Readers of your article “Kopi Luwak and Black Ivory Coffee: The Most Expensive Types of Coffee in the World” may be surprised to learn about the cruel way in which kopi luwak is obtained.
It’s made from the beans of coffee berries that have been eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet cat. Yes, this is why the beverage is also called “civet cat poop coffee.”
A PETA undercover investigation documented entrenched cruelty on every kopi luwak farm we visited. Nocturnal civet cats, who naturally fear humans, were confined to small wire cages with no dark place to sleep and were subjected to a constant barrage of unwanted human contact.
The cages were filthy and encrusted with faeces, rotting berries, and dirt, and the animals panted incessantly in the heat. Most of the civet cats exhibited signs of extreme psychological distress, including pacing and gnawing at their own legs and tails.
And don’t be duped: “wild-sourced” kopi luwak is a myth. Collecting enough wild civet cat excrement to produce the coffee is virtually impossible. PETA investigators asked workers about their “wild-sourced” claims. One coffee producer dismissed them as “just marketing”, and another referred to the unfeasibility of wandering around the jungle in search of civet cat faeces that may or may not contain coffee berries.
People who care about animals will continue to turn their backs on civet cat poop coffee and refrain from purchasing and consuming this “cruelty in a cup”.
Yours truly,
Jason Baker
Senior Vice President of International Campaigns
