Coffee made from feces is the most expensive in the world. What animals “make” elite varieties of coffee?

In this article we will look at the types of most expensive coffee on the planet. But as Albert Einstein said, everything in the world is relative. So, the price of the most expensive coffee in the World can vary greatly depending on the place of purchase. Therefore, we will consider the average prices of the finished product.

Coffee is one of the most sold and sought after products in the world. Surely, almost every family has fans of its wonderful taste and aroma. With the help of a drink made from natural coffee beans, almost every second inhabitant of the earth wakes up and enjoys it in the morning. However, not everyone knows that the most expensive coffee, the special and delicious-tasting Kopi Luwak, is made in a very unique way. And it may shock many. So, Kopi Luwak - the most expensive coffee in the world - is made from animal excrement. Surprised? But, first things first.

Kopi Luwak - on average $100 for a cup of coffee.

The main character, thanks to which the most expensive coffee in the world is produced, is “musang”, also called civet. This animal is a mammal, its height is from 40 to 60 cm, and its average weight is 3-4 kg. Musangs are widespread throughout Southeast Asia, and on some islands of Sumatra, the Philippines, and Java. This species was most likely introduced to some of the islands. They mainly live in tropical forests.

So, how does the most expensive coffee in the world come from dung?

The production process is as follows. Musangs eat ripe coffee beans, which are partially digested in the stomach due to special enzymes, and then excreted. The remains of their vital activity are then collected by farmers. They are thoroughly washed, dried in the sun, and fried.

It’s hard to imagine who came up with the idea to make coffee this way. But he definitely didn’t make a mistake. After all, this variety is highly valued all over the world. Because of its value, civets began to be caught and caged. But this did not lead to a large increase in production, for several reasons. First, civets do not breed in captivity. Secondly, it is the enzyme that gives Luwak coffee its unique taste. They produce only 6 months of the year.

One color can eat 500-700 grams of coffee berries per day. Which will yield about 50-60 g of the required coffee beans. Which is quite small. Moreover, musangs must consume not only coffee beans, but also other plant foods. Including meat. Therefore, their diet is not limited only to coffee beans.

Some farmers keep animals all year round. Some are released for a while and then recaptured. This allows you to save on food for six months, when they do not secrete enzymes.

The cost of the most expensive coffee varies greatly depending on the place of sale. In countries far from production. The price can reach up to $100 per cup of this valuable drink.

The most expensive type of elephant dung coffee is Black Ivory, $50 per cup.

The incredible amount of money generated by the sale of Kopi Luwak inspired the hard-working and inventive people of Thailand to organize coffee production in their homeland. Here, coffee products are extracted with the direct participation of elephants, namely the stomachs of the latter. In this regard, a zoo-farm was opened in the northern part of Thailand, where twenty elephants live, whose stomachs continuously process coffee beans. Thanks to elephants and their work, the world saw an equally expensive coffee, which has a great name - Black Ivory Coffee.

An original way to obtain “elephant coffee”

Due to the fact that the size of the elephant's stomach is significantly larger than the size of the musang's stomach, coffee berries in it coexist with other products of the animal's special diet. As a rule, coffee berries are combined with bananas, sugar cane and various vegetables. Due to this, coffee beans in the stomach are saturated with fruit and vegetable aroma, are processed by gastric juice, modify the original chemical composition and are naturally excreted from the body in the form of droppings.

Elephants are vegetarians, so many meat haters prefer Black Ivory Coffee. Note that to obtain a kilogram of the latter, you need to feed the animal over 30 kilograms of selected coffee fruits, which are collected by hand high in the mountains of Thailand.

One of the most expensive coffees in the world comes from Vietnam - Chon $50 per cup

Expensive coffee with an unusual taste is also available in Vietnam. The most expensive type of coffee here is called “Chon”. The process of making this Vietnamese coffee is no less complex. Here, coffee beans that have passed through the stomach of an animal are also taken as a basis. Only the main producer is not the musang, but the Asian marten. The difference from Kopi Luwak coffee is in the preparation. Chon is prepared directly under the cup in a special drip filter before serving. The Indonesian version is prepared in a cezve or a copper pot.

The unsurpassed smell, thickness and taste characteristics will not leave any lover of this drink indifferent. Main features: Chon has a very thick consistency, a transparent dark color and a bright smell.

