A bite of Indonesian--Civet coffee

Civet coffee, a traditional Indonesian product, is said to be one of the most expensive coffee in the world. The coffee is formally called Kopi Luwak. Kopi in Indonesian means coffee and luwak means Asian palm civet.

According to a staff member in the experience shop of civet coffee, Asian palm civets are keen on the sweetest and juiciest coffee berries. After the flesh is totally digested, the solid coffee beans are discharged by civets.

Coffee beans change a lot after the digestive process. Civet coffee will get done through several production procedures including selecting, wash, drying, deodorization and baking. The longer the storage time is, the more delicious it will be.

The landlady of the shop said that in order to keep the unique taste of civet coffee, Indonesians prefer to grind coffee beans into powder, to brew the powder in boiled water and to drink the coffee without milk rather than using coffee machines. Therefore, coffee made from civet coffee beans is thicker than ordinary one. Residue will often leave at the bottom of a cup.