What Is Black Ivory Coffee and Why Is It So Expensive?

Ever wondered what coffee would taste like after being digested by an elephant? While it sounds bizarre—or worse—there’s a reason some coffee lovers pay hundreds of dollars for a single cup of what’s been dubbed 'elephant poop coffee.' It’s called Black Ivory Coffee, and it’s not just a gimmick. It’s a rare, scientifically crafted brew that commands attention from coffee connoisseurs and luxury travelers alike.

Black Ivory Coffee costs around $1,100 per kilogram, or roughly $25 per cup, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Production is incredibly limited, with just 50 kilograms available in 2012 and uncertain output in following years.

What Is Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee, also known as elephant dung coffee, is produced from Thai Arabica beans that have been eaten, digested, and excreted by elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in northern Thailand. This unique processing method results in a coffee that’s famously smooth, with almost no bitterness—a trait linked to reduced protein levels in the beans due to digestion.

The project was founded in 2012 by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin, who spent a decade researching and developing the concept. He collaborated with food scientist Massimo Marcone from the University of Guelph, the same expert who studied Kopi Luwak. Dinkin’s goal was to create a coffee superior to kopi luwak, and after testing beans across multiple countries and consulting experts, Black Ivory Coffee was born.

How Is Black Ivory Coffee Made?

1. Digestion by Elephants

High-quality Arabica coffee cherries, grown at 1,500 meters altitude in northern Thailand, are fed to elephants at GTAEF. The elephants digest the cherries slowly over 15–30 hours along with their usual vegetarian diet of bananas and sugarcane. During this process, enzymes in the elephant’s stomach break down proteins in the beans—the main source of coffee bitterness. The beans are then excreted, collected, and carefully cleaned.

2. Hand Sorting and Processing

After collection, the beans are handpicked from the dung by elephant caretakers and their wives. The beans are sun-dried, then roasted. Unlike traditional coffee production, the beans are not exposed to high heat during digestion, preserving unique flavor compounds. The slow fermentation and digestion contribute to the coffee’s distinctive profile.

3. Brewing Method

To highlight freshness and the sensory experience, beans are ground by hand on-site. Brewing typically uses the siphon (vacuum pot) method to accentuate the coffee’s delicate qualities. The process is designed to ensure the final cup reflects the full impact of the elephant digestion transformation.

What Does Black Ivory Coffee Taste Like?

According to creator Blake Dinkin, Black Ivory Coffee has “floral, chocolate, and earthy aromas,” with flavors of “chocolate, nuts, and a hint of spice.” The body is full and syrupy, almost tea-like, offering a smooth mouthfeel with virtually no bitterness. These qualities set it apart from conventional coffees and even other specialty brews.

Why Is Black Ivory Coffee So Expensive?

Several factors drive the extraordinary cost:

• It takes about 33 kilograms of coffee cherries to produce just 1 kilogram of Black Ivory Coffee.
• Elephants don’t naturally eat coffee cherries regularly—they only consume them occasionally, usually in dry seasons.
• The beans must be fed to elephants as treats, not a main diet, and only low-caffeine Arabica beans are used to prevent caffeine overdose.
• Collection is labor-intensive, relying on manual sorting of beans from elephant dung.
• Production is extremely limited—only 50 kg were made available in 2012, with uncertain future yields due to variables like elephant appetite and fruit availability.

Where Can You Buy Black Ivory Coffee?

Due to its rarity, Black Ivory Coffee is sold only in a select few five-star hotels, including:

• Anantara Dhigu Resort and Spa (Maldives)
• Anantara Kihavah Villas (Maldives)
• Naladhu Maldives
• Anantara Golden Triangle (Thailand)
• Anantara Phuket Villas (Thailand)
• Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa (UAE)
• Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort (UAE)
• Desert Islands Resort and Spa (UAE)

As of 2012, the retail price was $1,100 per kilogram, with single cups priced around $25. The company limits distribution to maintain exclusivity and ensure quality control. Blake Dinkin personally trains staff at each location on proper brewing techniques.

Is It Ethical and Safe for the Elephants?

Yes. Black Ivory Coffee works with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, a respected elephant sanctuary that provides medical care and support for both elephants and mahouts (caretakers). The foundation ensures the elephants are not harmed, and veterinary professionals monitor their health continuously.

• The coffee beans’ outer shell protects them from releasing significant caffeine or oils during digestion.
• Thai Arabica beans used have about half the caffeine of Robusta beans.
• Coffee extraction requires heat, which neutralizes any potential biological concerns, and the fruit layers of the cherry offer further protection.

How Does It Compare to Kopi Luwak?

Like Black Ivory Coffee, Kopi Luwak is made from beans eaten and excreted by animals—in that case, civets (often called civet cats). However, Black Ivory Coffee avoids many ethical and quality controversies associated with kopi luwak:

• Kopi Luwak civets have often been kept in poor conditions and force-fed beans.
• Concerns arose in 2004 about SARS transmission, although studies found the virus is killed during roasting.
• Up to 50% of kopi luwak on the market is counterfeit, diluting its prestige and complicating consumer trust.

Black Ivory Coffee, by contrast, is produced transparently, ethically, and in limited, carefully monitored conditions. Its distinct digestive process also leads to a different flavor profile—smoother and less bitter than kopi luwak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do elephants get affected by the caffeine in coffee beans?

No. The coffee used is 100% Thai Arabica, which contains about half the caffeine of Robusta beans. The beans’ outer shells protect the inner contents, and natural enzymes break down much of the caffeine during digestion. Additionally, elephants are fed coffee as an occasional treat, not a primary food source, and are closely monitored by veterinarians.

Do elephants eat coffee cherries naturally?

Yes. In dry seasons, wild Asian elephants have been observed entering coffee farms and eating coffee cherries along with other fruits. This natural behavior helped inspire the Black Ivory Coffee process.

Where is Black Ivory Coffee produced?

It is produced at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in northern Thailand. Blake Dinkin selected this location after evaluating over 35 elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia, choosing GTAEF for its ethical treatment of elephants, access to veterinary care, and strong conservation record.

Why does Black Ivory Coffee taste different?

Elephant digestion reduces the coffee’s protein content through natural enzymatic processes. Since proteins are a major source of bitterness in coffee, this results in a smoother, less bitter cup with unique flavor notes like chocolate, nuts, spices, and a tea-like body.

Why is Black Ivory Coffee so costly compared to other specialty coffees?

The high price is due to limited supply, labor-intensive collection, and low yield—just 1 kg of coffee is produced from 33 kg of cherries. Production depends on elephant behavior, seasonal fruit availability, and careful hand-processing, all of which restrict output and increase costs.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Dark, Earthy Profiles

If you’re curious about bold, complex coffees similar in body or richness to Black Ivory Coffee, try FrontStreet’s Lintong Mandheling or PWN Golden Mandheling. Lintong Mandheling offers spices, black chocolate, and caramel notes with a syrupy mouthfeel, while PWN Golden Mandheling delivers toast, wood, caramel, and cocoa with deep, layered richness. Both showcase low-acidity, full-bodied profiles akin to the smooth mouthfeel of Black Ivory. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.