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Minggu, 13 Maret 2011

Civet coffee and Productivity at Work

Luwak coffee - smile
Good news for you coffee lovers mongoose. A recent study says caffeine intake will help reduce errors in the work.

Working overtime or night shift is often done by the employees. In the long run, this can disrupt biological time. The result was mixed. Changes in normal sleep time is not believed to increase the risk of error to work.

As quoted medic magic, an analysis of 13 studies found caffeine can help this problem. Caffeine is believed to make workers more alert, focused, and can help minimize errors.


In that study, respondents were asked to consume various forms of caffeine, like coffee, pills, energy drinks, foods, while others were given placebos or capsules containing the powder without effect. As a result, those who consumed caffeine have better performance than those who received placebo.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, thereby increasing the ability to recall, concentration, perception and opinion. However, too much caffeine also have side effects. In excessive doses, between two to seven cups of coffee or more than 250 mg per day, can cause restlessness, nausea, or headache. If the dose with a higher level, also can cause emotional disturbances.

So, there's no harm in drinking coffee mongoose if you feel you need it. But no need in excessive amounts.

Minggu, 10 Oktober 2010

MUI declares civet coffee (Kopi Luwak) ‘halal' for Moslems

Tautan


Kopi Luwak are robusta or arabica coffee beans which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Indonesian Civet (family of Viverridae). Kopi Luwak process takes place on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago.

"Kopi" is the Indonesian word for coffee and "Luwak" is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee 'cherries' as part of its usual diet. This animal eats a mixed diet of insects, small mammals and fruits along with the softer outer part of the coffee cherry but does not digest the inner beans, instead excreting them still covered in some inner layers of the cherry.

Locals then gather the beans -- which come through the 'animal stage' fairly intact -- and sell them on to dealers. It is believed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavour through fermentation of some type.

Not just an urban legend kopi luwak list

Kopi Luwak coffee comes from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an area well-known for its excellent coffee. Also native to the area is a small civit-like animal called a Paradoxurus. That's the scientific name, the locals call them luwaks. These little mammals live in the trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. They eat the cherries, bean and all. While the bean is in the little guy's stomach, it undergoes chemical treatments and fermentations. The bean finishes its journey through the digestive system, and exits. The still-intact beans are collected from the forest floor, and are cleaned, then roasted and ground just like any other coffee.

The resulting coffee is said to be like no other. It has a rich, heavy flavour with hints of caramel or chocolate. Other terms used to describe it are earthy, musty and exotic. The body is almost syrupy and it's very smooth.

One must wonder about the circumstances that brought about the first cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. Who would think to (or even want to) collect and roast beans out of animal feces? Perhaps a native figured it was easier to collect the beans from the ground this way, rather than having to work harder and pick them from the trees? We'll likely never know. But because of the strange method of collecting, there isn't much Kopi Luwak produced in the world. The average total annual production is only around 500 pounds of beans.

Because of the rarity of this coffee, the price is quite outrageous. If you can find a vendor, the current cost for a pound of Kopi Luwak is around $300 or more. Some more adventurous coffee houses are selling it by the cup, but you won't likely find it at your local coffee shop just yet. The coffee isn't so spectacular that it's truly worth that amount of money. You are paying for the experience of enjoying such an unusual and rare delicacy.

Rabu, 06 Oktober 2010

KOPI LUWAK IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO FORBES MAGAZINE

KOPI LUWAK IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO FORBES MAGAZINE

MUI declares civet coffee (Kopi Luwak) ‘halal' for Moslems

Kopi Luwak - Luwak Coffee - Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak are robusta or arabica coffee beans which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Indonesian Civet (family of Viverridae). Kopi Luwak process takes place on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago.

"Kopi" is the Indonesian word for coffee and "Luwak" is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee 'cherries' as part of its usual diet. This animal eats a mixed diet of insects, small mammals and fruits along with the softer outer part of the coffee cherry but does not digest the inner beans, instead excreting them still covered in some inner layers of the cherry.

Locals then gather the beans -- which come through the 'animal stage' fairly intact -- and sell them on to dealers. It is believed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavour through fermentation of some type.