Coffee entertainment for tourists.

There is little to surprise the modern tourist. But the residents of the island of Bali still did their best - here, especially for notorious extreme sports, farms have been opened to produce rare delicacies. “Coffee” animals are kept in cages and generously stuffed with coffee fruits, after which visitors are invited to get to know the number one coffee production technology in the world. Here you can also personally take part in the process of extracting exclusive coffee berries.

The entire procedure of making Kopi Luwak is done by hand. Every year a large number of connoisseurs of this unusual drink come here, the size of their wallets allows them to take part in this truly stunning action. The largest percentage of fans of rare coffee with a caramel taste and delicious aroma are the Japanese.

If you haven’t seen it, be sure to watch an excellent American film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman called “Until I Play the Box.” One of the heroes of the film, a millionaire and a big snob, was very fond of periodically drinking exquisite Luwak coffee - the most expensive coffee in the world.

Good day, friends.

Well, wealthy people can afford it. The second main character found information about how this drink is prepared and informed his friend. Everything that was in the proposed description is completely true...

In general, we will not retell or go deeper into the plot. Let's focus on what kind of Luwak coffee it is, and how it is obtained. Read it, we hope it will be interesting!

The Indonesian island of Java is considered the birthplace of all coffee. A long time ago, Arabica, Liberica, and Robusta were grown in Java, and everywhere. However, at the end of the 19th century, a rust fungus affected all Javanese coffee plantations in the lowlands, and only those plantations that were located at an altitude of more than one kilometer above sea level survived.

The most unpretentious type of coffee turned out to be robusta, which makes up 90 percent of the total product grown in Indonesia. As for Luwak coffee, it is not entirely of plant origin!..

The most expensive coffee in the world: how is Luwak coffee made?

The process of emergence of Luwak coffee is quite unusual. No, at first everything proceeds according to the standard pattern: there are coffee trees, beans grow on them - as in all other cases. Then the ripest of these beans are eaten by a creature that goes by several names: palm civet or marten, civet, punch cat.

On the island of Java itself it is called musang or luwak. This is a living “coffee processing machine”. The food eaten is processed in the animal’s body, but the coffee beans are not digested and are excreted along with the feces. These “crapped” beans are the raw material for the product known as Luwak coffee - the most expensive coffee in the world.

You are disappointed?

However, gourmets advise not to attach any importance to this. After all, in the end, it is not excrement that is brewed (and thank God!), but coffee beans - carefully washed by the service staff, dried, roasted and packaged.

This is what the “source” of Luwak coffee looks like

So, the animal involved in the production of Luwak coffee has a body almost a meter long and a tail almost the same length. Moreover, this person has a strong tendency towards libations. We are talking about the consumption of low-alcohol punch by the palm marten - a mash made from palm juice, which is snacked on with various berries, including coffee berries.

Musang Luwaks lead a bohemian lifestyle: during the day they sleep off the labors of the righteous in caves, and at night they go out to “production”. They will drink punch and eat ripe, exceptionally ripe and very aromatic beans.

So, the initial stage of making coffee from the Luwak animal is based on finding the best berries and eating them.

Luwak coffee: how it is made

At the second stage, when the musangs digest the pulp of the beans, the grains remain intact and unharmed, and they are safely excreted during bowel movements. By the way, the gastric juice of punch cats includes a special substance - cebitin, which breaks down the proteins of coffee beans.

This gives Luwak coffee an exclusive taste with a barely noticeable bitterness and various shades: from the taste of butter to the taste of honey. Experts note that after drinking the drink, a surprisingly pleasant aftertaste remains in the mouth. The richness of the taste is enhanced by the specific method of roasting the beans over low heat.

In addition to collecting animal feces left in the wild, there is another opportunity to obtain raw materials for Luwak coffee; production is established on farms. Here the musangs are kept in captivity, and they eat only the beans that the farmer offers them, and not those that they usually pay attention to when in the wild. Add to everything else stress, a sedentary lifestyle and a bunch of diseases that arise in connection with this...

Meet: musang is a living and walking “factory” for coffee production

Gourmets note that the drink obtained artificially is inferior in quality and taste to that produced in the old way. Now you know how Luwak coffee is made.

Luwak coffee

When the public learns that coffee from the Luwak animal is made from beans extracted from feces, the question inevitably arises: who, I wonder, thought of picking them out of poop?

