Which Coffee Is Made from Animal Poop? (Solved & Explained!)

There are five different coffees in the world that come from the partially digested feces of animals. These are elephants, civets, monkeys, birds and bats. What’s more, these are some of the most expensive coffees that you can buy.

The idea is that the animals select and eat the tastiest coffee cherries right from the tree. The farmer then uses precise techniques to harvest the beans immediately after the animal expels them. While there are production variations, they then wash these thoroughly and dry them in the sun.

Which Coffee Comes from Elephant Poop?

Black Ivory Coffee Company, Ltd., produces coffee beans from elephant poop. Originating from Thailand, this coffee comes from elephants kept in the care of a refuge. Therefore, unlike other animal dung derived beans, the coffee cherries come mixed into their feed by the farmers.

These are 100% Arabica beans defecated by the elephants after 12 to 72 hours. High school students then undertake the job of raking, cleaning and drying them. They then undergo roasting according to order and arrive fresh. For one pound, it costs $1,100.

Which Coffee Comes from Civet Poop?

Kopi Luwak is the coffee bean harvested from the feces of civets from Sumatra and Indonesia. Civets are a class of animal all its own and span the entire region of Southeast Asia. They appear like a cat but take on the characteristics of a raccoon, although civets don’t share a genetic relationship to either species.

When the civets eat the 100% Arabica beans, their digestive enzymes ferment the beans. This unique process is what helps remove a lot of the harsh acidity associated with beans grown in this area of the world.

Farmers either keep civets on a farm or wild-harvest them by foraging the droppings in the wee hours of the morning. They go through a several stage process of cleaning and sun drying before they undergo roasting. For one pound of Kopi Luwak, it’s $650.

Which Coffee Comes from Monkey Poop?

In India, Rhesus monkeys and macaques are the producers of coffee beans. This is otherwise called Monkey Parchment Coffee. While some producers say they feature beans from the monkeys spitting the beans out, there are others who promote it coming from the primate’s feces.

Yet another 100% Arabica bean, the monkeys residing in India select and choose the most delicious cherries. They both spit out the beans after sucking off the outer layer of the cherry and then digest the rest. For one pound, either spit or dung, can start at $350 for 100 grams (or about $1700 per pound).

Which Coffee Comes from Bird Poop?

A South American type of fowl, the Jacu Bird is responsible for the development of coffee beans harvested from their refuse. This is a rather new introduction as farmers only began this process a few years ago. They created a successful crop of 100% Arabica beans but then, the Jacu Birds in the area ate the whole thing.

Not wanting to waste all their hard work or perceiving the birds as pests, they decided to harvest the partially digested beans. Jacu Bird coffee beans are some of the most expensive and sought after in the world, making this the fastest growing in its popularity. It costs about $118.50 for 125 grams (or around $475 for a pound).

Which Coffee Comes from Bat Poop?

The newest addition to the array of animal dung derived coffee beans are ones that come from bat guano. These are a special type of Arabica varietal called Boubon Pointu. Actually, the bean itself comes from the east coast of Madagascar and discovered as a delicious bean in 1711. But, production died down and the plant went nearly extinct.

After reintroduction on the border of Panama and Costa Rica in 2018, farmers came to realize the local bats would eat all the best cherries. This then propelled the production of Wild Bat Geisha. It costs about $110 for one pound.

When Did People Start Drinking Coffee Derived from Animal Poop?

The practice of drinking coffee beans derived from animal poop started with Kopi Luwak. In the 1800s, the Dutch had colonized Sumatra and Java while building coffee plantations in these areas. Because of the prohibition of native farmhands eating fresh cherries right from the trees, they were able to collect what fell.

However, Asian Palm Civets soon started eating coffee cherries right from the trees; and the best ones too. Therefore, the locals decided to harvest the beans from the civets after digestion while staying within the rules of their plantation bosses. But, once the Dutch understood what was going on and tried a cup, they began marketing it.

The early 2000s saw a resurgence in demand for this specialty bean after people watched the movie, “Bucket List.” This film displayed Jack Nicholson sipping civet coffee, but not at first realizing it.

Why Would Anyone Drink Coffee Harvested from Animal Poop?

There are many reasons why people would drink coffee harvested from animal poop. First, there’s a bit of shock value in drinking such a thing. How many people can say they’ve tasted the savory beans derived from bat guano?

Another reason could be due to a person’s love for exploring the most outlandish and expensive food and drink known to man. Yet, for others, they appreciate the flavor and how lowly acidic the final coffee ends up being.

Are Animal Poop Coffee Beans better than Traditional Harvesting & Roasting?

Professional taste tests have shown that, time and time again, traditional styles of coffee win out over ones harvested from animal poop. So, while the animal poop coffee beans offer a very smooth and acid-free cup of Joe, it does tend to be weaker in flavor. Therefore, the taste is about personal preference.

But, considering the price for one pound of beans that come from animal dung, it doesn’t seem quite worth it. However, it might be curious to try for the novelty.