Kopi luwak or civet coffee, is a traditional Balinese coffee that includes partially digested coffee cherries, eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet.
When the cats (civets) eat the coffee berries, fermentation of the coffee beans occurs in the cat’s intestine. During this digestion process, the cat’s proteolytic enzymes seep into the coffee beans, thus creating shorten peptide as well as an abundance of amino acids. This is what gives this coffee its unique flavor and aroma. So during this entire digestive process, the beans are transformed into the Kopi Luwak which many coffee drinkers have grown to adore. This process is known to reduce the bitterness of the coffee.
Although kopi luwak is a form of processing rather than a variety of coffee, it has been named one of the most expensive coffees in the world, with retail prices reaching €550 / US$700 per kilogram.