It turns out that during the colonization of Indonesia by Holland, Europeans prohibited the local population from collecting coffee beans from trees. Disobedience was met with severe punishment. So the aborigines were forced to use civet poop to prepare an invigorating liquid.

The animals that make Luwak coffee consume on average about one kilogram of berries per day. The output from each individual is approximately 50 grams of grains. Few? Undoubtedly. This is about why Luwak coffee is incredibly expensive.

At the farm, the gluttony of the musang is carefully observed. They feed with fruits and rice porridge with chicken. The coffee bean films that the animals spit out are removed from the tray so that they can eat even more berries.

Unfortunately, Luwak musangs do not reproduce in captivity, and therefore, to maintain the size of the population, wild animals are captured.

Luwak coffee: where is it produced?

Traditionally, coffee made from Luwak excrement comes to the market from Indonesia (from the islands of Java, Sumatra, Bali), as well as from the Philippines. Many of our tourists are not averse to going on excursions to farms where punch cats are kept, and drinking a cup of drink there. The product is also sold in supermarkets, but much more expensive.

By the way, these are not all the countries where Luwak coffee is produced. Its release has also been organized in Vietnam and India.

Luwak coffee production in Vietnam

Plus, there are reports that manufacturers have learned how to imitate the aroma of civet, i.e. to artificially achieve an elegant taste of the drink does not add optimism.

How to brew Luwak coffee

First, we will describe how the Vietnamese, whose product received high marks from tourists, cope with brewing this type of coffee.

Vietnamese Luwak coffee is prepared in a mug. Its bottom is poured generously with condensed milk, then ground coffee powder is poured through the filter. The entire consistency is pressed down with a press, and again boiling water is poured through the filter (to slow down the process).

At home, it is best to prepare coffee from the Luwak animal in a Turk. Some coffee lovers are sure that the drink must be consumed in its pure form, in other words, without any additives or sugar.

Others, on the contrary, do not imagine coffee as unsweetened. Moreover, according to some recipes, sugar should be added during cooking. As a result, the taste of the drink is bright, and the noble coffee foam is better preserved with sugar.

At home, it is best to prepare coffee from the Luwak animal in a Turk.

You can try adding a small pinch of table salt during cooking. They say that this makes the drink richer.

How to brew Luwak coffee classically:

• slightly warm the Turk over the fire;
• then add ground coffee into it. If necessary, add spices and sugar;
• Warm the Turk again, fill it with very cold water almost to the top and mix everything with a spoon. The slower the drink is brewed, the tastier it comes out;
• After waiting for foam, remove from heat and cool. Then repeat the procedure a couple of times. It is necessary to take into account that the drink should not boil and the foam should remain intact - otherwise the coffee aroma will quickly disappear;
• remove the foam with a spoon;
• pour the coffee into cups (if everything is done correctly, the foam will occupy the entire surface of the drink).

In addition to sugar, and in rare cases, salt, spices, alcoholic beverages, and milk are added to Luwak coffee. Experimenting with their combination and quantity allows you to get an unimaginable number of recipes. The following spices are suitable for making coffee: cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, allspice, cloves and more.

How to brew Luwak coffee - recipes

And now about how to brew Luwak coffee using ready-made recipes.

"Mediterranean coffee":

• glass of water;
• 2 teaspoons coffee;
• cocoa, cinnamon, anise - ½ teaspoon each;
• ginger and orange zest - a quarter each.

"With cinnamon and black pepper":

• coffee is prepared in the usual way;
• Put a pinch of cinnamon on the bottom of the Turk along with sugar, and at the end of cooking, throw a peppercorn into the resulting drink.

“With cardamom and spices”:

• 1.5 glasses of water;
• 3 teaspoons coffee;
• 5 boxes of green cardamom;
• ½ cloves;
• anise and ginger powder.

Add finely chopped cardamom, cloves, a quarter spoon each of ginger and anise to a well-heated pot over low heat.

Kopi Luwak coffee package

As soon as the aroma of spices spreads throughout the kitchen, pour coffee inside, mix with spices by shaking the Turk, and add filtered water. Place on low heat, wait for the foam to rise, ideally three times, if you’re lazy, then once will be enough.

