Demand for Kopi Luwak May Be Threatening Wildlife 112
Damien1972 writes "Popularization of the world's strangest coffee may be imperiling a a suite of small mammals in Indonesia, according to a new study in Small Carnivore Conservation. The coffee, known as kopi luwak (kopi for coffee and luwak for the civet), is made from whole coffee beans that have passed through the gut of the animal. The coffee is apparently noted for its distinct taste, though some have argued it is little more than novelty. Now, this burgeoning kopi luwak industry is creating 'civet farms,' whereby civets are captured from the wild and kept in cages to eat and crap out coffee beans."
It's time for "The Replicator" (Score:5, Interesting)
The minute people realize that the "chemicals" in kopi luwak are just that - chemicals - the sooner we could just synthesize these in the lab and allow people to have the shit-coffee and leave the civets to romp in their truffula trees.
History of this way of treating coffee beans (Score:5, Interesting)
All reports I have seen about blind taste tests suggest that the flavor is thin and inferior to other quality coffees.
Re:Not the same product. (Score:4, Interesting)