Where does poop coffee come from?
"Poop coffee" typically refers to a type of coffee known as civet coffee or kopi luwak. It is a unique and rare coffee that involves a specific production process. Here's how it works:
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Civet Coffee Production:
- Civet coffee is produced using the feces of a civet, a small mammal found in some coffee-growing regions, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa.
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Civet Diet:
- Civets consume ripe coffee cherries as part of their diet. The cherries pass through the digestive system of the civet, and the beans inside the cherries are not fully digested.
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Collection of Feces:
- Farmers or collectors gather the feces of civets that have consumed coffee cherries. The beans are then extracted from the feces.
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Cleaning and Processing:
- After collection, the beans are thoroughly cleaned and processed. This involves washing and sometimes fermenting the beans to remove any remaining traces of the civet's digestive enzymes.
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Roasting:
- The cleaned beans are roasted to produce coffee. The roasting process is similar to that of regular coffee beans.
Civet coffee is often marketed as a luxury or exotic coffee due to the unique production process. Advocates claim that the fermentation process in the civet's digestive system imparts distinctive flavors to the coffee beans.
However, there are ethical concerns associated with civet coffee production. In some cases, civets are kept in captivity in less-than-ideal conditions, and the natural and ethical aspects of the process are compromised. Additionally, the demand for civet coffee has led to issues such as poaching and exploitation of civets.
Consumers interested in trying civet coffee should be mindful of the ethical and environmental considerations associated with its production. Additionally, due to the potential for unethical practices, it's crucial to source civet coffee from reputable and responsible producers.