How Black Ivory Coffee Is Made and Why It Costs $1,100/kg

If you’ve ever wondered why some coffee costs more than a week’s rent—or why anyone would pay $50 for a single cup—the answer might involve an Asian elephant’s digestive system. This isn’t a joke. There’s a real coffee, nicknamed ‘black ivory,’ that’s processed entirely through an elephant’s gut. And yes, people buy it. But what actually happens inside that elephant, and why does the coffee taste so different?

The short answer: black ivory coffee sells for around $1,100 per kilogram. It’s made from Arabica beans eaten and excreted by elephants in northern Thailand. The digestive enzymes break down proteins that cause bitterness, resulting in a smoother cup with flavors of milk chocolate, nuts, red berries, and light spice. Each kilogram requires about 33 kg of fresh coffee cherries, explaining the high price.

What Is Black Ivory Coffee?

Black ivory coffee—also called ‘elephant dung coffee’ or colloquially ‘elephant poop coffee’—is a rare specialty coffee made from beans that have passed through the digestive system of Asian elephants. Originally developed as a curiosity and luxury product, it’s now known for its unusual production method and distinctive flavor profile. The beans are not fermented in the traditional sense but are instead altered chemically during digestion. This process removes much of the protein responsible for coffee’s bitterness.

How Black Ivory Coffee Is Made

The production of black ivory coffee is labor-intensive and highly selective. It begins with hand-picking high-quality Arabica coffee cherries, typically sourced from local mountainous regions. These cherries are then mixed with other plant-based foods—such as bananas and sugarcane—that elephants commonly eat. This mixture encourages the elephants to consume the coffee cherries naturally. After ingestion, the beans undergo digestion in the elephant’s stomach, where gastric enzymes break down the proteins in the coffee beans. Since protein is the main contributor to coffee bitterness, this enzymatic action significantly reduces bitterness in the final cup. The beans, partially digested and expelled in the elephants’ feces, are carefully collected, cleaned, and transported to Bangkok for the final roasting stage. The entire process is monitored to ensure hygiene and quality. It takes roughly 33 kg of fresh coffee cherries to produce just 1 kg of black ivory coffee, a key factor in its high market value.

Why Does It Taste Different?

According to the coffee’s creator, Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin, the unique flavor of black ivory coffee comes down to biochemistry. The digestive enzymes in an elephant’s stomach—particularly in its larger and more complex gut compared to other animals—break down the proteins in the coffee beans. Since proteins are the primary source of bitterness in coffee, their reduction leads to a smoother, less acidic cup. The resulting brew is described as having flavors of milk chocolate, nuts, red berries, and subtle spices. Additionally, the fermentation-like environment inside the elephant’s gut may impart earthy and fruity undertones. Unlike civet coffee (commonly known as kopi luwak or ‘cat poop coffee’), which is processed through a smaller animal’s digestive tract, elephant digestion allows for more thorough protein breakdown, contributing to the coffee’s renowned smoothness.

How Much Does It Cost?

Black ivory coffee is among the most expensive coffees in the world. It retails for approximately $1,100 per kilogram, or about $50 per brewed cup. This price is more than double that of regular kopi luwak (cat poop coffee), which ranges from $500 to $600 per kilogram. The high cost is attributed to several factors: the large quantity of fresh coffee cherries required (roughly 33 kg to make 1 kg of black ivory coffee), the labor involved in collecting and cleaning the beans from elephant dung, and the limited production scale. Most of the coffee cherries fed to the elephants are either chewed apart, crushed, or lost in the jungle, further reducing the yield. The entire production process, including feeding the elephants, collecting droppings, and roasting the beans, requires significant investment. Canadian businessman Blake Dinkin reportedly spent $300,000 developing the product in northern Thailand.

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 Asian elephants. The beans ferment in the elephant’s digestive system, where enzymes break down proteins, reducing bitterness.

Why does elephant coffee taste less bitter?

The digestive enzymes in an elephant’s stomach, especially in its larger gut, break down the proteins in coffee beans. Since proteins cause bitterness, their reduction results in a smoother, less acidic cup with flavors like milk chocolate and nuts.

How many coffee cherries are needed to make black ivory coffee?

It takes approximately 33 kilograms of fresh coffee cherries to produce just 1 kilogram of black ivory coffee, which contributes to its high price.

How much does black ivory coffee cost per kilogram?

Black ivory coffee is sold for around $1,100 per kilogram, making it one of the most expensive coffees globally.

Where is black ivory coffee produced?

Black ivory coffee is produced in northern Thailand, where Asian elephants are fed coffee cherries mixed with other vegetarian foods, and the beans are later collected from their dung.

What does black ivory coffee taste like?

It is described as having flavors of milk chocolate, nuts, red berries, and subtle spices, with a smooth and less bitter profile compared to regular coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Specialty Coffee Lovers

For fans of unique, low-bitterness coffees like black ivory, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright berry and floral notes, or their Panama Huacai for complex stone fruit and citrus. Both showcase natural sweetness without harsh acidity, offering a similar smooth drinking experience. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.