We must admit, there is an awful lot of love and hate for Kopi Luwak out there. This specialty coffee is so intriguing that it keeps being sought after by coffee enthusiasts around the world. Everybody wants to get hold of it and taste the heavenly aroma. Some want to find its flaws and speak out against them. It has become a hot topic everywhere, a trend; A phenomenal coffee admired by the whole world. It made its way to international stardom when it was featured in the Oprah Winfrey Show. And In 2008, it reached its worldwide fame when it was featured in the popular American movie The Bucket List, with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as the main casts.
Yet there are still plenty of interesting facts about Kopi Luwak that people have never heard of. Here we have listed some of the most fascinating facts, to enrich your knowledge on the exclusive coffee.
Kopi Luwak Vietnam. Yes, there is another Kopi Luwak outside its country of origin, Indonesia. The Vietnam name for Kopi Luwak is “Ca Phe Chon”, which literally means “Weasel Coffee”. It is mainly produced in the Vietnamese highlands of Da Lat, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong.
Kopi Luwak Roasting Profile. The ideal Roasting Profile for Kopi Luwak is a medium roast, this ensures that the natural complex aroma ends up in the cup.
Arabica or Robusta? Wild Kopi Luwak is produced by free-living Civets, therefore they choose what they eat and what not to eat. Thus, it can consist of Arabica, Robusta, or Liberica coffee, depending on the coffee cherries that taste the best for the Civets.
The Cat Poop Coffee. Kopi Luwak is often called that way, but it is not entirely accurate. Since civets, or Asia Palm Civets to be precise, are not exactly cats. They are a related animal native to Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. So, they are cat-like creatures, but they are definitely not cats. Unfortunately, the name is already well known worldwide.
Civet Coffee India. According to media reports, some farmers have recently started producing Civet Coffee in India. But apparently there is not a lot of information about it on the internet, so we can’t be sure of its quality and taste. But certainly, it will not have the same authentic taste as the Indonesian wild Kopi Luwak.
Luwak’s Digestive System. The animal has a very simple digestive tract. As a result, the coffee beans it consumed will not be damaged and still look intact.
Kopi Luwak offers numerous health benefits. Research has shown that this coffee has many beneficial effects on human health. This is not something you can get from any other type of coffee. Due to the fermentation process and the enzymes contained in the animal’s digestive tract, the acidity is lower. It means the coffee is good for people with digestive problems, including ulcers.
It once disappeared from the world. After the Second World War Kopi Luwak disappeared from the market until it regained its popularity in the 2007