Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who first picked up a cat poo and decided to drink it?
2. Arabica vs Robusta; what's the difference?
3. What is a Luwak?
4. What is Kopi Luwak/ Luwak Coffee?
5. Does Animalcoffee farm Luwaks for kopi luwak?
6. Where is Animalcoffee?
7. Why does Kopi Luwak taste different to other coffee?
8. Do Luwaks only eat coffee beans?
9. Do you ship to my country/ how long will it take, etc
10. How can we guarantee that you are receiving 100% genuine kopi luwak?
11. Does Animalcoffee sell cleaned green (unroasted) kopi luwak beans?

1. Who first picked up a cat poo and decided to drink it?

Coffee was introduced to Indonesia in the 17th century by the Dutch; luwaks were already there but were (obviously) eating other things. At some point the luwaks must have discovered coffee, decided they liked it, and it became a regular part of their diet. My guess is that someone who didn't have access to the valuable coffee beans harvested for the Dutch tried some "waste" beans that the Dutch had no use for.

2. Arabica vs Robusta, what's the difference?

Arabica and Robusta are botanically separate species; they grow in relatively different conditions and produce coffee that has different properties.
Rather than rehashing information from other sites please read some of the pages linked to below.
Note: most English sites share the view that Arabica is the superior tasting coffee however other countries such as Italy (home of espresso!), France and many Asian countries do not necessarily share this opinion.

1. Arabica vs Robusta
2. No Contest
3. What's the difference

Arabica coffee is much more in demand and is more difficult to obtain hence the difference in price on this site.

3. What is a Luwak?

Luwak, Lubak and Musang are all regional Indonesian names for the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxus hermaphroditus), a cat-like animal common to many south east Asian countries. There is an entire page devoted to the Luwak here Meet The Luwak.

4. What is Kopi Luwak/ Luwak Coffee?

Kopi Luwak is coffee made from coffee beans that have been eaten by a Luwak. Regular coffee cherries are hand picked and the flesh of the berry is removed by mechanical means. When a coffee cherry is eaten by a Luwak the flesh is removed through digestion in the stomach of the Luwak, and the beans are collected after they have passed out of the Luwak.

5. Does Animalcoffee farm Luwaks for kopi luwak?

We have never farmed luwaks and refuse to buy from sources that do; yes we check!
All Animalcoffee kopi luwak is collected in plantations and the surrounding jungle and is the droppings of wild luwaks.

6. Where is Animalcoffee?

Animalcoffee is an Indonesian company; all Animalcoffee orders are sent directly from one of our Indonesian offices.

7. Why does Kopi Luwak taste different to other coffees?

There are both technical and practical reasons for the taste of Kopi Luwak.
Luwak use their keen sense of smell to select the very best ripe coffee beans. A Luwak will visit a plantation and eat only a fraction of the available beans, leaving any that are inferior or not quite ready on the tree. This means that the beans are individually selected by an animal that is specially adapted for this purpose and is far superior to humans at doing this.
Laboratory tests have demonstrated that there is also a qualitative reason why kopi luwak beans taste different. As the beans pass through the digestive tract of the Luwak, the acids in the stomach of the Luwak permeate the bean and leach out some of the proteins in the bean responsible for its bitterness resulting in a sweeter coffee bean.

8. Do Luwaks only eat coffee beans?

Actually they'll eat whatever; fruit, chicken, eggs, fingers but when coffee is in season it becomes a major part of their diet.

9. Do you ship to my country?
How long will it take?
When will you send my order?
Where is my order?

The answers to all shipping related questions (and more) can be found on the SHIPPING PAGES of the site, please check out the links in the navigation bar on the top left of the site.

10. How can we guarantee that you are receiving 100% genuine kopi luwak?

Please read the GUARANTEE page of this site.

11. Does Animalcoffee sell cleaned green (unroasted) kopi luwak beans?

Yes, in the 'Coffee Pouches' section on the Product pages of the site each size pouch has the option to purchase either as roasted beans or as green beans. At this time we don't sell the boxes with green beans.
Coffee Pouches in all sizes are listed HERE.