Qingdao Hosts Rare Kopi Luwak Coffee Tasting Event

What would make a coffee so exclusive that a single 50g bag sells for ¥1,500 and yields just three or four cups? Yesterday in Qingdao, coffee professionals and enthusiasts gathered to find out during a rare tasting event centered on one of the world’s most controversial and scarce brews: Kopi Luwak, commonly known as civet coffee.

The short answer: Kopi Luwak is among the rarest coffees globally, with production under 400kg per year. A 50g package retails for ¥1,500—enough for 3–4 cups, meaning each cup costs roughly ¥400. That’s why a focused tasting, like the one hosted by the Qingdao Coffee Association and Abika Import & Export, draws serious interest.

What Is Kopi Luwak Coffee?

Kopi Luwak, often dubbed "cat poop coffee," originates from coffee cherries eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet. The digestive process is said to alter the bean’s structure, reducing bitterness and creating a distinctive flavor profile. Though once a novelty, today it sits firmly in the ultra-niche sector of specialty coffee.

How Rare—and Expensive—is Kopi Luwak?

According to the Qingdao event, a 50g bag of Kopi Luwak beans costs ¥1,500. This small quantity produces only 3–4 cups, putting the per-cup cost at approximately ¥400. More strikingly, global annual production is estimated to be less than 400 kilograms, making it one of the scarcest coffee types in the world.

Why Host a Kopi Luwak Tasting?

The Qingdao Coffee Association, in partnership with Abika Import & Export, organized the event to offer the public a chance to taste and understand this famously rare brew. The session aimed to demystify Kopi Luwak beyond its controversial reputation, focusing instead on its limited availability, production process, and sensory attributes. Attendees were invited to evaluate the coffee firsthand and discuss its place—if any—in modern specialty coffee culture.

What Did the Tasting Involve?

While details on the exact methodology of the tasting weren’t disclosed, such events typically involve controlled brewing sessions where participants assess aroma, flavor, body, and acidity. Given Kopi Luwak’s high price and scarcity, the tasting likely used small portions and professional brewing techniques to maximize the experience from the limited beans available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kopi Luwak coffee?

Kopi Luwak is a type of coffee made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet. The digestion process is believed to change the beans' characteristics, leading to a unique flavor. It is also known as civet coffee.

How much does Kopi Luwak coffee cost?

A 50g pack of Kopi Luwak coffee beans costs ¥1,500, which can make approximately 3–4 cups. This equates to around ¥400 per cup, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

How many cups can you get from 50g of Kopi Luwak?

A 50g pack of Kopi Luwak beans yields only 3–4 cups of brewed coffee, due to the small quantity and high value of the beans.

What is the annual production of Kopi Luwak?

The global annual production of Kopi Luwak is estimated to be less than 400 kilograms, making it extremely rare compared to other coffee varieties.

Why is Kopi Luwak so expensive?

Kopi Luwak is expensive due to its limited production, the unique process required to create it, and its rarity. The small supply and high demand contribute to its premium pricing, often exceeding ¥400 per cup.

What was the purpose of the Qingdao Kopi Luwak tasting event?

The event, hosted by the Qingdao Coffee Association and Abika Import & Export, aimed to let participants taste and learn about Kopi Luwak, addressing its rarity, production, and sensory qualities in a specialty coffee context.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Specialty Coffee Tastings

For coffee professionals and enthusiasts exploring rare brew profiles, FrontStreet Coffee offers several single-origin options ideal for comparative tastings. The Ethiopia Humbera showcases bright florals and citrus, while the Yirgacheffe delivers juicy berry and stone fruit notes—both excellent for discussing processing impact. For a deeper, more earthy contrast, try the Indonesia Mandheling, which, while not civet-processed, has heavy body and spice notes that help frame discussions on altered coffee flavors. All beans are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.