(Image: Dalene Ingham-Brown)

The Civet Cat has been put on notice because they’re no longer the No.1 source for expensive coffee beans. That accolade now belongs to elephants. According to news reports, pachyderms have now laid claim to the title of the most expensive cup of coffee in the form of the Black Ivory blend, which is made out of beans harvested from elephant dung.

That’s what Thailand’s Anantara Hotel chain claims anyway. As it turns out the hotel chain churns out the expensive brew by refining the beans at the elephant sanctuary which they help fund near one of their resorts in Chiang Rai.  The process for harvesting the beans is similar to that of Coffee Luwak – the beans are broken down by the animal’s digestive system, which eventually produces a less bitter blend.

Whether or not that’s true, we will have to take their word for it because a cup of Black Ivory or Elephant Dung Coffee as some call it, will reportedly set you back USD50 (RM150) per cup. That’s more than RM60 more than what a cup of Coffee Luwak costs in today’s market. 

Editor's Note:

As we know that Coffee Luwak has been receiving uproar for animal cruelty. However, we don't know if the same happens to the elephants that poop these beans. Anyone who can share more information on this can contact us at editor@thirstmag.com or through the comment box below this article.