Sun Drying process of Kopi Luwak coffee beans

We process our Kopi Luwak naturally..

Unroasted Kopi Luwak coffee beans, ready to roast !

Our Kopi Luwak Coffee are 100% collected from the wild,

NOT collected from farmed civet !

Below is an explanation video about Kopi Luwak from Animal Planet

KOPI LUWAK ONLINE SHOP


Me & my partner while visiting our plantation in Sumatera

Our Kopi Luwak in Oprah Winfrey Show

Now, you don't have to pay $175 - $450 per pound for Authentic Kopi Luwak because on this site, you can buy it for only $119.95 per pound with FREE Shipping Worldwide !!

Why you should buy Kopi Luwak from us ? It is because you are buying from its source ! We are Indonesian owned website, operating directly from Indonesia & we have our own plantation in North Sumatra, East Java & Sulawesi (Toraja Highland).

Our Kopi Luwak are certified by Legitimate Institution in Indonesia & Guaranteed by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.

WE GUARANTEE THAT OUR KOPI LUWAK ARE 100% AUTHENTIC !

The beans actually pass through the digestive track of the palm civet.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE FOR KOPI LUWAK ! Buy directly from us & get the best price for the rarest coffee in the World.

Minggu, 16 Mei 2010

The Straight Poop on Kopi Luwak

palm_civet
palm_civetAll about this infamous coffee and the cat-like creature that makes it possible.

Years ago I heard a rumor of a rare coffee that was collected from the droppings of a wild animal. For quite a while, having nothing to substantiate this I had dismissed this as either an urban legend, or something so rare I was unlikely to ever have access to it.

Well thanks to the coffee explosion this rare and unusual blend is readily available, though still very expensive. My interest in this was rekindled when I noticed Armeno Coffee Roasters, my favorite source for fine coffee is now carrying Kopi Luwak Coffee.

So what exactly is it? The Indonesian word “kopi” translates directly to coffee. The word Luwak refers to a small wild animal native to Indonesia and Vietnam.

So you know what coffee is… what’s this luwak critter? Known as the luwak, luak, musang, toddy cat, civet, palm civet and civet-cat, many people believe it is a wild cat. While it is a mammal it is actually a cousin of the mongoose. Probably it’s closest North American counterpart is the skunk with which it shares the ability to excrete a noxious odor from scent glands near it’s anus. Blueplanetbiomes.com has some wonderful information on this animal.

The animal can range from four to eleven pounds and is largely nocturnal. While it is an omnivore, the luwak is particularly fond of perfectly ripe coffee cherries. Thanks to coffee farmers, the luwak has no troubles finding plenty of coffee.

Once eaten, the coffee cherries take the normal route through the animal’s digestive path. The amazing thing is while the fruit of the coffee is being digested, the bean is left largely unchanged, eventually passing in the animals droppings.

The droppings and their caffeine-laden content are collected by farmers. The coffee is then cleaned and the green, un-roasted bean shipped to roasters.

Why would you want to drink this shitty coffee? There are a lot of theories on why kopi luwak is different. Research has determined that coffee passed by a luwak has been changed chemically. Specifically the process seems to break down some of the bean’s proteins which are known to contribute to the bitterness of coffee.

So research from the University of Guelph in Canada, reported here, and further detailed in this article confirms the coffee’s chemical makeup is altered by it’s special little journey, I think it also important to consider the luwak’s own affinity for fine coffee.

When coffee, like other fruit, is harvested, not all the fruit will be perfectly ripe. Since the majority is ripe and it is to be combined for use, the end product comes out well; however, if you have an animal which naturally selecting only the ripest fruit you will end up with a product of unparalleled quality.

Is it safe? While many are understandably skeptical of eating anything that has already been through the gastro-intestinal track of another, research shows that due to the thorough washing, the luwak coffee may even have a lower bacteria level than other coffees. Certainly whatever the washing process misses the roasting process will make up for.

While I cannot say I have tried this rarest of all coffees, it is on my to-do list. Thankfully Armeno Coffee Roasters offers it in a four ounce sampler for a mere $30. Expect a detailed report here once the taste test is in.

An update: Thanks to Troy at AnimalCoffee.com I have now tried Kopi Luwak. Read my full review here.