Facts about the Most Expensive Coffee in the World

Ashley | 06 - 02 - 2020
Facts about the Most Expensive Coffee in the World

What Is the Most Expensive Coffee in the World?

One of the most expensive coffee in the world is called “Kopi Luwak”. Kopi means coffee in Indonesia and Luwak means civet cats that are responsible for the production of coffee beans. The price of the Kopi Luwak is between $100 to $500 per pound. The Kopi Luwak is also called “civet cat coffee” or “cat poop coffee”. They are mainly harvested in the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, etc.

Why “Kopi Luwak” Is the World’s Most Expensive Coffee?

Where does the most expensive coffee come from? The world’s most expensive coffee bean is called Kopi Luwak and is made of civet cat’s poop! Yes. In the 19th century, coffees were brewed from excreted beans collected in their plantation. At night, small furry Indonesian animals called civet cats usually roam around and eat the coffee cherries on the coffee plantations as they are nocturnal animals and love coffee cherries. After eating them, they excrete the coffee cherries which are then processed to make Kopi Luwak. Even though it sounds gross and makes you think that they are contaminated, it is not, because they collect the droppings and clean them perfectly. Only after that, they are roasted and brewed for coffee.

The gastrointestinal tract of an Asian palm civet undergoes several processes such as acidic, enzymatic, and fermentation. These processes rip the bitterness of the coffee beans creating the most aromatic and incredible coffee in the world.

1. What Is the Name of the World’s Most Expensive Coffee?
  • A. Kopi Luwak
  • B. Jamaican Blue Mountain
  • C. Old Town White Coffee
  • D. Colombian Coffee

Later, the demand for Kopi Luwak increased. Many producers decided to produce them unnaturally. They began to cage and isolate civet cats feeding them only coffee cherries. As the farmers do not have proper knowledge about the maintenance of the civet cats, they are caged and it resulted in the erratic behavior of the animals because of the mental stress. They started to fight and harm themselves. It also made many civet cats fall sick and die.

How Is the Most Expensive Coffee in the World Made Of?

The taste of the Kopi Luwak is the main reason why it is the world’s most expensive coffee. It has a sweet and earthy flavor and is highly aromatic

According to the producers of the coffee beans, two things make the coffee taste incredible. Firstly, civet cats tend to choose only coffee cherries that are most ripe and flawless. Secondly, the digestion process of the civet cats alters the composition of the coffee cherries. But, nowadays civet cats are caged and not allowed to choose the coffee cherries This has affected the quality of the coffee.

Kopi Luwak is in high demand and one of the most expensive coffees in the world because of its quality and scarcity. They are produced only in a small amount every year, the maximum production of the coffee cherries used in Kopi Luwak for a whole year is collectively around 500 kgs only.

Under the guise of real Kopi Luwak, there are many Kopi Luwak coffee cherries available in the stores and in the online shops but they are not pure as the real Kopi Luwak is very rare and is difficult to purchase.

Read Next