Roaming Ana

World's most expensive coffee is also Bali's biggest lie: 👉 The truth behind Luwak coffee ☕ One of the most disappointing aspects of traveling is coming across all sorts of scams and tourist traps. Unfortunately, Luwak coffee has become one of them and there are 2 reasons behind it: 1. Its high price doesn't equate to great quality. 2. It doesn't come from animals in the wild. And they will insist on denying it at any coffee plantation you visit. 1. Its high price doesn't equate to great quality. The high cost of Kopi Luwak, which can reach up to $1,300 per kg, isn't due to its exceptional quality but rather its distinct production process. This coffee is derived from beans that have been partially digested by Indonesian palm civets, resulting in a unique flavor profile. The reason for its hefty price tag is the labor-intensive process involved in its production. Harvesting the beans requires meticulous effort and the farming methods are time-consuming, especially in the traditional manner of production. However, the perceived quality of Kopi Luwak is often regarded as a marketing tactic within the coffee industry. The Specialty Coffee Association of America boldly asserts a shared sentiment: "it just tastes bad.” In fact, many coffee experts have discovered that the value of Luwak coffee is more about its narrative power rather than its actual taste or quality superiority. While the civet's digestive process imparts a smoother quality to the coffee, it also eliminates the fine acids and flavors that define a cup of gourmet coffee. Over time, other premium coffees with even higher prices have emerged, also sourced from animal excrement, like Black Ivory Coffee from elephants in Thailand and Jacu Bird Coffee from a South American bird. 2. It doesn't come from animals in the wild The unfortunate reality of the forced production of kopi luwak coffee has been exposed on multiple occasions in recent years, yet nothing has changed. Most kopi luwak comes from caged wild luwaks, often in terrible conditions. And there's no certification plan to ensure that coffee labeled as "wild" is truly sourced from the wild. What's even more startling is that 10 years ago, Tony Wild, the coffee executive responsible for bringing kopi luwak to the Western world, raised concerns about its production: ''When I introduced civet coffee to the UK it was a quirky novelty. Now it's overpriced, industrialized, cruel – and frequently inauthentic. That's really hard to stomach.’’ ''Nowadays, it is practically impossible to find genuine wild kopi luwak – the only way to guarantee that would be to actually follow a luwak around all night yourself, one experienced coffee trader told me." (Excerpt from The Guardian) Contrary to expectations of reduction, the production of kopi luwak has actually expanded in recent years, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. In my case, I didn't know anything about what was behind it. I really enjoyed the visit to one of the coffee plantations in Bali and even bought some Luwak coffee. However, I did have a feeling that something was off. When I asked the people in charge to explain the production process – things like where the animals lived or why the Luwak on display kept moving around the platform and seemed like it was about to jump again and again – their response was to change the subject. But you really don't need to be all that smart to figure out that taking a nocturnal animal out in the daylight for tourists like me to snap a photo doesn't seem very ethical. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to talk to the owner of a cafe in the Nusa Dua area of Bali and he explained that he himself belonged to an association that aimed to help coffee producers explore other alternatives to Luwak coffee as a means of making a living. According to him, in the long run, there's no other option but to put an end to coffee production, as it's not sustainable. The best way to support local producers is to consume the wide range of teas and coffees they cultivate on those plantations. From coconut coffee to chocolate coffee, vanilla coffee, ginger tea or lemongrass tea, among others. I hope you found this information helpful. Now you're free to make your own decision. 📸El Diario Vasco 📸Bali Pulina 📸La Vanguardia 📸Fravel – at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain