste cat coffee, you should look for pure kofi luwak labeled as ”Certified Wild Kopi Luwak’ which grants that the cat poop coffee is made from wild civets poo. Buying wild kopi luwak from certified sellers takes away any ethical concerns related to consuming poop coffee.
Always opt for certified wild kopi luwak.
KOPI LUWAK IS HALAL
Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), the Indonesian Supreme Muslim Council declared civet coffee as halal. Drinking civets coffee is allowed by Islamic laws and it is not considered to be haram as the beans should be cleaned before roasting. Hence, you can enjoy coffee Bali Luwak without any religious concerns.
ANY OTHER ANIMAL POOP COFFEE?
What about some other animal coffee, or better-said animal dung coffee? I mean, you know … some other animals that eat coffee beans and some other animal poop coffee?
Have you heard of or maybe even tried elephant poop coffee, known as Black Ivory Coffee in Thailand? Or monkey poop coffee in India, bat poop coffee in Costa Rica, Jacu bird poop Coffee in Brazil?
Heard of them or not, tried or not, poop coffee is rare coffee and unique coffee seemingly conquering the world coffee market. If not with the quantity, then certainly with the price.
Coffee pooped by animals seems to be a thing. Like it or not.
STEPS AND TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERFECT TRIP
1. Find and book your flight: Skyscanner
2. Find and book your stay: Booking.com, HotelsCombined.com
3. Find and book great guided day tours: GetYourGuide, Viator
4. Get travel insurance (insure yourself against any accident, sickness, theft, and canceled flight): WorldNomads.com
WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD IN BALI
Ubud is a must-see in Bali and a great base to explore Bali. Alas Harum Luwak Coffee Plantation is only 6 mi (9 km) away from Ubud.
Recommended Ubud Bali hotels, Ubud villas, and Ubud guesthouses:
UPSCALE: Villa Sindu Ubud, Villa Sabandari, Blue Karma Nestling Ubud, Korurua Villa, Green Field Resort Ubud
MID-RANGE: The Tegal Ubud Villa, Joglo Campuhan Village, Kailash Suites at Gunung Sari Jungle Lotus Villas
BUDGET: Dewi Antara Homestay, Tanggal Merah Guest House, Umayuri Inn
Any thoughts about coffee made from poop? Any thoughts on the civet coffee price? Could animal shit coffee be your bucket list coffee? Would you taste poop coffee in Bali? Are you an adventurous eater on your travels?
Hm, what about cobra whiskey? Here’s a photo of cobra whiskey I have tried in Vietnam.
FAQ
What is the most expensive coffee in the world?
The most expensive coffee in the world is kopi luwak (civet poop coffee). The price of pure kopi luwak averages 600 USD per kilo
Kopi luwak is the most expensive type of what?
Kopi luwak is the most expensive type of coffee. Kopi luwak is a unique coffee made from the coffee beans that are collected from the poop of a civet cat, washed, roasted, and brewed.
What is kopi luwak coffee?
Kopi luwak coffee is a civet poop coffee. Civet poop coffee beans are collected from the poop, washed, roasted, brewed, and transformed into aromatic kopi luwak coffee.
What is the most expensive coffee?
The most expensive coffee is kopi luwak coffee. The coffee is made with coffee beans from a civet cat poop.
Kopi luwak coffee comes from the waste of what animal?
Kopi luwak comes from the waste of the civet cat.
What is the most expensive cup of coffee?
The most expensive cup of coffee is a cup of kopi luwak coffee. Price of a cup of kopi luwak coffee averages from 30 USD to 100 USD in the USA. But, you can get a cup of kopi luwak in Indonesia for 4 USD.
What is called the most expensive coffee from animal poop?
The most expensive coffee from animal poop is called kopi luwak (literally meaning, civet coffee).
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I am keep hearing bad things about the ethics of civet coffee. I would want to do my research and make sure the animals are treated well in the production process. That cobra whiskey looks interesting; kind of like the bars in the Yukon that have a frostbitten toe in the jar.
I agree with you on making your own research and opinion. That’s something I prefer to do.
Just a few examples.
I keep hearing that you can’t hike Mount Sinai in Egypt because of jihadists.
I keep hearing that it’s not safe to go to Palestine (the West Bank).
I keep hearing that Egypt is not safe to travel…
Do you know what?
I have climbed Mount Sinai in Egypt recently during a night.
I went to Palestine and it was perfectly safe.
I have traveled to Egypt safely as a solo female traveler.
Please, always make your own research and opinion.
3,000 USD per kilo for cat poop coffee is insane. It sounds like someone’s doing some pretty good marketing there! It’s good to know it won’t cost as much to try it in Indonesia and I do hope the animals are treated well.
Agree, the price tag is insane!
xoxo Milijana
What a fun unexpected adventure. Not sure I could get over the poop part though, it would be best to just not know that!
That is a lot of tea and coffee to taste in 1 sitting!! hahaha. I would not have finished it even if I’m a big coffee fan! I think there’s better coffee than Luwak but for experience, I think it’s nice.
HA. You’re much braver than me. There’s no way I was going to any of that poop coffee when I was in Bali.
It is really an odd and interesting thing that the strict Dutch launched inadvertently. I might try a taste but the ethics of it are concerning. Can’t say that I’d go out of my way to try any poop coffee. However, I’m intrigued by the different tastings you were able to try. I love tea and other infusions. Think I’ll wait until I’m in Bali to explore those.
Thanks for trying the cat poop coffee so I don’t have to! I don’t think I’m strong enough to try it, I’m glad you’re much braver than I am! I’ve never seen a tea/coffee flight before, I got the caffeine jitters just looking at it, but I’m sure all of the flavors were delicious. I can think of no better fitting spot to try kopi luwak than in a tree house. Thanks for sharing!
Ginseng coffee, vanilla coffee, coconut coffee, ginger coffee, chocolate coffee. All of them sound divine. So you tasted the world’s most expensive coffee. Was it as exotic to taste as you expected?
Hi Punita
I didn’t know anything about Kopi Luwak before stopping at the plantation and I had zero expectations of the taste. It was just about being open to trying something new and rare.
And as the saying goes ‘good things come to those with no expectations’, I liked the new taste.
xoxo Milijana
Definitely agree about researching and finding a good place to go. I only tried it once about 7 years ago and that was enough for me.
I don’t drink normal coffee so the thought of drinking cat poop coffee does not appeal at all! That said, when in Rome…. I’d probably give it a try as long as the cats were healthy and happy
Ha Ha …I am a hardcore coffee devotee who also likes to challenge myself trying new things and tastes and always to learn.
Hugs, Milijana