Kopi Luwak Coffee in Bali

Luwak Coffee

What is kopi luwak? It is one of the world's most expensive coffee found only in Indonesia. And if you are a serious coffee lover, this is something that you must try when you visit this part of the world.

You may have seen Luwak Coffee being sold or even tried it, but let me just point out here about this exclusive and unique coffee that has had the world curious since its introduction.

What is Luwak Coffee?

The funny part about this coffee is that the coffee berries are eaten by the local Asian civet cat and passed through the digestive system before coming out as droppings and then processed to be this high-grade coffee.

Sounds disgusting? Yes and no - I went on a coffee hunt around Southeast Asia, trying out some of the region's best coffee from Borneo, Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam. Finally, I had my chance to try this exquisite coffee during my Bali trip in June 2011. 

After hearing mixed reviews of this exclusive and unique coffee from friends and travellers, it was finally up to me to judge this exceptional Indonesian coffee.

So during my Bali trip, every other local person I met, I would ask them where I could get some Kopi Luwak (pronounced as Co-Pee Loo-Wark), and most of the time, the answer would be 'everywhere'. From souvenir shops to cafes and even to coffee farms. So my quest began. 
 Jual Kopi Luwak
Luwak Coffee is sold in packets.

My Kopi Luwak Journey

After many conversations with taxi drivers, tour guides and even hotel concierges, I visited a small drink stall serving locals near the Uluwatu Temple in Bali.

A reasonably large sign showed that they sold Coffee Luwak and various other coffees and teas; I did not hesitate and ordered a cup of this.

Was I excited? I was ecstatic! It was the highlight of my coffee quest, and when the cup came, I could smell the pungent aroma.

My personal guide was laughing at me as he had never seen someone so thrilled to see a cup of coffee. Before drinking this, I had to take a photo, and then the intense magical moment came. 

The minute the coffee touched my lips, I felt something surreal that only I could experience after trying the many types of coffee from around the region. It was solid yet aromatic in its own way.

I could not pass immediate judgement; therefore, I slowly sipped it to flavour the roast and after-sensation. It was good. So good I finished the cup in mere minutes. I looked into the bottom of the cup and was surprised that it showed coffee residue.

Was the water not to boiling temperature? It could have been, according to my guide, and therefore he took it to the shop lady to have half a cup of boiling hot water added, and I had my fill of one and a half cups of this fantastic coffee.

Info on Luwak Coffee

How Much Is Luwak Coffee? 

Kopi Luwak cost around 50,000 Rupiahs or US$5.60 a cup, and I thought it was well worth it. The stall even sold sachets of this at the same price, where each pack would make you one cup of coffee.

Expensive? Some may think so, but if you genuinely enjoy exotic coffee, you would easily fork out that money for the experience, which could be a rare opportunity.

Buying a pound of Luwak coffee could cost anywhere from US$100 to $600. They make great souvenirs for friends and family, only if you can afford this.

Luwak Coffee in Bali
Coffee shop selling Kopi Luwak.

Where to find Kopi Luwak in Bali

Many places around Bali and throughout Indonesia sell Luwak Coffee. You have to ask about this,  and your best bet is to talk to the locals or your reliable tour guide.

While most souvenir shops and supermarkets sell them, you should be careful as there are many Luwak which are just knock-offs and not the real thing. The Bali airport also sells them, and these are genuine.

One of the best options is to go on a Kopi Luwak Farm Tour, where they bring you to see how the entire process is done. Some travel agents sell these unique coffee tours here.

You get to experience seeing the civet cats, right to the cleaning process of the beans and then tasting the finished product. I should have gone for this, but time did not permit, so on my next trip to Bali, a farm visit is on top of my itinerary.

Kopi Luwak Bali
Remains of the thick coffee Luwak.

Other Popular Coffee from Southeast Asia

Among my favourite coffees from Southeast Asia during my travels are the Lao Coffee, one of the strongest and most found all over Laos.

The Weasel Coffee in Hanoi, Vietnam, is not to be missed when you travel here and look for authentic places to sell them.

Over on the island of Borneo, the most unique Bottled Coffee in Sabah is definitely a must-try for any coffee lover. These black coffee are put into bottles and refrigerated before being served. Totally mind-blowing for any coffee lover.

In Malaysia, many local brewers in smaller towns produce quality cups of coffee, like the famous Ipoh White Coffee in the state of Perak and, of course, the famous Tenom Coffee in Sabah Borneo.

Sabah Tenom Coffee
Tenom Coffee from Sabah Borneo.

These outstanding local brews make my coffee hunt ever so enjoyable, and there are only a few more that I look forward to trying on my future travels.

They include the Kopi Muncak, made from the barking deer's dung, and the famous Kape (Barako Coffee) from the Philippines. If you have tried any of the above, I would love to hear your opinion.

Conclusion

I have always found local coffee much more interesting than trendy cafe-style coffee like Starbucks and Coffee Bean; I would explore the many coffee shops around here, especially those that roast their own beans for business.

Travelling around Southeast Asia allowed me to try each of the country's local brews, and one of the best I have tried to date is the Kopi Luwak Coffee in Bali, Indonesia.

Malaysia Asia

Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school. Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards). After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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