Kopi Luwak Coffee in Bali

You may have seen Luwak Coffee being sold or even tried it, but let me tell you about this exclusive and unique coffee that has intrigued the world since its introduction.

The funny part about this coffee is that the coffee berries are
eaten by the local Asian civet cat and passed through the digestive
system before coming out as droppings and then processed to be this high-grade coffee.

Does that sound disgusting? Yes and no. I went on a coffee hunt around Southeast Asia, trying some of the region’s best coffee from Borneo, Malaysia, Laos, and Vietnam. Finally, I had my chance to try this exquisite coffee during my Bali trip in June 2011. 

So, during my
Bali trip, every other local person I met would ask where I could get some Kopi Luwak (pronounced as Co-Pee Loo-Wark), and most of the time, the answer would be ‘everywhere’ from souvenir shops to cafes and even to coffee farms.
So, my quest began. 

After many conversations with taxi drivers, tour guides and even hotel
concierges, I visited a small drink stall serving locals
near the Uluwatu Temple in Bali.

A reasonably large sign showed that they
sold Coffee Luwak and various other coffees and teas; I did not
hesitate and ordered a cup of this.

Was I excited? I was ecstatic! It was the highlight of my coffee quest, and when the cup came,
I could smell the pungent aroma.

My personal guide laughed at me as he had never seen someone so thrilled to see a cup of coffee. Before drinking this, I had to take a photo, and then the intense magical moment
came. 

I
could not pass immediate judgment; therefore, I slowly sipped it to flavour the roast and after-sensation. It was good—so good that I finished the cup in mere minutes. I looked into the bottom of the cup and was surprised that it showed coffee residue.

Was the water not to boiling temperature? It could have been, according to my guide, and therefore, he
took it to the shop lady to have half a cup of boiling hot water added, and I had my fill of one and a half cups of this fantastic coffee.

Kopi
Luwak cost around 50,000 Rupiahs or US $5.60 a cup, which was well worth it. The stall even sold sachets of this at the same price, where each pack would make you one cup of coffee.

Expensive? Some may
think so, but if you genuinely enjoy exotic coffee, you would easily fork out
that money for the experience, which could be a rare opportunity.

A pound of Luwak coffee can cost anywhere from US$100 to $600. However, if you can afford it, it makes a great souvenir for friends and family.

Many places around Bali and throughout Indonesia sell Luwak Coffee. You have to ask about this,  and your best bet is to talk to the locals or your reliable tour guide.

While most souvenir shops and supermarkets sell them, you should be careful as many Luwak are just knock-offs and not the real thing. The Bali airport also sells them, and these are genuine.

One of the best options is to go on a Kopi Luwak Farm Tour, where they bring you to see how the entire process is done. Some travel agents sell these unique coffee tours here.

You get to experience seeing the civet cats, going through the beans’ cleaning process, and then tasting the finished product. I should have gone for this, but time did not permit it, so on my next trip to Bali, a farm visit is at the top of my itinerary.

When you travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, and look for authentic places to sell Weasel Coffee in Hanoi, you should take advantage of the Weasel Coffee.

Over on the island of Borneo, the most unique Bottled Coffee in Sabah is a must-try for any coffee lover. These black coffees are put into bottles and refrigerated before being served. Totally mind-blowing for any coffee lover.

In Malaysia, many local brewers in smaller towns produce quality cups of coffee, like the famous Ipoh White Coffee in the state of Perak and, of course, the famous Tenom Coffee in Sabah Borneo.

Tenom Coffee from Sabah Borneo.

These outstanding local brews make my coffee hunt ever so enjoyable, and there are only a few more that I look forward to trying on my future travels.

They include the Kopi Muncak, made from the barking deer’s dung, and the famous Kape (Barako Coffee) from the Philippines. I would love to hear your opinion on whether you have tried the above.

Travelling around Southeast Asia allowed me to
try each of the country’s local brews, and one of the best I have tried to date is the
Kopi Luwak Coffee in Bali, Indonesia.