By:
• Cambodianess

• November 16, 2023 , 8:55 AM

PHNOM PENH –  Kopi luwak is one the most expensive coffees in the world and is brewed from beans excreted by civets. 

Visitors can get a chance to see civets at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium in Siem Reap province.

Soeng Reaksa, from the wildlife park, said kopi luwak costs  up to $1,300 per kilo for beans picked up in the wild and $100 for beans collected from zoos.

After gathering the excrement, collectors extract the beans, wash them thoroughly and dry them. After the thin outer peel is removed, they are ready for roasting and sale.

Reaksa said civets' digestive juices and stomach may be the source of the distinct flavor. The juices help to alter the composition of the amino acids in the beans, resulting in a more delicate aroma. 

Civets at the wildlife park are of a type found in Cambodia and are not used for coffee production.

Kopi luwak is mainly produced in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

However, to maximize production, captive civets endure terrible conditions. They are caught in the wild and kept in tiny cages with little room for movement.