What Is Black Ivory Coffee and How Much Does It Cost?

Ever wondered why some coffee costs more than a week’s rent — and why people would willingly drink something that came out of an animal? The story of Black Ivory Coffee isn’t just about luxury. It’s about biology, digestion, patience, and a very unusual supply chain.

The quick answer: Black Ivory Coffee, also known as elephant dung coffee or "" in Chinese, is made from coffee beans eaten and excreted by Thai elephants. It retails for around $1,100 per kilogram (₦33,000 per kg or roughly ¥6,747), and is served at select five-star hotels for about $25 per cup. Only a few hundred kilograms are produced annually.

What Is Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee — also called (elephant dung coffee) or more bluntly, “” — is one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive coffee beans. It’s produced by a Canadian-founded company of the same name, Black Ivory Coffee. The beans are not washed, dried, or processed in machines. Instead, they’re eaten by elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand, digested over many hours, and expelled in the animals’ dung. Workers then collect, clean, and roast the surviving beans to make coffee.

How Is the Coffee Made?

The creation of Black Ivory Coffee is a slow, multi-step natural process:

• Arabica coffee cherries (specific variety not disclosed) are fed to elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand.
• Elephants digest the beans for 15 to 30 hours along with their regular vegetarian diet, which includes bananas and sugarcane.
• During digestion, enzymes in the elephant’s stomach — combined with natural fermentation from the food — break down proteins in the beans. Protein is one of the main contributors to bitterness in coffee.
• Workers then collect the beans from the elephants’ dung, clean them thoroughly, and roast them for brewing.

Why Does It Taste Different?

Because of the digestive process, Black Ivory Coffee develops a flavor profile unlike any other. According to reports, the coffee has almost no bitterness, and features unique earthy and fruity notes. The stomach acts like a slow cooker, gently breaking down components in the bean without the high heat or mechanical stress used in traditional processing. The interaction with banana and sugarcane fibers during digestion also contributes to its distinctive taste.

Who Makes It and How Did It Start?

Black Ivory Coffee is produced and distributed by the company of the same name, founded in March 2012 by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin . Dinkin developed the concept after experimenting with various methods to create a uniquely processed coffee. The beans are processed at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, and the entire production is extremely limited due to the small number of elephants involved and the unpredictability of digestion and collection.

Where Can You Buy It — And For How Much?

Due to its scarcity and labor-intensive production, Black Ivory Coffee is not available for retail purchase in stores or online. It is sold exclusively to a handful of five-star hotels around the world. It first became available in October 2012 through the Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, where it was served for around $25 per cup. The coffee sells for approximately $1,100 per kilogram — making it one of the most expensive coffees globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black Ivory Coffee made from?

Black Ivory Coffee is made from Arabica coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by elephants. The beans are consumed at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand, digested over 15–30 hours, and collected from the dung for roasting.

Why does Black Ivory Coffee have no bitterness?

The long digestion process in the elephant’s stomach breaks down the proteins in the coffee beans, which are a major source of bitterness in regular coffee. Enzymes and fermentation from the elephant’s vegetarian diet also contribute to its smoother, less bitter flavor.

How much does Black Ivory Coffee cost?

Black Ivory Coffee costs around $1,100 per kilogram. A single cup typically sells for about $25. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world by both weight and serving price.

Where is Black Ivory Coffee produced?

It is produced at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand. The coffee is made by feeding beans to elephants, collecting the beans from their dung, and roasting them. The entire process is overseen by Black Ivory Coffee, a company founded in 2012.

Can you buy Black Ivory Coffee in stores?

No, Black Ivory Coffee is not available in retail stores or online. It is sold exclusively to a small number of five-star hotels globally, due to limited production and the complex process required to make it.

Who founded Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee was founded in March 2012 by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin. He developed the concept of elephant-digested coffee and partnered with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to produce it.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans with Sweet, Earthy Profiles

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe for its bright acidity and floral-fruity notes, or their Sidra for a heavier body with stone fruit and citrus. Both highlight sweetness and complexity — much like the wild fermentation hints in Black Ivory Coffee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.