What Is Black Ivory Coffee and How Is It Made

You’ve probably heard of civet coffee — also called Kopi Luwak — the famously (and controversially) produced coffee bean eaten and excreted by Asian palm civets. But have you heard of the rarer, more expensive cousin that comes from elephants? If you’re curious about how coffee beans can come out the other end of an animal and still taste good, and why anyone would pay a fortune for it, you’re not alone. This is the story of Black Ivory Coffee.

Black Ivory Coffee is made from Arabica beans that have been eaten, digested, and excreted by elephants in northern Thailand. It’s produced by the Black Ivory Coffee company, founded in 2012, and is considered the world’s most expensive coffee, having beaten Kopi Luwak in price by 2013. Only a limited quantity is made, and it’s sold mainly in five-star hotels.

What Is Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee is a unique specialty coffee made from Thai Arabica beans that have passed through the digestive system of elephants. The beans are eaten by elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in Thailand’s Golden Triangle region, then collected from their dung, cleaned, roasted, and brewed. The result is a coffee that is said to have almost no bitterness and a smooth, complex profile.

Where Does It Come From?

The coffee beans used for Black Ivory Coffee are high-quality Thai Arabica beans grown at elevations of around 1,500 metres. The elephants that consume these beans are cared for at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, located in Thailand’s northern region near the borders of Laos and Myanmar. The GTAEF is an elephant conservation project established by the Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas group with support from government bodies, corporations, and individual donors.

How Did Black Ivory Coffee Start?

Black Ivory Coffee was created by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin, who founded the company in March 2012. Dinkin spent nearly a decade researching and developing the concept, conducting experiments around the world and consulting food scientist Massimo Marcone from the University of Guelph in Canada — the same scientist who studied the unique qualities of Kopi Luwak. His goal was to create a coffee that could rival or even surpass Kopi Luwak in quality. After ten years of work, Black Ivory Coffee was launched in October 2012.

Why Does It Taste Different?

The unique processing method is what gives Black Ivory Coffee its distinctive flavour. When the coffee cherries are eaten by elephants, natural enzymes in the elephant’s digestive system break down some of the proteins in the coffee beans. Since protein is one of the main sources of bitterness in coffee, this digestion process results in a cup that is remarkably smooth, with very little of the bitterness found in regular coffee. The beans are also altered in texture and flavour during fermentation in the elephant’s gut.

How Rare and Expensive Is It?

Black Ivory Coffee is extremely rare. Only a small number of beans can be collected from what the elephants eat, and the entire process — from feeding to collection, cleaning, roasting, and brewing — is labour-intensive and time-consuming. Because of the limited supply and the unique production method, Black Ivory Coffee is sold at a premium price and is available only in a few luxury locations. In 2013, it became the most expensive coffee in the world, surpassing Indonesia’s Kopi Luwak.

Where Can You Try It?

Due to its scarcity and cost, Black Ivory Coffee is not available for retail purchase like most other specialty coffees. Instead, it is sold exclusively to a select number of five-star hotels, mostly in Thailand, the Maldives, and a few other luxury destinations. Guests at certain Anantara properties were among the first to try the coffee when it launched in 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals are used to make Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by Asian elephants in northern Thailand. These elephants are part of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, a conservation and care facility.

How is Black Ivory Coffee different from Kopi Luwak?

Both are forms of “animal-processed” coffee, but Black Ivory Coffee uses elephants while Kopi Luwak uses Asian palm civets. The digestion process in elephants breaks down more protein in the beans, resulting in even less bitterness. Black Ivory Coffee also tends to be rarer and was ranked as more expensive than Kopi Luwak by 2013.

Who founded Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee was founded in March 2012 by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin. He spent nearly a decade developing the product, including research trips and collaboration with food scientist Massimo Marcone from the University of Guelph.

Why does elephant digestion remove bitterness from coffee?

When elephants digest the coffee cherries, enzymes in their stomach break down proteins in the beans. Since proteins are a major contributor to coffee’s bitterness, their breakdown leads to a smoother, less bitter cup of coffee with a unique flavour profile.

Where is Black Ivory Coffee produced?

Black Ivory Coffee is produced in the Golden Triangle region of northern Thailand. The coffee beans are grown at around 1,500 metres elevation, and the elephants that process them are cared for at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation.

Is Black Ivory Coffee available for everyone to buy?

No, Black Ivory Coffee is not widely available for retail purchase. Due to its limited production and high price, it is sold only in select five-star hotels, primarily in Thailand and the Maldives.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Comparing Asian Origins

While Black Ivory Coffee is entirely unique, fans of rare Asian coffees may also enjoy FrontStreet Coffee’s 2013 Yunnan Arabica, a medium-roast, naturally processed bean with balanced chocolate, nut, and black tea notes. For contrast, their Lintong Mandheling offers herbal depth with a bold, low-acid profile typical of Indonesian coffees. Both beans showcase the diversity of Asia’s specialty coffee offerings. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.