Cleaned Beans

One of the most expensive coffees in the world, and it has a very interesting process that it goes through--and it may totally gross you out.

Civets (they look like a cross between a cat and a ferret) eat coffee beans in the wild, then digest the fruit that surrounds the beans. The beans are then expelled through their feces--yes, these are the first cleaning of the beans.

My friend and I went to a coffee plantation where these civets are in the wild and perform this task so we can all have a taste (along with teas and other coffees). The big deal is one cup in Bali is 50,000 Indonesian Rupiah ($5--sells for much more outside of Bali) but that is quite expensive there regardless--Is it something I want to taste again? Nope, but I can at least say I had a great cup of "Crappacino." Tastes like a strong French Roast.

[Hazel]

You make instant coffee in a jar sound almost attractive!!!

[katy]

LOL! It doesn't sound very appetizing but in this picture they look absolutely clean!

[Taffy]

This is an amazing series -- I'm glad to see them posted in a row (and usually don't like it when that happens -- but they would not have the same power without the sense of narrative that comes from these in sequence.