Luwak coffee reviews

As most gourmets admit, the described drink causes mixed reactions. Not everything is pleasant and good, which is expensive. So, Luwak coffee reviews:

• a girl wrote on one of the forums that what always stopped her from purchasing Luwak coffee was the originality of production and the number of counterfeits (and in Russia this is generally a problem!). Apparently I bought a lot of materials and videos on this topic. My intuition didn’t let me down, I bought a quality product. Appreciated him;
• She is echoed by a guy who admits that the coffee is excellent, the taste attracted him with a slight sourness, which does not spoil the taste, but, on the contrary, complements it. It’s expensive to drink such a drink every day, but on weekends it’s just right;
• a group of friends tasted coffee, each of them was satisfied. What was especially striking was that the drink completely lacks the bitterness inherent in regular coffee. The aroma is subtle and pleasant. The only problem is the hefty cost of the product;
• another guy admitted that he was thinking about how he could spend so much money on coffee! Coffee! It turned out that the taste is more than unusual - soft, and seemingly weightless;
• Among the words of praise there are also critical ones. There are people who claim that Luwak coffee tastes simply disgusting. Firstly, lifeless, secondly, faded. So, not for everyone...

How much does Luwak coffee cost?

The cost of Luwak coffee is not just high, but very high. In general, it ranges from $250 to $1,200 per kilogram. The inability to obtain Luwak coffee in Indonesia on an industrial scale dictates its high price.

But, despite the high cost, the goods are sold out with a bang!

There are no fewer people wanting to try this unusual coffee drink. Even the prohibitive cost of Luwak coffee does not stop enthusiasts. Everyone wants to understand what is so special about him. After a test, someone assures that he has figured it out, another only pretends, but in fact does not find anything special in it, and the third does not hide his annoyance at wasted money.

They sell Luwak coffee photos in chic, beautifully designed packaging. Well, of course, an expensive product should be presented as befits the level of prestige of the product! In beautiful jars, wooden boxes, in metallized bags. Packaged in both 100 and 1000 grams.

And they buy Luwak coffee from us; the price in Russia, if it differs from the world price in terms of rubles, is not radically different. Well, you need to understand that there is mark-up both due to transport costs and due to the intervention of resellers. So for a 300-gram package of Luwak coffee (price in Moscow) you need to pay a little more than five and a half thousand, for a 200-gram package - about five thousand.

If you like to experiment, be sure to try it.

And finally. There are many interesting videos on the Internet that can be loosely combined with the term coffee luwak video. In them you can glean information about the life activity of the Musang animal and how raw materials are collected in Indonesian forests. Thank you for your attention, see you again!

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It is believed that understanding coffee and understanding which varieties are the best is a sign of high status and good manners.

However, few people imagine a morning without a cup of aromatic coffee. According to statistics, about 2.25 billion cups of the invigorating drink are drunk every day in the world. In addition, coffee is the second most traded product on the planet, after oil. And only real coffee lovers are able to spend incredible amounts of money on their favorite drink. What is the most expensive coffee in the world?

Coffee Yauco Selecto AA

This is practically the rarest variety of Arabica, which is classified as a “grand cru” of the Caribbean. YaucoSelecto is grown at an altitude of about 100 meters in the Yauco Mountains of the Cordillera Central. For the last 150 years, this region has been considered the best for growing coffee in the Greater Antilles.

Starbucks Rwanda Blue Bourbon

Price: $24 for 450 grams

The world learned about this coffee only in 2004. It was discovered by the famous coffee company Starbucks in Rwanda when it visited a coffee washing plant.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee

Price: $34 for 450 grams

This variety of Arabica grows on the slopes of the Mauna Loa and Gualalai volcanoes, which are located in the south and north of the Kona region of the Hawaiian Big Island. Kona Coffee has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the most sought after and expensive coffees in the world.

Los Plains Coffee

Price: 40 dollars for 450 grams

This coffee has a unique aroma, unforgettable taste, as well as a high international award. In 2006, at the Quality Cup, experts rated Los Planes 93.52 points out of 100 possible. Therefore, the cafe, which is grown on the plains of Los Plains, became the second in the world. It is distinguished by a sweetish floral aroma and cocoa flavor. At the same time, with each sip, the taste of fruit is felt stronger; connoisseurs can expect a floral aftertaste.

Blue Mountain coffee

Price: $49 for 450 grams

This Jamaican coffee is grown in the Blue Mountains on the Wallenford estate. The Blue Mountain variety is distinguished by an almost complete absence of bitterness and a mild taste.

