By Tommy Pettersson

The most expensive coffee in the world is "Kopi Luwak" (Indonesian ['kopi 'lu.ak]), or civet coffee. "Kopi Luwak" is coffee made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and other related civets, then passed through its digestive tract. A civet eats the berries for their fleshy pulp. In its stomach, proteolytic enzymes seep into the beans, making shorter peptides and more free amino acids. Passing through a civet's intestines the beans are then defecated, having kept their shape. After gathering, thorough washing, sun drying, light roasting and brewing, these beans yield an aromatic coffee with much less bitterness, widely noted as the most expensive coffee in the world.

Kopi Luwak is produced mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago, and also in the Philippines (where the product is called motit coffee in the Cordillera and kape alamid in Tagalog areas) and also in East Timor (where it is called kafé-laku). Weasel coffee is a loose English translation of its name cà phê Ch?n in Vietnam, where popular, chemically simulated versions are also produced.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Kopi Luwak coffee beans.

The Asian Palm Civet inside the cage.

Farmers collect the coffee cherries in traditional manner.

Collected coffee cherries.

Coffee cherries are spread on trays to feed the civets.

The Asian Palm Civet eats the coffee cherries.

The Asian Palm Civet eats the coffee cherries.

Workers collect the civet poop with the coffee beans, ready for final washing and drying.

The coffee beans are washed with water.

A worker sifts and spread the coffee beans to dry before lightly fry them.

The excrement of the civet prepared for production of "Kopi Luwak" coffee in East Java near Surabaya, Indonesia.

Article by Tommy Pettersson
Tommy Pettersson is a well known internet developer and the founder of Fair Trade Community. Fair Trade Community is a community where people can get facts and information, meet and discuss how they can help to improve the lives of some of the poorest people in the world. Learn more at Fair Trade Community.

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