KOPI LUWAK or CIVET COFFEE

The name of kopi luwak si originally from two words, kopi (coffee) and Luwak (Asian Palm Civet), an animal likes to eat berries and pulpy fruits such as from fig trees and palm. Kopi luwak is so famous in the world because of its origin, flavor, unusual production process and price.  

The origin of kopi luwak is closely connected with Indonesia history. In early 18 century, Dutch built spices plantation in their colony land in Dutch East Indies islands of Java and Sumatra, including Arabia coffee which was originally from Yemen and the farmers were Indonesian. To maximize the production, Dutch prohibited farmers to take the coffee beans from the farm and taste the famed coffee beverage. Then, the farmers saw a certain species of Musang or Luwak (Asian Palm Civet) consumed the coffee fruits, yet they secreted the coffee beans undigested on the soil. Seeing the coffee beans were left by Luwak, the farmers collected, cleaned, roasted, and ground them to make coffee beverage. The aromatic smell of civet coffee spread from locals to Dutch plantation owners and soon became their favorite.

The process to produce Kopi Luwak is unusual since the coffee must be eaten by Luwak (Civet) then secreted with its feces first before human takes part into it. A research by a food scientist Massimo Marcome at University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada showed that the civet’s endogenous digestive secretions seep into the beans when the beans are in Civet’s abdomen. The secretions carry proteolytic enzymes which break down the beans’ proteins, decrease peptides and amino acid. Then, the hypothesis showed this shift in numbers and kinds of proteins in beans bring unique flavor, aromatic and lower beans’ bitterness. Maybe, people think kopi luwak is disgusting. But, do not worry about the safety of this coffee. Massimo Marcome found that after the thorough washing, levels of harmful organisms were insignificant. After that, roasting at high temperature made the beans safer.

The price of kopi luwak is so expensive, approximately US $100 to $600 per pound. But, if the coffee beans are eaten by wild civet like in Vietnam, the coffee is sold at $6600 per kilogram or $3000 per pound. In some places in the world such as in Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and England the coffee is sold per cup. In April 2008, Sloane Square in London sold a cup of kopi luwak at $79. Consequently, because of its rarity, rich flavor, unusual production process, and origin, kopi luwak has been becoming the most expensive coffee in the world since colonial time. (AFIF IM)