Hacienda Santa Ynez

Fazenda Santa Ines comes from Brazil. This country has long been recognized as the producer of the world's best coffee. The brand presented is therefore the best in Brazil. Hand-picked coffee is renowned for its high quality, with a bright citrus aroma and fine texture. Fazenda Santa Ines has a hint of chocolate and the coffee is often served with cream. By the way, in 2006, at the Quality Cup, the Brazilian drink became the leader of the Cup of Excellence of Coffee. Therefore, its price is quite justified. Cafes in Canada and, naturally, in Brazil do not skimp on this product.

El Injerto

Price: $50 for 450 grams

El Injerto coffee is preferred by thousands of drink connoisseurs around the world. It grows in Guatemala in the Huehuetenango region. By the way, coffee has been grown in Guatemala since the beginning of the 18th century, so they know a lot about this matter.

Coffee St. Helena

Price: $79 for 450 grams

Saint Helena Island, where the coffee of the same name grows, is a small tropical mountainous landmass with an area of ​​about 47 square meters. It is located in the south Atlantic Ocean and became popular thanks to the lifelong exile of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Coffee beans began to be grown here in 1733.

History of coffee

Hacienda La Esmeralda

Price: $104 for 450 grams

This Arabica grows in the shade of old Guava trees and is grown in Boquete on the slopes of Mount Baru in Western Panama. Coffee boasts of supplying hand-picked fruits that are only fully ripe, that is, red.

How to make delicious coffee?

Luwa Coffee

Price: $160 for 450 grams

The most expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwak Coffee is rare and only for non-poor drink connoisseurs. Arabica is grown on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. And coffee got its name thanks to the mammals “Luwaks”. These small animals live in trees and feed on red ripe coffee fruits.

The most expensive type of coffee

As you know, true gourmets are ready to pay for their favorite dish, sometimes unthinkable by the standards of other people. This also applies to ardent coffee lovers, because the cost of some varieties of this drink can be tens of times higher than the price of regular store-bought ones. The most expensive coffee - what is it and where is it produced? What is the minimum cost of exclusive Arabica?

The most expensive coffee in the world – Hacienda La Esmeralda (Panama)

Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee is revered by coffee gourmets as one of the best coffees in the world. This variety is considered elite; it is grown and processed in the mountainous region of Baru, located in Western Panama.

In this region, the soil is flavored with volcanic ash and is well suited for growing coffee trees. The coffee produced on a Panamanian farm is considered environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic.

The farm itself was purchased in 1967, along with a large area of ​​land, by a Swedish entrepreneur. For a long time, only wild coffee trees grew on the land he bought, and only 20 years later the family of an entrepreneur named Peters decided to grow new plants. It is here that very rare organic coffee with an original taste grows to this day, bearing the name of the same name as the farm, Hacienda La Esmeralda.

It’s not for nothing that Hacienda La Esmeralda is considered one of the most expensive coffees in the world. The cost of one pound (approximately 0.5 kg) of this product is constantly increasing. In 2004, coffee was sold at auction for $35/lb, and in 2013 it was $350/lb. At the moment, the cost of a package of this coffee (almost 3,500 rubles) exceeds the cost of a regular drink by about 6 times.

Coffee Black Tusk or Black Ivory

Another variety of one of the most expensive coffee varieties in the world is called Black Ivoty (black tusk). This type of coffee is produced in an unusual way. Harvested highland Arabica beans are fed to an elephant, after which the grains pass through its digestive tract. The stomach acid of the massive animal eats away the protein in the coffee, which is the main cause of the bitterness of the drink. As a result, the taste of coffee from the litter is mild even when brewed strongly.

The high cost of the product is due to the limited volume of its annual production, because to obtain 1 kg of coffee it is necessary to feed 33 kg of beans to an elephant. The production of this unusual coffee is established in Thailand.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is recognized as one of the highest growing coffee varieties, as it is harvested at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level.

Not all Arabica beans in Jamaica have Blue Mountain status. This is the name given to only those grains that were grown in the eastern regions of the sunny island.

The high altitude location of the plantation allows the coffee beans to bask in the sun for a long time, slowly ripening. Absolutely all Jamaican coffee is harvested by hand and processed wet.

