Which Coffee Is the Most Expensive in the World? (Solved & Explained!)

Kopi Luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee. It comes from Indonesia and sells for hundreds of dollars per pound. At the time of this writing, just over two pounds of Kopi Luwak is almost $650. While there are other beans that are quite expensive, none of them have the special harvesting technique that goes with Kopi Luwak beans.

Apparently, these particular pricey beans come from sorting, cleaning and processing the feces of an Asian Palm Civet. You heard that right. It comes from the fecal matter of a wild animal living around the regions of Sumatra and Indonesia.

What Does the Word, “Kopi Luwak” Mean?

Literally, Kopi Luwak translates to “Coffee Asian Palm Civet.” A luwak is the Indonesian name for this particular species of civet and their word for coffee is “kopi.”

What Is an Asian Palm Civet?

An Asian Palm Civet is a species of animal that’s its own family and comes from the entire region of Southeast Asia. Some people call it a “Toddy Cat,” but it is not a feline of any kind. Others think it’s similar to a raccoon because of their mask-like faces. But, they are not related to raccoons in any way.

What Role Do Civets Play in Creating Kopi Luwak?

Without the civet eating the coffee cherries and partially digesting them, there wouldn’t be a bean known as Kopi Luwak. Therefore, this animal is integral to the processing and production of this bean.

They are actually quite selective about which beans they consume and have an almost intuitive way of going about it. Once eaten, the beans go through their digestive system and ferment in the process. Their digestive enzymes are what takes out much of the acidity inherent in the beans which offers a very distinct flavor profile.

How Are Kopi Luwak Beans Processed?

Most hunting and foraging for civet droppings occurs in the morning hours. This is because of the nocturnal nature of the animal’s lifestyle. Also, they must be fresh droppings. Anything that’s old won’t procure the right tasting kind of bean.

The farmer separates the beans at the site and returns with the cache. The beans then undergo an exhaustive cleaning process to remove bacteria, food borne illnesses and other impurities. They wash them to remove the outermost shell and then dry them in the sun. They wash the beans another time around to make sure there’s no outer shell left and dry them in the sun yet again.

They roast the beans at 428°F (220°C) before shipping them out to various locations around the world. The whole process kills bacteria, bleaches out impurities and makes them safe for consumption.

How Did People Discover that Coffee Beans in Animal Poo Taste Great?

When it comes to coffee and its history, the Dutch are often main influencers. The case with Kopi Luwak is no different. In the 1800s, Java and Sumatra were Dutch colonies and produced several varieties of Arabica beans. Even though the Dutch forbid the natives to pick the cherry coffees directly from the trees, they would allow them to collect what fell to the ground.

When the natives learned that the local civets were eating the cherries from the tree, they discovered their droppings contained the beans. They collected, cleaned, roasted and ground the beans for their own use while sidestepping trouble.

It wasn’t long before the Dutch found out how wonderful the coffee was from the beans and their consumption spread like wildfire among the colonies. From then on it was and continues to be a lucrative business. When tourism popularity increased in Bali, Kopi Luwak became a much desired commodity.

What Is the Flavor Profile of Kopi Luwak?

Because of the prior process of digestion, there’s a unique and rare flavor profile to the beans once brewed. Many sources say it has a chocolate-like flavor that is silky smooth and bereft of bitterness. Others describe it as having a syrupy earthen flavor with musty and rich undertones.

The enhanced smoothness of Kopi Luwak provides a fruity and floral taste. This has a direct correlation to the civet’s enzymes during the breakdown process of fermentation that only happens within the civet. The coffee they eat would otherwise be very bitter and acidic without that essential fermentation.

However, seasoned coffee aficionados say that the flavor profile is inferior with a poor body and lacking in brightness. It has a clove tone to it that’s off-putting and bland.

Why Are People Willing to Pay So Much for Kopi Luwak?

People are willing to pay so much for Kopi Luwak for the novelty of it. It’s story and process is alluring so it isn’t everyday someone can claim they drank “cat poo” this morning. But specialty coffee enthusiasts find it to be worth every penny. Some even say that they can’t have any other kind of coffee after drinking it.

It is important to note that much of the hubbub around Kopi Luwak is a Hollywood hype from the 1990s. No one knows who started it, but most agree its popularity was the result of creating something avant-garde from the disgusting.

What Other Coffee Beans Are Expensive?

While there isn’t any other bean quite like Kopi Luwak, there are others that have a steep price tag. 

• Gesha (Ethiopia): The bean undergoes a unique fermentation process before roasting that’s wonderfully aromatic with a bouquet of floral and fruit flavors. It costs about $136 per pound.
• Hacienda la Esmeralda (Panama): Notorious for its fine flavor profile, it costs more than $100 per pound.
• Fzenda Santa Ines (Brazil): Going for more than $50 for a single pound, this is a highly desirable bean.
• El Injerto (Guatemala): This is an award-winning bean from the Huehuetenango region. One pound costs in excess of $50.
• Blue Mountain (Jamaica): Known for its lack of bitterness and delightful mildness, Japan corners the market on this bean. It costs about $50 for a single pound.