Cat Poop Coffee Cake: Bacteria & Fake Kopi Luwak

In recent food safety tests, a black forest cake sold at a coffee shop claiming to sell kopi luwak was found with E. coli levels eight times over the national limit. This isn’t just a bad batch — it’s part of a wider pattern of hygiene failures in popular coffee chains. If you’ve ever wondered whether that fancy coffee-shop dessert is safe to eat, here’s what the tests really found.

The short answer: Yes, it’s that bad. The kopi luwak-branded store’s black forest cake tested at 2400 MPN/100g for E. coli, nearly eight times China’s national standard. Another chain, Coffee Bean, had a royal chocolate cake with E. coli over three times the limit. These numbers are not just off — they’re dangerously high.

What the Tests Found

Shanghai Consumer Council tested 40 cakes from 15 well-known coffee shop chains. Among them, the kopi luwak shop’s black forest cake had an E. coli level of 2400 MPN/100g — that’s 8x the national standard. Coffee Bean’s royal chocolate cake tested at 3x the limit. These aren’t isolated incidents: multiple samples across chains showed bacterial contamination well beyond safe limits.

Why This Happens

Shanghai Consumer Council identified several non-compliant hygiene practices. Staff not wearing masks, handling money then directly touching food, wiping serving plates with tablecloths, reusing single-use gloves, and cutting food outside designated areas were all noted. These lapses are likely what led to the bacterial contamination found in the tested cakes.

Is Kopi Luwak Coffee Even Good?

Beyond the cake issue, the report also brings up the wider reputation of “kopi luwak” — the infamous civet coffee. While not directly part of the test, the mention raises questions: does this luxury coffee live up to the hype? And worse, are some cafes selling fake kopi luwak? Past investigations have found many so-called kopi luwak products aren’t what they claim, adding another layer to consumer distrust.

Food Safety in Coffee Chains

This isn’t the first time coffee shop desserts have made headlines. Last year, a major bakery chain was caught reselling returned cakes instead of discarding them. Shortly after, its factory was exposed for unsanitary conditions. These repeated issues show that even well-known coffee and pastry retailers can fall short on basic food safety — especially with high-margin items like desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much E. coli was in the kopi luwak coffee shop’s cake?

The kopi luwak-branded store’s black forest cake had 2400 MPN/100g of E. coli, which is nearly 8 times higher than China’s national standard limit. This is considered a serious bacterial contamination.

What about the other coffee shop’s cake?

Coffee Bean’s royal chocolate cake tested at over 3 times the national E. coli limit. Multiple coffee chains had cakes that exceeded safe bacterial levels in the tests.

Is kopi luwak coffee really a luxury worth trying?

Beyond hygiene issues, many kopi luwak coffees for sale may be fake. Investigations have shown that a lot of coffee sold as kopi luwak isn’t genuine, calling into question both its value and authenticity.

Why are coffee shop desserts so often unsafe?

Common violations include staff not wearing masks, handling cash and food without washing hands, reusing gloves, and preparing food in unclean areas. These unsafe practices lead directly to bacterial contamination in desserts.

Has this happened before in coffee chains?

Yes. Last year, a major bakery chain was found reselling expired cakes, and its factory was exposed for poor hygiene. Coffee shops and bakeries continue to face scrutiny over food safety practices.

FrontStreet Coffee Picks for Coffee & Dessert Pairing

Try pairing your next coffee with FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, known for its bright citrus and floral tones, or the Ethiopia Guji Huaca, which offers juicy blueberry and stone fruit notes — both excellent with light desserts. For something richer, FrontStreet’s Brazil Cerrado offers nutty, chocolatey balance that works well with cakes. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.