Kopi Luwak is a specialty coffee, collected and washed from the excrement of wild Asian Palm civet cats that eat coffee "cherries". This Indonesian phrase means "coffee" and the animal's local name in Sumatra, where the product originated. High demand has led to its "cultivation" in other countries, including Thailand and the Philippines (there also called Kape Alamid).
Kopi Luwak is a specialty coffee in high demand, collected and washed from the excrement of Asian Palm civet cats that eat coffee "cherries".
This phrase means "coffee" and the animal's name in Indonesian, where the product originated in the 18th century with Dutch East Indies plantations. It is now "cultivated" in other countries, including Thailand and the Philippines (there also called Kape Alamid).
Unfortunately high demand has lead to civet "farms" with caged animals used to produce Kopi Luwak. A coffee executive said to have introduced the product in the UK began a campaign in 2013 to halt consumption because of animal welfare concerns.
