Have you ever tried one of the best Indonesian coffee beans, Luwak coffee from Bali? Indonesia is one of the world’s best coffee producers. Most countries in the world buy coffee from Indonesia. Indonesia offers high-quality coffee with various coffee bean types. When you come to Bali, you need to try Balinese coffee. You can learn more about Balinese coffee, especially Kopi Luwak from Bali. So, you have a better understanding of this coffee before you try it.
The History of Coffee from Bali
Coffee is famous not only in Bali but also in Sumatra. We can find Gayo coffee from Sumatra. Unlike in most other parts of Indonesia, such as Java and Sumatra, coffee cultivation in Bali was not started by the Dutch. Instead, we may thank Lombok traders for the coffee that grows in Bali today, as it was they who brought the first coffee plants to Bali in the early twentieth century.
The Kintamani region’s rich volcanic soil and climate immediately proved perfect for coffee growing, and small-scale production quickly spread.
The variation introduced to Bali by the Lombok traders was Robusta coffee, a type of coffee that is very resistant to illnesses and includes a high level of caffeine.
Today, coffee is grown in Bali.
The Kintamani region in the northwestern portion of Bali is still Bali’s primary coffee-growing zone, and Robusta, which is still commonly produced, accounts for the majority of Bali’s production, despite Arabica becoming more popular. Arabica has a stronger body and less acidity than Robusta and commands better prices on global coffee markets, which is why many growers begin cultivating Arabica coffee.
The Taste of Coffee from Bali
The processing procedure is one of the distinguishing features of Bali coffee in comparison to other Indonesian coffees. In Bali, wet processing is the traditional method, although dry processing is the most popular approach on the other Indonesian islands. In contrast to dry-processing, which involves drying the entire coffee cherry, wet-processing involves removing the fruit covering the coffee bean (which is the seed) before the beans are dried.
Kopi Luwak is Bali’s most costly coffee.
Kopi Luwak is coffee made from beans that have been digested by a civet, a cat-like primarily nocturnal creature. The civets consume the coffee cherries for their fleshy pulp, but the beans remain intact throughout the digestion process. The bitterness of the coffee is extracted by enzymes in the civet’s stomach, leaving Kopi Luwak smooth and moderate with a pleasant aftertaste. Originally, Kopi Luwak was prepared from beans collected in the dung of wild civets, making the collection process time-intensive, which explains why prices for a kilo of Kopi Luwak can reach close to $1,000. Kopi Luwak now originates from captive civets, which creates ethical concerns and should not taste as well as Kopi Luwak from wild civets because wild civets are allegedly finicky animals when it comes to coffee and only eats the tastiest berries, which guarantees premium bean quality. Kopi Luwak can be found in shops and cafés across Bali. It is disputed whether the taste of Kopi Luwak is worth several times the price of a regular cup of coffee, but it is undeniably a unique experience to drink a cup of coffee that has passed through a fuzzy mammal.
How much does Civet Coffee cost?
Given the unusual technique needed in creating the coffee, it quickly became a delicacy and the world’s most expensive coffee.
This term is still relevant over two centuries later.
Of course, scarcity increases demand and drives up prices.
But, in the end, everything is only worth what people are prepared to pay for it.
People are willing to pay $35-$100 US for a cup of Civet Coffee in a coffee shop. Online, you might pay up to USD 600 per pound.
Because of this eagerness to pay top dollar, there are already imposters selling imitation Kopi Luwak. If you want to buy real Indonesian coffee beans, you should look for the best coffee supplier in Indonesia.
How to Identify Genuine Bali Luwak Coffee
Those are probably words you never expected to hear.
First, let’s look at imposters from a shopping perspective.
This can be difficult owing to companies such as the Bali coffee firm titled “LUWAK,” whose product is not Luwak coffee but is simply named after it.
Furthermore, there are more of these identically-titled products on the market, making it difficult to distinguish between them.
While hunting for authentic Kopi Luwak, keep in mind that it is incredibly rare, making wholesale sales unfeasible. When you find a low price for Kopi Luwak, it must be an imitation of Kopi Luwak. When you buy the cheap one, you will not get the genuine taste of Kopi Luwak.
Bali is famous for its best and most expensive coffee. People can try to enjoy Bali coffee in some of the cafes in Bali. You can choose your coffee, but most people strongly recommend Kintamani Coffee or Kopi Luwak from Bali. You can read more about Indonesian coffee beans when you visit https://coffeearks.com/our-coffee/.
