World's most expensive coffee is processed through a cat (Yes, you read that correctly)

KOMO / KATU ^ | April 21, 2012 | Kerry Tomlinson

[Stoat]

PORTLAND, Ore. - This coffee can cost as much as $700 a pound and $80 a cup, and it is processed through the digestive system of a cat.

It's said to be the most expensive coffee in the world and it was served up Friday at the International Coffee Expo in Northeast Portland.

An Indonesian company brews it here as it is done in cafes in Jakarta. 

"It is very delicious, very smooth and so luxurious," said Valerie Sindal, director of sales and marketing for ValBeMar Specialty Coffee.

Coffee cherries are eaten by Civet cats, processed through their digestive system, and the beans are harvested on the other side. According to ValBeMar's website, the Civets, found in the islands of Java and Sumatra, can’t digest the fruit’s inner beans and they are excreted whole.

The beans are collected from the cat droppings, cleaned and roasted just like any other coffee bean. But the fermentation process while inside the stomach of the cat is the key to its exquisite taste, according to the company.

"If I could drink it every day, I would," Sindal said.

What does the most expensive coffee in the world that’s been through the body of a cat taste like? Well, it’s unique, but balanced and smooth.

The coffee has a rich history. Three hundred years ago Dutch colonizers banned the Indonesians from drinking coffee. But the Indonesians found these beans and used them as a substitute. The coffee has gone from a poor man’s drink to a rich man’s brew.

[Stoat]

There is also a video report available at the KOMO site.

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Yes, you can buy this coffee over the internet ...  $25.. for a "sachet" that is said to make 2 four-ounce cups.

Specialty Coffee Products - Archive - Valbemar

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Civet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

"The term civet applies to over a dozen different mammal species. Most of the species diversity is found in southeast Asia. The most well-known civet species is the African Civet, Civettictis civetta, which historically has been the main species from which was obtained a musky scent used in perfumery. The word civet may also refer to the distinctive musky scent produced by the animals."

 

 

 

 

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Extreme Coffee -- Sumatra - YouTube

 

"It's the most exotic, rare and expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwack which comes from the dung of the Common Palm Civet or Luwack is so rare some believe it doesn't exist. 

Much of the coffee which can sell for more than $50 dollars a cup in New York, Hong Kong or Tokyo has been cut or is simply fake.

The ABC's foreign affairs editor Peter Cave is a coffee lover who has been seeking the real thing for many years, so he headed to the mountains of Sumatra to track down the exotic brew and sample it with the farmers who collect the civet dropping from the forest floor and who are experimenting with taming and domesticating the increasingly endangered Luwak. "

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

[Stoat]

Wikipedia says that referring to this animal as a "civet cat" is an imprecise term, so any Kitteh Pinglist Owners in the vicinity are hereby advised.

The word "cat" was included in the title only because that's what was used in the original article.

That being said, I have no information as to any experimentation that may or may not have taken place involving coffee beans and domesticated house cats.

Thank you for your attention.

 

[Lazlo in PA]

"Cappuccino or regular this morning Captain?"

[RightOnline]

"Tastes like s**t."

"It is."

[jocon307]

I just had to post to say LOVE your tagline.

Also cute kitteh, or civet or mr. coffee or whatever it is!

[Army Air Corps]

“Nutty, with a hint of Ex-Lax.”

[Tainan]

"Oh yeah..we can sell this sh*t...there's one born every minute !"

[Flag_This]

"Three hundred years ago Dutch colonizers banned the Indonesians from drinking coffee. But the Indonesians found these beans and used them as a substitute."

I'd always wondered how this "recipe" was discovered.

[PAR35]

So, if one gets too snooty to drink burned coffee with other coffee snobs, they can upgrade to cat feces?

[Chode]

wonder what PETA has to say about these poor creatures caged and made to eat coffee beans till they die???

[thecodont]

I understand even the red coffee berry pulp contains caffeine.

That civet cat looks pretty caffeinated to me. Look at those big eyes. Wide open.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Me thinks I will stick with regular coffee,thank you.

[Army Air Corps]

I’ll second that.

[Mr. K]

if this coffee tastes so dam good you would think someone would mimic the ‘process’?

And acid bath and warm fermentation...

[KJC1]

Eric Holder is excreting coffee beans?

[Oldexpat]

In the mid 70’s I was traveling Indonesia and would fly out of the domestic airport in Jakarta. After you checked in and went thru security you were in the holding area and there was only one concession..a coffee vendor. It was really great coffee and tasted really good after traveling across town at 4 AM to check in for the first flight. Turns out that the Indonesian’s I was traveling with were aware that this vendor served this special Sumatran coffee..which wasn’t expensive then. It was great. Oldexpats get to tell olde war stories.

[TSgt]

[Stoat]

wonder what PETA has to say about these poor creatures caged and made to eat coffee beans till they die??? 

 

The 'harvesting' of this coffee is done by brown-skinned people.

For the Left, nonwhite people cannot be criticized in any way.  That is "racism".

PETA's silence will undoubtedly be deafening, despite this Coffee Expo occurring in hard-Left Portland.

[Stoat]

Thank you so much for your exceptionally gracious compliment, sincerely appreciated :-)

[JRandomFreeper]

It's not that great. I've had it. I certainly wouldn't pay for it at that price.

Now for quality coffees, you have to go to Jamacian Blue Mountain and Kona.

But for day-to-day, I'll stick with my Tres Rios Costa Rican that I roast myself. Best value for high-quality coffee, in my humble opinion. Back when I had real money, I mixed it 75:25 with Kona.

/johnny