Cat Poop Coffee: The Scoop on the World’s Weirdest Brew

Coffee lovers are always on the hunt for the next best cup of joe. But what if I told you the most exotic, rare, and expensive coffee in the world passes through a cat’s butt before making it to your mug? That’s right, I’m talking about cat poop coffee, otherwise known as civet coffee or kopi luwak.

Let’s dive into the wonderfully weird world of cat poop coffee, where we’ll explore how this peculiar brew is made, why it’s so expensive, and if it’s really worth the buzz.

What the Heck is Cat Poop Coffee?

Civet coffee comes from the droppings of the Asian palm civet, a small, cat-like mammal found in Southeast Asia. These nocturnal critters are known for their excellent sense of taste—specifically when it comes to coffee cherries. Here’s how it works:

1. The civet chows down on ripe coffee cherries, gobbling them up like they’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
2. The fruit pulp is digested, but the inner coffee beans aren’t. Instead, they pass through the civet’s digestive tract, getting a unique fermentation along the way.
3. Once the beans are, well, pooped out, they’re collected, cleaned (yes, cleaned), and roasted to create kopi luwak.

It’s the digestive enzymes in the civet’s gut that alter the coffee beans, breaking down proteins that can make coffee bitter and supposedly giving the final brew a smoother, less acidic flavor. In short: civet digestion = fancy coffee beans.

Why is It So Expensive?

If you’ve ever wondered why someone would pay upwards of $300 for a pound of coffee that’s been pooped out by a cat, you’re not alone. The steep price tag comes from a combination of factors:

• Rarity: Wild civet droppings aren’t exactly easy to come by. Harvesting naturally deposited beans is labor-intensive, and civets are picky eaters, making the process even more selective.

• Small-scale production: Because each civet only produces a limited amount of poop (as you might expect), the supply is tiny compared to regular coffee. This scarcity drives up the price.

• Marketing hype: Let’s be real, there’s a lot of "WTF?" factor in drinking cat poop coffee. That kind of weirdness is a marketing dream, and some people are willing to shell out for the novelty alone.

Is Cat Poop Coffee Ethical?

This is where things get a bit less funny. While wild-collected kopi luwak was once the standard, the popularity of civet coffee has led to less ethical practices. Some producers have turned to civet farming, where the animals are kept in cages and force-fed coffee cherries to maximize production. These conditions can be cruel, with civets often suffering from stress and poor diets.

If you’re curious about trying kopi luwak, be sure to look for wild-sourced, ethical brands that prioritize the well-being of the civets. You can find certifications or choose producers that emphasize free-range collection methods.

But How Does It Taste?

Here’s the million-dollar question: does it actually taste good?

Coffee connoisseurs are divided. Some claim that kopi luwak has a rich, smooth flavor that’s unparalleled, with subtle notes of chocolate, caramel, or earth. Others say it’s overrated, with the fermentation process not doing enough to justify the sky-high price.

Taste testers describe it as "earthy" with a slight funk, which—let’s face it—isn’t that surprising, considering the journey those beans took.

The Verdict: To Drink or Not to Drink?

If you’re a curious coffee enthusiast with a budget to burn and a willingness to try the weird and wonderful, then kopi luwak might be worth a sip. Just make sure you’re choosing ethically sourced beans so you can enjoy your poop coffee guilt-free.

For everyone else, there are plenty of less expensive, non-poop-related brews out there to satisfy your caffeine cravings. Maybe you don’t need to go that far down the food chain to get your next coffee fix.