by Agafya Chase

Created on: May 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 16, 2007

There's no word that can exactly sum up all the specialties in Kopi Luwak. For this very special kind of coffee is far beyond special. Kopi Luwak not only offersa sensational coffee taste and smell but also a long journey of coffee beans until it finally served right in front of you.

Kopi Luwak is a unique-rare coffee can only be found in several islands of Indonesian archipelago. As you smell Kopi Luwak, you can immediately get a "de-javu" of the beauty of half-paradise Indonesian rainforest. It is the taste of Indonesia in a seep of coffee.

How come? Kopi Luwak can only be found in Indonesian Archipelago and it is the result of the rich of the nature owned by the area. Kopi Luwak is collected from the secretion of "Luwak". A cat-like nocturnal animal named "Paradoxurus hermaphroditus" or "Asian Palm Chivet". This animal really likes to eat the cherry-like (very ripe) coffee beans and the collector of Kopi Luwak collecting the beans excreted from the Luwak. The parchment cover still protecting the coffee beans then, but the enzymes of the animal's stomach have somehow add uniqueness to the coffee flavor through fermentation.

"Luwak" is endemic animals you can only found in several places in Indonesian Archipelago, mostly in Sumatera. Recently, Kopi Luwak gets more expensive as there are less Luwak in Indonesian Forest...Well You cannot tell Indonesia recently has a large area of natural forest either..

As I've done a net survey on the price of Kopi Luwak, it is at the range of $300 up to $600 per pound. But the taste of the coffee worth the price. Kopi Luwak made a thick black coffee, almost syrup-like coffee with additional tase of chocolate and caramel in it. With a single seep, a sweetness of coffee cherries would linger in your mouth. And, I swear you one thing -not because I'm a coffee craze and Indonesian in nature-you'll love Kopi Luwak even before you taste it!

Kopi Luwak is damn good! And even a non-coffee lover would take a seep once the smell of a cup of Kopi Luwak pass through their nose. Try, or you'd regret living on earth without having a chance to seep a piece of heaven here on earth!

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