Demand for Kopi Luwak May Be Threatening Wildlife

Damien1972 writes "Popularization of the world's strangest coffee may be imperiling a a suite of small mammals in Indonesia, according to a new study in Small Carnivore Conservation. The coffee, known as kopi luwak (kopi for coffee and luwak for the civet), is made from whole coffee beans that have passed through the gut of the animal. The coffee is apparently noted for its distinct taste, though some have argued it is little more than novelty. Now, this burgeoning kopi luwak industry is creating 'civet farms,' whereby civets are captured from the wild and kept in cages to eat and crap out coffee beans."

Comments

Re:Distinct taste?

[TheP4st]

I am a big coffee drinker and a very fuzzy one at that. A couple of months ago my brother in law knowing my love for coffee bought me some Kopi Luwak from in Malaysia. I cannot even begin to explain how disappointed I were in the experience of drinking this supposedly fantastic brew. I would not compare it with a cheap coffee as it do have a unique and distinct flavor and aroma that is far from unpleasant that set it apart from any other coffee I have ever had, but it certainly does not live up to the reputation it have and it is in my opinion ridiculously overrated.