This Coffee Costs More Than Kopi Luwak

Ever found yourself in a debate over the world’s most expensive coffee? If your go-to answer is still Blue Mountain or even kopi luwak, it’s time to rethink. There’s another coffee—rare, strange, and far pricier—that most coffee lovers have never heard of.

The priciest coffee in the world isn’t Blue Mountain or kopi luwak—it’s a bizarre variant called 'kobi Luwak' or 'cat vomit coffee.' Produced in tiny quantities (just 10 kg annually), it costs around $1,200 per kilogram, roughly $200 more per kg than standard kopi luwak.

What Is 'Cat Vomit Coffee'?

Despite the crude nickname, 'cat vomit coffee' refers to a real, albeit extremely rare, coffee bean. It comes from the civet cat (commonly involved in kopi luwak production) but with a twist: the beans are eaten, then vomited back up by the animal. This is not the usual kopi luwak process, where beans are excreted normally. Instead, these beans are partially digested and then regurgitated.

There’s no official trade name for this vomit-derived coffee, and very little has been published about it. But what is clear is that it’s even harder to find than conventional kopi luwak.

Why Is It So Expensive?

With an annual production of just 10 kilograms, scarcity drives the price. At approximately $1,200 per kg, it sits well above the typical kopi luwak price range. That extra $200 per kg reflects not only the limited supply but also the unusual production method. The beans are said to be cleaner in their husks compared to regular kopi luwak, with similar raw bean coloration. However, the taste profile remains unverified—no confirmed public reviews exist yet.

How It’s Different from Kopi Luwak

Visually, kobi Luwak beans are nearly indistinguishable from regular kopi luwak. The bean shells are very clean, and the raw color is similar. The critical difference lies in the digestion process. While kopi luwak beans pass through the civet’s intestines and are excreted, kobi Luwak beans are vomited after partial digestion. This unique process is what makes the coffee so scarce—and so much more costly per kilogram.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'cat vomit coffee'?

'Cat vomit coffee,' also called kobi Luwak, is a rare coffee bean that civet cats eat and then vomit back up. It’s not the same as regular kopi luwak, which involves beans excreted naturally. This vomit-based process is what gives the coffee its unusual name and extreme rarity.

How much does cat vomit coffee cost?

Cat vomit coffee costs around $1,200 per kilogram, which is approximately $200 more expensive per kg than standard kopi luwak. Its extreme price is due to the scarcity and unusual production method.

How many kilograms of cat vomit coffee are produced each year?

Only about 10 kilograms of cat vomit coffee are produced annually, making it one of the rarest coffees in the world. This limited supply contributes significantly to its high price.

What does cat vomit coffee taste like?

There are no confirmed public tasting notes for cat vomit coffee. The author of the original article has not tried it, so the flavor profile remains unknown. It is assumed to be different from regular kopi luwak due to the unique regurgitation process.

How is cat vomit coffee different from regular kopi luwak?

The main difference is in the digestion and excretion process. Regular kopi luwak beans are excreted through the civet’s digestive tract, while cat vomit coffee beans are vomited after being only partially digested. The beans also have cleaner husks and similar raw color, but the taste is unverified.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Kopi Luwak Fans

If you’re drawn to the exotic appeal of kopi luwak and its rarer variants, try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui for its complex fruitiness and wine-like acidity, or Yirgacheffe for vibrant citrus and floral layers. Both highlight the natural processing finesse that kopi luwak drinkers often seek. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.