Blue Mountain coffee is grown on small, high-altitude plots, resulting in only a limited amount of beans being harvested for export.

This type of coffee is supplied in 70 kg barrels. The Coffee Association issues a special certificate guaranteeing the quality of the product. This measure helps to minimize the possibility of counterfeiting the original product. Most of the collected coffee is exported to Japan, a small part goes to England and France.

The price of coffee is about $50 for 50 grams.

Drink from Saint Helena

Saint Helena Island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean. Its fame is due to the historical fact: it was here that Napoleon Bonaparte, removed from the throne, was taken. The former ruler was very fond of high-quality coffee, so before exile he announced that the only advantage of the place of his exile was the coffee growing there.

Without exaggeration, this product can be called the most expensive and rare type of coffee in the world. Its average cost is approximately 5,000 rubles per 100 g of grains.

And all because of the small amount of grain harvested and the complexity of communications with the distant island. The unusual taste of local coffee is due to the maritime climate and volcanic soil composition.

Coffee is an aromatic, invigorating drink with a unique chocolate taste, loved by millions. He came to us from Ethiopia, where he acquired his fans 1000 years ago.

In 1511, the Ottoman Empire declared coffee a “sacred drink.” The brilliant German composer John Sebastian Bach wrote the “Coffee Cantata”, Catherine the Great was a fan of the “black drink”. It was she who first began to use the “coffee scrub,” mixing coffee grounds with soap and cleansing the face and body with the resulting mixture.

Once upon a time, coffee beans were a scarce commodity and were worth their weight in gold. Since the mid-18th century, Europeans have established coffee plantations in many tropical countries - Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India.

And today, real coffee is not a cheap product. For example, the Arabian coffee tree or Arabica bears fruit from which the most expensive varieties of coffee in the world are obtained - from 250 to 500 dollars per kg. Various technologies are used in their production, but the main point is that all actions are performed manually - removing coffee beans from trees, sorting, roasting, packaging. If machines are involved in the process, then the type of coffee immediately drops in price.

But there are several varieties of coffee, the production of which uses exclusive, completely unique technologies, and their price skyrockets. So, what is the most expensive coffee in the world and how is it produced?

"Kopi Luwak"

To purchase 1 kg of this type of coffee, you will have to pay up to $1,500! This drink is rightfully called the most expensive in the world. This is because the technology for its production is unique.

Small musang animals, which inhabit all of South and Southeast Asia, eat ripe fruits of coffee trees. The grains are not completely digested and are excreted along with animal excrement. People collect musang dung, select undigested coffee beans from it, wash them thoroughly, dry them in the sun, then grind them and sell them for $50 per cup of the finished drink.

It has an extremely soft and pleasant taste, without the usual bitterness of coffee. This is because musangs digest the pulp surrounding the beans, while their gastric juice breaks down some of the proteins that give regular coffee its bitterness. The fermentation process involves civet, a special substance that musangs use to mark their territory. It gives the grains a pleasant musky smell. This is how, with the help of a natural laboratory - the digestive tract of small animals - they get the most expensive coffee on Earth.

It is interesting that if earlier the Kopi Luwak variety was a piece product, now last years in Indonesia, South India and the Philippines its production has been launched. How? Very simple. In these countries, fur farms have been built where musangs are kept. They are fed coffee beans, and then the whole process is repeated. Thus, several hundred kg of coffee of this type began to be produced per year. Of course, this immediately affected the price of the goods, which dropped to $350-400 per kg. Still a lot!

But still, true gourmets prefer to buy Kopi Luwak, produced under natural conditions. The fact is that on fur farms musangs cannot independently choose which grains to eat; they are forced to eat what they are fed. Also, in captivity, animals cannot run or jump, while in freedom they move a lot and instinctively choose the best, ripe coffee beans. All these factors influence the final taste and aroma of the drink.

"Black ivory"

Another variety that claims to be the “Most Expensive Coffee in the World.” And again, animals are involved in its production, but this time – elephants. Its price reaches $1850 per kg!

The technology for producing “Black Tusk” is very painstaking: first, the elephants are fed several tens of kg of Arabica beans mixed with other elephant food - bananas, fruits, grass. For more than a day, the elephant digests everything it eats, while the coffee beans are only partially digested: stomach acid destroys a special protein that is responsible for the bitterness of coffee. The grains undergo a natural fermentation process in the elephant's digestive tract, developing an earthy and fruity aroma.

