KOPI LUWAK COFFEE

Kopi Luwak is reputed to be the most expensive coffee in the world.

Kopi is the Indonesian word for coffee. The Luwak variety is unusual in that it is not picked from the plant by humans or machines, but by a member of the civet family (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) known as a luwak. Apparently the luwak is very fussy and moves from plant to plant, selecting only the best coffee cherries. It then swallows these. The luwak coffee farmers collect the luwak droppings and these are roasted to make the coffee.

While the Indonesian kopi luwak variety is probably the most well known, Vietnam and the Philippines also produce coffees, which go through the same process. Apparently the Philippine variety is known locally as the kape alamid, while in Vietnam the beverage is known as caphe cut chon.