THE DEFECATED coffee beans at $1,100 a kilo, defeat the Indonesian civet feces coffee (Kopi Luwak), to climb the throne of the world’s most expensive coffee beans!
Behind production of this world’s most expensive coffee, is a superior hotel in northern Thailand near the Golden Triangle with its own pachyderm (elephant) conservation centre, home to about 30 elephants.
The coffee comes from these 30 elephants.
Arabica coffee berries fed to the elephants, are subjected to slow digestion and running, in this process, an enzyme secreted by the elephant’s body will break down protein in the berries, and protein is the main source of bitterness caused by coffee.
The elephants excrete the beans to be picked by the keepers, dried and baked, in order for people to enjoy.
The hotel serves “black ivory blended” coffee, said to taste of coffee mixed with milk chocolate, nuts and fruit aroma.
For now, only the wealthy or well-travelled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee. It was launched in late 2012 at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of the world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving, says the Associated Press.