Discover the world's most expensive coffee in Bali: Kopi luwak

Bali's farmers believe that civets ingest and excrete the finest coffee beans, resulting in Kopi luwak – the 'world's most expensive coffee.'

Experience the luxury of Kopi luwak, Bali's renowned brew.

Derived from coffee beans consumed and excreted by Asian palm civets, Kopi luwak undergoes meticulous processing. Often referred to as 'cat poop coffee' by Westerners, it fetches prices ranging from $35 to $100 per cup.

Legend has it that Kopi luwak was discovered during Indonesia's colonial era. Farmers, prohibited from harvesting coffee for personal use, stumbled upon civet droppings containing naturally cleaned beans, free from mold or decay.

Indonesian farmers vouch for the superior quality of Kopi luwak. The discerning palate of civets selects only the ripest coffee berries. Furthermore, the digestive enzymes of these creatures alter the protein structure of the beans, eliminating certain acids to produce a smoother coffee, as reported by National Geographic. Civet digestion also removes any remaining husks, enhancing the bean during processing.

For decades, kopi luwak has been Indonesia's local delicacy, almost exclusively sourced from wild civets. These civets roam freely in coffee plantations, and farmers have to search for their droppings.

However, since coffee expert Tony Wild introduced kopi luwak to the West in the early 1990s as the coffee director of Taylors of Harrogate, everything changed. Now, there's a huge demand for this type of coffee. Many luxury retailers worldwide import it, expanding production to China, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam – commonly known as civet coffee. In Indonesia, it remains one of the most sought-after delicacies sold to tourists.

Gradually, kopi luwak is no longer coffee from wild civets. Most luwak civets are captured and kept in cages on massive coffee plantations. 'Similar to the force-feeding of geese for foie gras, civets are fed coffee cherries,' Suwanna Gauntlett, founder of the Wildlife Alliance, told Globalpost.

In 2013, coffee expert Tony Wild spoke out against the exploitation of civets for kopi luwak. Their solitary nature causes stress when kept in close quarters, leading to health problems due to a diet consisting solely of coffee. Many suffer from self-mutilation and death.

Before arriving in Bali, Harrison Jacobs, a Business Insider reporter, was urged by friends to try kopi luwak. The American man visited Satu Satu Café in Canggu, a coastal town. The coffee here is sourced from a farm spanning over 2.4 hectares, with the owner claiming to only collect coffee beans from wild civets.

Harrison decided to try a cup, reassured by choosing a reputable establishment. A coffee enthusiast who has tried various types from Espresso to Aeropress to French press, he noted nothing particularly remarkable about kopi luwak.

'It's smoother than a regular cup of coffee, but not tastier than the ones I've had for that price. I found it to have an overly earthy flavor. Nonetheless, this experience allows me to recount trying one of the world's most expensive coffees, rather than discussing a masterpiece,' he shared.

According to Bao Ngoc/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour