How to Brew Civet Coffee? Methods for Making Kopi Luwak Coffee

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What is Kopi Luwak?

Have you ever heard of Kopi Luwak? This coffee name, which sounds a bit strange, means "civet coffee" in Indonesian. Because of its rarity, it has the reputation of being a dream coffee. But what exactly is this coffee?

In Indonesian, Kopi means coffee in Kopi Luwak, while Luwak refers to the civet, which is the same family as the white-nosed coati (also known as the masked palm civet). Directly translated, Kopi Luwak means "civet coffee." This coffee, with its intriguing name, is actually born through a very special process.

How Kopi Luwak is Produced

Wild Indonesian civets only pick and eat ripe coffee fruits!

In Indonesian coffee plantations, it's common for mature coffee fruits to be eaten by wild civets, causing losses. Civets only select fully ripe, sweet coffee fruits to eat. However, they can only digest the pulp part, and the indigestible seeds are excreted along with feces while still attached to the endocarp. After removing the seeds from the civet's feces, cleaning them, and removing the endocarp, civet coffee can be produced.

Unique Flavor of Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak has a unique flavor that other coffees don't possess. It's generally believed that this is due to the seeds being affected by digestive enzymes or bacteria inside the civet's body. Its characteristics include complexity, sweetness, and a unique and intense aroma.

Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee, is produced from the feces of the Indonesian palm civet (a type of civet), hence the name "civet coffee." This animal mainly feeds on coffee beans. After fermentation in the palm civet's stomach, proteins are broken down, producing short peptides and more free amino acids, which reduces the bitterness of the coffee. The excreted feces then become the main raw material. Since coffee beans cannot be digested, they are excreted. After cleaning and roasting, they become civet coffee.

Why Kopi Luwak Tastes Exceptionally Good

Why is Kopi Luwak exceptionally good? It's because civets naturally prefer to eat only the ripest coffee beans. After fermentation in their stomachs, the proteins in the coffee beans are broken down, producing short peptides and more free amino acids, which reduces the bitter taste of the coffee. And because the hard coffee beans cannot be digested, what comes out is still beans, but the flavor becomes "incredibly rich, lingering on the palate for a long time."

It is said that Kopi Luwak has a unique taste. Besides being mellow and fragrant, it also has a faint, mint-like cool feeling, which is a unique "exclusive flavor." Moreover, genuine Kopi Luwak is very rare, with the world's annual production not exceeding 500 pounds (over 200 kilograms), and the price reaching $800 per pound. Most of the so-called Kopi Luwak sold on certain online platforms are fake.

Scarcity and Ethical Concerns

The production is scarce because the raw materials are difficult to obtain. Only captive civets can produce feces that meet the criteria. Wild civets eat some coffee beans at noon and a dead mouse at night. Do you think their excrement would be "mellow"?

Therefore, to control the output, civets must be kept in captivity, constantly forced to eat coffee beans every day. Most of these imprisoned and force-fed civets become agitated and depressed, facing serious health problems.

In recent years, due to boycotts by animal protection advocates, the production of Kopi Luwak has become even scarcer, and the price has become even higher, becoming exclusive to the wealthy.

FrontStreet Coffee's Kopi Luwak Brewing Suggestions:

V60/1:15/90°C/Time: 1 minute 50 seconds

Important Notice :

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