The CIvet - The Maker of Most Expensive Coffee

Say Hello to the Civet: The Maker of $600 Coffee

Yes, it’s true — this mammal, native to Africa and Asia, is responsible for pooping out the world’s most expensive coffee, called Kopi Luwak. Civets are fed coffee cherries, and during digestion the animal’s enzymes mix with the coffee beans before they, ahem, pass through, giving the beans a unique, bitter taste. See how it all happens…

The Cherries Are Chosen

A farmer in East Java, Indonesia, picks coffee cherries to feed the civets.

A Whole Team at Work: Hand-Picking the Cherries

The Civet Approaches….

 …Gets Ready to Dig In…

…And Is Joined by Friends for Dinner

In East Java, workers use gloves to clear the results of the feast.

Gathering the Dung With Gloves…

That Ain’t Peanuts and Nougat.

The Civet - The Maker of Most Expensive Coffee

Civet poop before it’s turned into the coffee.

A worker displays the distinct, cleaned-off beans.

Separating It and Washing It Off

The Civet - The Maker of Most Expensive Coffee

Another Step in Production

The Civet - The Maker of Most Expensive Coffee

The Very Expensive End Result

Pictured: Coffee Alamid, one Philippine brand. Because a very limited supply is produced each year, civit coffee can cost up to $600 per pound.