One of the rarest and most costly coffees in the world is lwak coffee, commonly referred to as civet coffee. It is manufactured from coffee beans that are consumed by civet cats, who then defecate the partially digested beans that are then gathered and used to make the coffee. Others have expressed worries about the ethical ramifications of manufacturing luwak coffee, however some regard it as a delicacy.
Animal abuse is one of the main complaints against luwak coffee. Because they are maintained in captivity and force-fed coffee berries to generate more beans, civet cats frequently live in crowded, unhygienic conditions. In order to get the coffee beans out of the cats’ waste, they are frequently physically abused as well. The argument that it is unethical and unnecessary to put animals to such abuse in order to produce a luxury good has led to demands for a boycott of luwak coffee.
But not all luwak coffee is made in this manner. Coffee beans are sometimes harvested by wild civet cats and then sold at a premium price by some companies. This approach is thought to be more morally superior because it doesn’t entail torturing captive animals. It is still debatable, though, as some contend that it is wrong to even gather wild animals’ excrement for sale.
The price of luwak coffee is another drawback. Luwak coffee can cost hundreds of dollars per pound because of the time-consuming work involved in gathering the beans and the constrained supply. This has raised worries that the high price, as producers try to maximize profits by keeping the civet cats in subpar conditions, is promoting animal abuse.
Contrarily, Sumatra coffee is produced using a quick but laborious procedure. After being gathered, the coffee beans are cleaned and sun-dried. After that, they are roasting to provide the particular flavor profile that is characteristic of Sumatra coffee. This technique is a more ethical and environmentally friendly choice for coffee drinkers because it doesn’t use any animal ingredients or cause any animal cruelty.
Black ivory coffee is yet another high-end beverage that has gained popularity recently. Elephants consume coffee beans to make it, then thereafter they defecate the partially digested beans, which are then gathered and used to make coffee. Black ivory coffee has received criticism for its potential to damage elephants even though it is sold as a luxury good. According to some experts, feeding coffee berries to elephants could mess with their digestive processes and result in long-term health issues.
In summary, luwak coffee is a contentious commodity that has sparked questions about animal exploitation and cruelty. Despite the fact that some producers collect the coffee beans using moral practices, the high price and scarcity of luwak coffee have occasionally resulted in abuse of civet cats. Coffee drinkers may want to think about Sumatra coffee or other non-animal-based coffee products as a more moral and environmentally friendly substitute.