Kopi luwak is a very expensive type of coffee known for its unique production process. It is made from coffee beans that are partially digested by a catlike creature called a civet and then excreted. This coffee can be as expensive as $80 per cup in the United States.
Civets are animals found in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. They have long tails like monkeys, markings on their faces like raccoons, and bodies with stripes or spots. They eat insects, small reptiles, and fruits such as coffee cherries and mangoes, which are part of their role in the ecosystem. However, they are also preyed upon by leopards, large snakes, and crocodiles.
At first, the civet coffee trade had positive effects on these animals. In Indonesia, the Asian palm civet was considered a pest that damaged fruit farms. The growth of the kopi luwak industry encouraged local communities to protect civets because of the value of their dung. The digestive enzymes in the civets’ bodies change the coffee beans, resulting in a smoother and less acidic taste.
However, as civet coffee became more popular and Indonesia became a tourist destination, more wild civets have been kept in cages on coffee plantations. This is done for both coffee production purposes and to make money from tourists who want to see and interact with the civets.