The world's most expensive coffee: the secret of the civet cat

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, but there is a special variety that is familiar not only to coffee enthusiasts but also to luxury item lovers: it is called Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee. The secret of its uniqueness lies in a small, nocturnal animal, the civet cat. The civet cat (also known as luwak) lives mainly in Southeast Asia and enjoys the ripe, red berries of coffee shrubs. When it consumes them, the coffee beans undergo a special fermentation process as they pass through the animal's stomach. The animal's body does not digest the seeds, but digestive enzymes break down the bitter substances and create a softer, richer flavor. The "pre-treated" coffee beans are collected from the animal's feces and, after thorough cleaning and processing, are roasted. The result is a special, silky, low-acidity coffee, whose aroma is considered unique by experts. The price of Kopi Luwak coffee is extremely high: one kilogram can cost several hundred or even a ...