Kopi Luwak is a type of coffee that has become quite popular and very expensive. It’s essentially coffee beans that have been digested and excreted by civet cats (Asian palm civets).Find out more

The civet cats are hunted in the wild for this purpose, but some farmers use caged civets. These animals are kept for three years at the maximum, before being released back into nature. They’re snatched from their natural habitat, and the stress of confinement and lack of proper nutrition causes them to lose their fur. They’re also prone to infections, like ringworm. And the cages are so small, they cause the civets to have difficulty breathing and sleep.

These coffee beans are then collected from the poop, washed several times, sorted thoroughly, and roasted. The taste of this special coffee is described as fruity, floral and smooth. It’s also very expensive, as the poop itself can sell for a lot of money.

The Wild Side of Coffee: A Close-Up on Exotic Beans from Animal Droppings

Besides the civet cat poop coffee, there’s also monkey poop coffee and elephant poop coffee. The latter, known as Black Ivory Coffee, is made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by Thai elephants.

These omnivorous animals do not normally eat coffee cherries, so the beans end up in their poop without being fully digested. They are collected from the dung, then rinsed, washed, dried, and roasted, much like regular coffee beans. And these “specialty” beans cost an outrageous amount, up to $900 per pound!