List Of 9 Weirdest Sources Of Coffee Around The World: Animal Poop Coffee To Monkey Spit And More

Weirdest Sources Of Coffee Around The World: Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in the world, but do you know that the most unique and expensive coffees come from some unusual sources? Ranging from animal poop coffee to monkey spit, coffee drinkers seem to enjoy finding rare, exotic varieties that have special flavors. Some of the origin of flavours of these unique coffees or coffee with unusual flavours comes from natural fermentation inside the digestive system of animals such as elephants, civets, birds and even bats, while other sources obtain their flavour from the method used to process the coffee, such as wine-washed or honey-processed.

Nine Bizarre Coffee Sources Around The World

Some even come from lab-grown technology, with no traditional farms involved. Drinking coffee that passed through an animal (or that some animal spat out) may feel weird, but these coffees are sought for their smoothness, low acidity and varied flavours.

In this article, we explore nine of the weirdest coffee sources from around the world and explain how they’re made, what makes them special, and how much they cost.

1. Black Ivory Coffee (Elephant Dung Coffee)

Weirdest sources of coffee around the world (Image: Canva)

Produced in Thailand, this elephant coffee comes from Arabica cherries which have been consumed and then excreted by elephants. The beans are collected from the dung of elephants during the digestion process, the beans absorb a smooth, chocolatey flavour. Because of its production process and limited availability, Black Ivory Coffee is one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world at least at an estimated $1,500 pounds.

2. Kopi Luwak (Civet Poop Coffee)

Kopi Luwak is made from coffee cherries that have been consumed and then excreted by the Asian palm civet in Indonesia. The fermentation process that occurs while the beans are in the civet's digestive system diminishes the bitterness from the beans, resulting in a smooth, earthy flavour. Price ranges vary from $100 to over $1,000 per pound based on how the beans have been sourced, but beans sourced from the wild are more valuable than beans sourced from farms.

3. Jacu Bird Coffee

This Brazilian coffee is made from beans eaten and excreted by the Jacu bird. The digestive enzymes of the Jacu bird ferment the beans and improve the quality of the flavour profile. Because of this rarity and difficult processing, Jacu Bird Coffee can reach $1,700 per kilogram.

4. Monkey Spit Coffee

Bizarre Sources of coffee around the world (Image: Canva)

Primarily found in Taiwan and India, this coffee is derived from monkeys chewing ripe coffee cherries and spitting out the beans is called Monkey Spit. The Jackie Chan monkeys' saliva enzymes change the chemistry of the beans, making them sweet and with a complex flavour. Monkey Spit Coffee is rare for the sheer number of monkeys it would take to make a pound, and can get up to several hundred a pound or more.

5. Bat Spit Coffee (Bat Poop Coffee)

In Madagascar and Costa Rica, bats eat the cherry coffee fruit, leaving behind uneaten fruit. The coffee beans are taken, cleaned and then processed. The bats' saliva imparts a unique flavour, making this coffee smooth and fruity. This coffee is priced at $101 to $440/pound, depending on origin and rarity.

6. Volcanic Coffee

Grown in volcanic regions such as Hawaii and Indonesia, this coffee benefits from mineral-rich soil, which enhances its flavour profile. While not processed through animals, the unique terroir imparts a distinct taste. Prices vary, but high-quality volcanic coffees can be premium-priced.

7. Wine-Washed Fermented Coffee

This method involves fermenting coffee beans with wine yeast, imparting fruity and wine-like notes to the coffee. The main idea behind this processing method is to create complexity and acidity in the coffee bean. Prices can be anywhere from $50 to $100 per pound, depending on the producer and quality.

8. Honey-Processed Coffee

Strangest sources of coffee around the world (Image: Canva)

In this method, the mucilage (a sticky layer) of the coffee cherry is left on the bean during drying, imparting a sweet, honey-like flavour. Common in Central America, honey-processed coffees are known for their balanced sweetness and acidity. Prices typically range from $20 to $50 per pound.

9. Lab-Grown Coffee

An emerging innovation, lab-grown coffee is produced using cellular agriculture techniques, creating coffee without traditional farming. While still in experimental stages, this method aims to offer sustainable and consistent coffee production. As of now, lab-grown coffee is not widely available commercially, and pricing is yet to be established.

ALSO READ: Top 10 Most Expensive Coffees In The World: From Animal's Poop To Exotic Beans