Kopi Luwak Coffee
An extremely rare coffee due to the fact that the beans are first processed through the intestinal track of a palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). This raccoon like animal has a sickly-sweet odor reminiscent of a striped skunk and loves the cherry like fruit that covers the coffee bean. Yes, ingested and deposited shortly thereafter, the beans are ripe for the picking. Once thought as a pest to the crop, these critters are now welcomed friends. Coffee pickers comb the civet's droppings for the berries and remove the husk. These yummy, choice beans are thoroughly washed, in other words, decrappinated, then roasted and ready for the brew. Oh boy, an aromatic brew it would be.
And
Jacu Bird Coffee
Whereas the civet in Indonesia eats the lower quality Robusta coffee beans, the Jacu bird is a native of South America and enjoys the high quality Arabica coffee beans of Brazil. The theory is this: if the bird eats only the ripest, tastiest berries then the little piles of beans it excretes for us as a present should all be uniform, high quality, ripe beans. The farms simply collect these piles, wash the beans, and package them up for us.
In the case of the palm civet, they say that it imparts a unique earthy flavor to the passing coffee beans. However, they say the Jacu bird leaves almost no lingering flavor on the beans. Many people who have tasted this coffee say it is a very pleasing cup of a smooth, balanced Brazilian coffee. One swirled it around in his mouth, looking for the hints or subtle notes of bird excrement, and yet found nothing other than the typical, earthy Brazilian flavor. This coffee is only available by special order and so would most likely be freshly roasted to order. It's not just an ordinary crappy cup of coffee. The Kopi Luwak has sold at prices up to $300 per pound, so at around $12 per pound the Jacu bird is passing on the savings.
