Luwak Coffee: The Truth Behind The World’s Most Expensive Coffee

Kopi Luwak—also known as Luwak Coffee or Civet Coffee—has gained a reputation as one of the most exclusive and expensive coffees in the world. Marketed as a luxury delicacy, it’s sought after by coffee connoisseurs and speciality traders alike. The idea of a rare, exotic brew processed in a unique way only adds to its appeal, making it a prized commodity in the coffee industry.

But behind the premium price tag lies some disturbing realities. The production of Luwak Coffee is rife with animal cruelty, fraud, and ethical concerns that many consumers are unaware of. From the suffering of civet cats in captivity to the widespread mislabeling of products, the truth about this coffee is far from glamorous. So, what exactly is Luwak Coffee, how is it made, and why should you think twice before drinking it?

What is Luwak coffee and how is it made?

It all starts with the Asian palm civet, a small, nocturnal mammal native to the forests of Southeast Asia. Known locally as the luwak, this curious creature has a particular taste for ripe coffee cherries. However, while it happily munches on the fruit, it can’t fully digest the coffee beans inside. Instead, the beans undergo a fermentation process in the civet’s stomach before being excreted whole. The beans are then collected, cleaned (hopefully thoroughly), dried, and roasted to produce what’s known as Luwak Coffee.

The fermentation process within the civet’s stomach is said to give the coffee its distinctive flavour — a smooth, less acidic, and earthy taste. The enzymes in the digestive system strip the coffee cherries of excess foliage which can impair the taste during the drying process. The cherries also absorb some of the digestive secretions, which alters their protein structure, removing some of the acidity to give a smoother taste.

Why do people drink this poop coffee?

There are a few reasons why people are drawn to Luwak Coffee: the unique flavour, the prestige, the exotic appeal, and, for some, sheer curiosity.

Not all civet coffee tastes the same — its flavour varies depending on the type of coffee cherries eaten, the civet’s diet, and even the region where the beans are harvested. This unpredictability adds to its exclusivity, making each batch slightly different from the next.

As one of the most expensive coffees in the world, Luwak Coffee is often seen as a status symbol. Some seek it out to impress friends or clients, while others splurge on it as a luxury indulgence.

Then there’s the novelty factor. The idea of drinking “poop coffee” is, admittedly, an attention-grabber, making it a bit of a tourist attraction. For many, it’s less about the taste and more about the experience — something unusual to tick off the bucket list.

Why Should You Avoid Luwak Coffee?

Behind the high price tag lies a coffee industry built on animal cruelty, deception, and poor quality control — all of which make it a poor choice for ethical travellers and coffee lovers alike. From the horrific conditions on civet farms to the rampant fraud and hygiene issues, there are plenty of reasons to give Luwak Coffee a miss. Let’s break down exactly why this so-called luxury brew isn’t worth your money or your conscience.

Animal Welfare Concerns

Before the Luwak Coffee industry took off, civets were considered pests for raiding plantations and eating coffee cherries. This changed when plantation workers in Indonesia, who were forbidden from picking coffee for themselves, noticed that civets would eat the cherries and pass the beans intact. Curious, they collected, washed, and brewed them, discovering that the resulting coffee had a unique, smooth flavour. This accidental discovery led to the birth of Luwak Coffee.

At first, this newfound appreciation for civets worked in their favour — locals began to protect them rather than viewing them as nuisances. But as demand for Luwak Coffee soared, the industry took a dark turn. Wild civets were captured and confined to tiny, filthy cages, where they were force-fed coffee cherries and kept in appalling conditions. A study by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare assessed 48 civets across 16 plantations in Bali, revealing that all 16 failed to meet even basic animal welfare standards. The civets were severely malnourished, had no access to clean water, and were constantly stressed by loud tourists.

The suffering doesn’t stop there. Most captive civets are kept in wire cages, causing them constant pain as they are forced to stand and sleep on harsh metal flooring. As naturally solitary animals, being confined near others causes them extreme distress. In the wild, civets eat a varied diet of fruit and insects, but on coffee farms, they are force-fed caffeine-rich beans, which wreak havoc on their health — leading to bloody stools, severe malnutrition, and even death. Some have been observed gnawing off their own limbs out of sheer desperation. What started as a unique coffee-making process has now become an industry built on cruelty and suffering.

Mislabeling and Fraud

Luwak Coffee’s hefty price tag has made it a prime target for fraud, with many sellers taking shortcuts to maximise profits. Some brands mix regular coffee beans with a small percentage of civet-processed beans—or skip the civet process entirely—while still marketing it as authentic. With no strict regulations in place, many consumers unknowingly pay extortionate prices for coffee that isn’t what it claims to be.

Even when the beans do go through civets, the ethical sourcing claims are often outright lies. Many brands advertise their coffee as coming from wild, free-roaming civets, when in reality, most are sourced from cruel civet farms, where the animals are caged and force-fed coffee cherries. Since there’s no reliable certification process, there’s no way to know if what you’re drinking is genuinely wild-sourced or just another product of animal exploitation.

Hygiene and Quality Concerns

Luwak Coffee might be marketed as a luxury product, but the hygiene standards behind its production are anything but glamorous. The beans are collected straight from civet droppings, often in unsanitary conditions where contamination risks are high. In many cases, the cleaning process is neither regulated nor standardised, meaning there’s no guarantee that harmful bacteria, parasites, or remnants of faecal matter have been fully removed before the beans are roasted and sold.

Quality is another major issue. Wild civets naturally pick the ripest, best-quality coffee cherries, but in captivity, they have no choice in what they eat. On civet farms, they are force-fed whatever is available, leading to inconsistent and often inferior beans. Stressed, malnourished animals don’t exactly make for careful coffee selection, meaning the final product is far from the high-end delicacy it’s made out to be.

The bottom line

That cup of exotic, smooth Luwak Coffee was most probably made using unethical animal practices.

During my time in Indonesia, I noticed a lot of markets sold Luwak Coffee. I also visited a couple of coffee plantations and was shocked to see the conditions of these animals. I remember telling a woman who owned one of the plantations that the luwak cage had no water; she merely shrugged, clearly not interested in the welfare of the animal that provides her income.

Please do not contribute to the suffering of these animals. Boycott Luwak Coffee.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support — Lauren.

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