After this, they leave the body along with feces. Workers collect elephant dung and carefully sort through it with their hands, finding Arabica beans, which they then wash, dry and grind. An excellent drink is brewed from this coffee, which has a delicate taste without bitterness and a light fruity aroma.

“Black ivory” is produced only in Thailand, and you can try it only in 4 hotels in the Maldives and at the Anantara Golden Triangle resort, which is located on the border of 3 countries - Laos, Myanmar and Thailand ( hence the name).

Why is the price of Black Tusk so high? Firstly, due to the special production technology, due to the fact that all actions are performed manually. In addition, in order to get 1 kg of elite coffee beans, the elephant is fed as much as 35 kg! It is clear that the elephant chews some of the grains, some is lost in the grass, and some are damaged too much during digestion. In total, strictly 50 kg of this elite variety goes on sale per year.

It is interesting that a significant part of the funds raised from the sale of “Black Ivory” goes to charitable purposes - treating elephants and helping the families of mahouts.

"Terra Nera"

The cost of this elite type of coffee is simply off the charts - more than $20,000 per 1 kg! “Terra Nera” is the most expensive coffee in the world; so far you can’t find more expensive than this brand on the shelves. And again, the main participants in its production are small animals called palm civets, by the way, they are relatives of the musangs, which are used to obtain the Kopi Luwak coffee variety.

Terra Nera is produced only in one point on the globe - in the southeastern part of the Peruvian Andes, in the homeland of the Quechua Indian tribe. Here, ripe Uchunari Arabica cherries are fed to palm civets. The animals partially digest coffee beans, depriving them of bitterness during natural fermentation and giving them a special taste. These grains are then excreted along with animal excrement. They are carefully sorted, washed, dried, and then ground. Brewed Terra Nera coffee has a very rich aroma of cocoa and hazelnuts and an excellent taste, which gourmet tasters highly appreciate.

This elite variety is produced in limited quantities - only 45 kg per year. You can buy it only in one single store - Harrods in London. It is sold in 500 grams in a luxurious bag made of silver paper, which perfectly preserves the aroma of coffee. The packaging is sealed with a special valve and tied with a cord with a gold tag. The tag is engraved with the manufacturer's initials, as well as the degree of roasting of the coffee beans (can be from zero to sixth degree). At the buyer's request, his name can be engraved on the tag (this service is included in the price of the product).

What other expensive types of coffee are there?

Other types of coffee are produced in the usual way, that is, without the participation of animals. Therefore, their cost is significantly lower than the 3 varieties of the most expensive coffee in the world listed above.

Esmeralda (original name – Hacienda La Esmeralda) ranks first in price and quality among traditionally produced coffee varieties. It is produced on a farm in Panama (South America), on the slope of Mount Baru, according to a secret recipe. The work is carried out partly manually (collecting, sorting grains), and partly mechanically (drying). The result is an elite variety that combines chocolate, fruit and spicy notes. Hacienda La Esmeralda has been repeatedly recognized as the most exquisite drink in the world, receiving various prizes at International competitions. Its price is up to $400 per 1 kg.

"Saint Helena" or St. Helena Coffee is another elite variety of coffee, which is produced on the volcanic island of the same name in the Atlantic Ocean. Its cost reaches $200 per 1 kg. Recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly products in the world.

"El Injerto" - it has been produced in Guatemala (Central America) since the 18th century. The small town of Coban is home to one of the world's most famous coffee plantations. The local climate contributes to the cultivation of very high quality coffee beans, which, combined with a special production technology, makes it possible to obtain a unique variety of coffee worth $150 per 1 kg.

In Brazil, the Fazenda Santa Ines coffee variety is grown, 1 kg of which costs at least $100.

Blue Mountain, which is produced in Jamaica, costs about the same. Almost 85% of this variety is exported to Japan, where it is the most popular drink.

You can name varieties such as Los Planes (El Salvador, Central America) and Kona Coffee (Hawaiian Islands). Their price is around $80 per kg.

The “cheapest” on our list are Starbucks Rwanda Blue Bourbon (Republic of Rwanda in East Africa) and Yauco Selecto AA Coffee (Puerto Rico island in the Caribbean) at a price of only $50 per 1 kg.