Sipping Outside My Comfort Zone: My Kopi Luwak Coffee Experience in Indonesia

If you know me, you know that A) I’m a foodie and B) I really *must* try everything, at least once. So when presented with Kopi luwak, a coffee made special because it’s first digested by a civet cat (“Luwak”).. well, first I checked into the ethics of it (are the cats harmed, are they living horrible lives?), once that was cleared.. I had to try it. (Note: I tried this on a small family farm. I’m told the commercial stuff is not ethical.. so be careful!)

So the process:

The coffee is grown locally, in Indonesia, eaten by Civets, digested, then on the other side 🥲 .The droppings are collected, cleaned, de-pulped, fermented, cleaned *again*, dried, hulled, sorted (according to grade), then finally roasted and brewed. 😋

Why is it special? Well, the beans undergo fermentation in the civet’s digestive system, which is believed to enhance their flavor profile.

Enzymatic action during digestion is said to break down proteins in the beans, reducing their bitterness and producing a smoother cup of coffee.

The result.. unfortunately it tasted like very gimmicky coffee 😂 But… YOLO. Plus, I’m doubtful they were serving (vs exporting) their best quality beans in house. The experience itself was really cool, and for that, I’d do it again. Perhaps not worth a trip to Indonesia just for this coffee, but this place.. it was serene 👸. And they had some really interesting variations on coffee. 😚👌

So here’s to more cups of coffee in unfamiliar places, to the exceptional cultures that welcome us, and to the ever-expanding comfort zones that make us better travelers and open minded human beings.

If you ever find yourself in Bali or Lombok, I dare you to try this! You just might find that what once seemed out of your comfort zone becomes a new comfort in itself. Or something you’ve at least tried once, can tell the story about, and then never try again 😅.

What’s the most mind opening experience you’ve had abroad? ☕️🐱