How Elephant Dung Coffee Avoids Caffeine and Tastes Unique

Ever wondered how coffee processed through an elephant’s digestive system avoids most of its caffeine—and why it costs as much as a week’s rent? Or why some people pay $50 for a single cup of poop coffee? The story behind Black Ivory Coffee isn’t just about novelty; it’s rooted in biochemistry, animal behavior, and meticulous production. If you’ve heard of civet coffee but find its ethics questionable, this alternative might raise different questions—starting with how elephants help make smoother, less bitter coffee without harming them.

Black Ivory Coffee avoids most caffeine because it uses 100% Thai Arabica beans with roughly half the caffeine of Robusta (about 1%), and the coffee’s protective shell, the roasting process, and the elephant’s digestion all reduce caffeine content further. Only 1kg of coffee is produced from 33kg of coffee cherries eaten by elephants.

What Is Elephant Dung Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee, also known as “elephant dung coffee” or “black ivory coffee,” is one of the world’s most unusual and expensive specialty coffees. Made from Thai Arabica beans eaten and excreted by elephants, it’s produced in partnership with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in northern Thailand. The coffee is not widely available; it’s served in a select few five-star hotels and resorts, mainly in remote luxury locations like northern Thailand, the Maldives, and Abu Dhabi. Each serving typically costs around $50.

Why Doesn’t Caffeine Affect the Elephants?

Elephants are not significantly affected by the caffeine in the coffee for several scientific and practical reasons:

• The coffee uses 100% Thai Arabica beans, which contain only about 1% caffeine—half the caffeine of Robusta beans.
• Natural coffee beans have an outer shell that limits the release of coffee oils and compounds during digestion.
• Caffeine is extracted through heat, and the beans are not heated inside the elephant’s body; they’re roasted and brewed later.
• The coffee cherries’ fruit pulp and skin add another protective layer. In addition, elephants are monitored by veterinarians to ensure their health and safety throughout the process.

How Is Black Ivory Coffee Made?

The production of Black Ivory Coffee takes place at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), chosen by Canadian entrepreneur Blake Dinkin after evaluating over 35 elephant sanctuaries in Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand. GTAEF was selected for its humane elephant treatment, on-site veterinary care, and strong conservation record.

Here’s how it works: During the dry season, elephants in the sanctuary naturally forage for food, including coffee cherries. The elephants eat the cherries along with bananas and sugarcane. The beans ferment inside the elephant’s digestive system for 15 to 30 hours, passing through a digestive process that includes stomach acids and fermentation. This environment breaks down proteins in the beans—which are a major cause of bitterness in coffee—resulting in a smoother, less bitter cup. The beans are then collected from the elephants’ dung, cleaned, roasted, and brewed.

It takes about 33kg of coffee cherries to produce just 1kg of Black Ivory Coffee, making the yield extremely low. The slow digestion process and limited feeding of coffee as a treat (not a main food source) also contribute to the rarity and high price of the final product.

Why Does It Taste Different?

According to Blake Dinkin, the creator of Black Ivory Coffee, the unique taste comes from natural fermentation inside the elephant’s stomach. He explains that the long digestion period—15 to 30 hours—combined with the fermentation of the beans alongside bananas and sugarcane, creates distinctive earthy and fruity flavors. Unlike other animal-processed coffees, the large elephant stomach acts like a slow cooker, allowing complex flavor development without harsh bitterness. Dinkin, who has a background in producing civet coffee, says the elephant digestion process results in a smoother, more unique cup profile.

How Is This Different From Civet Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee is often compared to kopi luwak, or civet coffee, which is made from beans digested by the Asian palm civet, a small mammal resembling a weasel. However, civet coffee faces several issues that Black Ivory Coffee avoids:

• Civets are often kept in cages under inhumane conditions, raising ethical concerns.
• In 2004, Chinese authorities culled civets in Guangdong over fears they spread SARS to humans, leading to lingering health concerns despite evidence that coffee roasting kills viruses.
• Up to 50% of civet coffee on the market is reportedly counterfeit, and even genuine civet coffee offers taste differences many drinkers can’t detect.

Blake Dinkin emphasizes that Black Ivory Coffee does not involve caging, unethical treatment, or health risks, and is produced transparently with veterinary oversight.

Where Can You Try Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee is available only in a limited number of five-star partner hotels and resorts. The company intentionally limits distribution to maintain quality control and build strong relationships with each venue. Blake Dinkin personally visits each location to train staff on brewing the coffee properly. Current locations include select luxury properties in northern Thailand, the Maldives, and Abu Dhabi. A cup typically costs around $50. New venues are added slowly and selectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much caffeine is in Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee uses 100% Thai Arabica beans, which contain about 1% caffeine—roughly half the caffeine found in Robusta beans. Additional factors such as the coffee bean’s protective shell, roasting, and the elephant’s digestion further reduce the caffeine that ends up in the final cup.

Why does elephant digestion remove caffeine and bitterness?

While caffeine isn’t fully removed, much of the bitterness is. The elephant’s stomach acid and 15–30 hour digestion break down proteins in the coffee beans. Since proteins are a primary source of coffee bitterness, this leads to a smoother, less bitter cup compared to conventionally processed coffee.

How many coffee cherries are needed to make one kilogram of Black Ivory Coffee?

It takes approximately 33 kilograms of coffee cherries for an elephant to produce just 1 kilogram of Black Ivory Coffee. The low yield is due to the small amount of coffee the elephants consume, the inefficiency of digestion, and the careful selection process.

Is it safe for elephants to eat coffee?

Yes. The elephants are given coffee cherries occasionally as a treat, not as a staple food, and only low-caffeine Thai Arabica beans are used. The coffee cherries are encased in fruit pulp, which limits caffeine exposure, and the process is supervised by veterinarians to ensure the elephants’ health and safety.

Where is Black Ivory Coffee produced?

Black Ivory Coffee is produced at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in northern Thailand. This location was chosen after evaluating over 35 elephant sanctuaries for ethical treatment, veterinary support, and conservation efforts.

Where can you buy or drink Black Ivory Coffee?

Black Ivory Coffee is available only in select five-star hotels and resorts, including properties in northern Thailand, the Maldives, and Abu Dhabi. It is not sold retail. The company carefully selects partner venues and provides hands-on training for staff. A cup typically costs around $50.

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