I can still remember when I was a kid, I like to eat the pulp of coffee beans with my cousins in our grandparent's small farm. After consuming the pulp, we would play the little coffee beans like marbles. That time I was so innocent to realize the value of coffee beans could go insanely expensive after passing through the magical digestive system of the wild creature called Asian Palm Civet also known as Luwak in Indonesia and Alamid in Philippines. Some people call it Civet cat due to its soft fur like of the cat but in reality Civet is from the mongoose or meerkat family.
Civet Coffee/Kopi Luwak/Kape Alamid was known as the most expensive coffee in the world. People across the globe especially from Western countries would have to travel far in Asian countries mainly Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam just to try this luxury coffee. Others can buy it online thru some retailers but prices could be more expensive. I read in Wikipedia that retail prices could reach €550 /US$700 per kilogram.
I have read in history that Civet coffee begun in early 18th Century during the Dutch settlement in the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago. Dutch settlers had established coffee plantations but the natives and farmers were deprived to pick the coffee fruits for their own use. Later natives discovered that Civets would consume the pulp only of the best quality, sweetest and ripest coffee beans but the beans remained undigested in their droppings. The natives would collect these so-called golden droppings, get cleaned, roasted and ground to make their own coffee beverage. Eventually, it became popular to the locals and to the Dutch coffee plantation owners and soon became their favorite.
I was meaning to try it before but that interest have died after finding out the sad fact about how some Civet coffee bean producers are treating the wild Civets, putting them to cage and fed with coffee beans. Coffee bean producers claim that they are forced to cage the Civets to protect them from the farmers who considered them as pests that would scavenge anything in their farms and so they end up hunting these wild animals and cook their meat for food.
Despite the reality that the outside world is not safe for Civets anymore, they still belong in the wild forest. There should be other way that farmers can protect their farms without harming the Civets. Civets are sensitive nocturnal animals and they don't like to be disturbed. Just imagine putting your favorite cat or dog in a cage, that's really heartbreaking, isn't it?
Humans and animals should live in harmony.
I appreciate those coffee farmers who produce Civet coffee beans in a natural way even though they don't collect that much.
The rarity of this coffee and the natural process how its being produced what makes the Civet coffee genuine and valuable.
There were some islands in Philippines specifically in Palawan where some locals make a living by collecting Civet droppings in the wild forest or in wide coffee plantations. Civets there are free to pick the best coffee beans they like without being disturbed as the land owners impose all security measures possible to make sure that Civets remained unharmed during coffee season while enjoying life and their coffee beans galore in the wilderness. Civets also eat insects and other small animals for food so they don't live in coffee beans alone.
This is the only coffee shop I know that serves Civet coffee here in Cebu, it's not far from where I live and just a few steps away from my work place. I like to grab some of their Cat-poo-ccino, Latté or Tea during break time or whenever I can during days off.
I'm quite amazed with these coffee dripping tool, so I can't help myself took a snap.
Ever since this coffee shop opened here in Cebu, I notice not much people go to this place, some might have thought everything there is expensive. Well they also serve other selections of good quality coffee beverage that are not that very expensive. To be honest, another reason I didn't try the Civet coffee is I don't think I'd like to spend Php 590 that's around $11 USD just for a cup of coffee. I could already eat a good seafood buffet with that amount of money. I might like to try that coffee oneday when I could pick the freshly defacated Civet coffee beans from the wild forest and brewed by myself.
I had a great time there though, such a peaceful place to think and unwind and to escape the crazy demands of life for a short while. I have also enjoyed my date with Bob a.k.a, the street wise cat =) I can't really wait to share you all his life story! So far what I learned about Bob is how to enjoy your life and appreciate all that you have no matter how small it is and above all love as much and freely like you're loving a stray cat, that love is unconditional. There's a saying that cats are free to choose who they want to be with, if a cat choose you, then you're lucky! =)
Have a great week everyone!!! xoxo
With much love from Cebu,
Thank you! Daghan Salamat! Maraming Salamat po!
Photography:smartphone photos
Credits and Source Reference:
Courtesy of Civet Coffee IT Park Cebu City
Civet Coffee History:
Wikipedia.com - Kopi Luwak