Starbucks doesn’t use elephant poop in their coffee. They don’t use any animal products at all to produce their coffee beans.
Do you love Starbucks coffee? If you do, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the rumor that they make their coffee with elephant poop. But don’t worry, this isn’t actually true. Let’s look at the truth of the matter.
Where Did This Rumor Come From?
So, where did this rumor come from? There’s no definitive answer, but it likely started as a joke or hoax. It’s also possible that it was created by a competitor of Starbucks, looking to tarnish their reputation.
Regardless of where it originated, the rumor has circulated online and in the media.
What Does Starbucks Say About It?
Starbucks addressed the allegation in 2016, making it clear that there is no truth to this rumor. Starbucks does not use elephant dung in the production of its coffee.
What is elephant poop coffee, and where does it come from?
It’s a coffee from Thailand, where the beans are eaten by elephants and then excreted. The enzymes in the elephants’ stomachs break down the proteins in the coffee beans, which supposedly makes for a smoother flavor.
It’s not an easy process–an elephant must eat about 33 pounds of coffee cherries to create just 1 pound of beans. Currently, the only coffee company which uses this process is Black Ivory Coffee.
Is The Production Of Elephant Poop Coffee Safe For The Elephants?
Yes. According to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Chiang Saen, there is no impact on the health of elephants that eat coffee cherries.
What Is Black Ivory Coffee?
Black Ivory Coffee is a coffee company founded in 2012 by a Canadian man, Blake Dinkin. Dinkin likes to stress the community and conservation aspects of his product, such as the eight percent of profits that go directly toward caring for the rescued elephants.
Also, the wage paid to Thai people processing Black Ivory Coffee beans is 50 times the average wages for average agricultural workers in the same area. None of these benefits come cheaply to the consumer: Black Ivory Coffee sells for $500 per pound.
What Are Black Ivory Coffee’s Roast Characteristics?
Black Ivory Coffee is reported to be a smooth, rich coffee with a slightly earthy flavor and no bitterness. It’s hypothesized that as the enzymes in the elephant’s stomach break down the proteins in the coffee beans, the more typical bitterness disappears.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but those who don’t mind spending $50 a cup and have a very adventurous palate will enjoy it.
Why Would Anyone Want Elephant Poop Coffee?
Some people are willing to spend $50 on a cup of coffee because they believe that it is a unique and memorable experience. They also think that the coffee will be smoother and more flavorful than regular coffee.
Is Elephant Poop Coffee Safe To Drink?
Yes. Elephant dung coffee is safe to drink. Although the coffee berry is consumed and then excreted by an elephant, the flesh is removed, and the coffee beans are thoroughly cleaned before they are roasted.
The roasting process is what transforms raw coffee beans into the delicious drink we all know and love. During this process, the beans are heated to a temperature of around 460 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the Maillard reaction takes place, giving the coffee beans their distinctive flavor and aroma.
Is Elephant Poop Coffee Just a Gimmick?
Elephant poop coffee is absolutely just a gimmick. It’s overpriced regardless of the actual flavor profile. For $50 per cup, you could get a month’s worth of very high-end beans. And unlike regular coffee, elephant poop coffee is not easy to find. You can only buy it from Black Ivory Coffee, which is a small, niche company.
Are There Cheaper Alternatives to Elephant Poop Coffee?
A thousand times, yes. There are innumerable cheaper alternatives to Black Ivory Coffee. One option is to purchase high-quality whole bean coffee and grind it yourself. You will experience a fresher cup of coffee and save some money. A lot of money. Another option is to purchase coffee from a local roaster. Not only will this be cheaper than buying coffee from Black Ivory Coffee, but it will also support your local community. Finally, there are countless online retailers that sell specialty coffee beans at a fraction of the price of Black Ivory Coffee.
Where Does Starbucks Get Their Beans From?
Starbucks sources its coffee from all over the world. They have partnerships with coffee growers in Colombia, Kenya, Peru, and Indonesia, to name a few. They strive to ensure that their coffee is ethically sourced and of the highest quality.
How is Starbucks’ Coffee Cultivated?
Coffee beans are the fruit that grows on a coffee tree. The coffee tree is a tropical evergreen that grows in hot, humid climates. The fruit of the coffee tree is a red, purple, or yellow berry that contains two seeds or beans.
The coffee beans are harvested when they are ripe. Laborers can select berries manually, a labor-intensive method consisting of picking only the ripe fruit at optimum yield. Most crops are strip-picked, where each berry is picked at the same time regardless of its ripeness.
After being picked, coffee berries are processed to remove the outer skin and pulp. The beans are then dried and roasted, transforming them into a brown, aromatic delight.
How Much Coffee Is Produced Annually?
Coffee is a popular drink worldwide, and it’s no surprise that coffee production is a vast industry. In fact, coffee is the second most traded commodity globally, after oil.
Every year, coffee growers produce about 2.25 billion bags of coffee. This amounts to about 125 million metric tons of coffee beans. Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Mexico produce the most coffee. These countries account for more than two-thirds of the world’s coffee production.
What Is Starbucks’ Coffee Like?
Whether you need the caffeine to wake up in the morning, or you just like the taste and the ritual of drinking it, there’s no doubt that Starbucks’ coffee is delicious.
Starbucks describes its coffee as complex and bold, with layers of subtle flavors. Starbucks’ baristas make each cup by hand to ensure quality, convenience, and choice for customers.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
