I’m not a big coffee drinker. In fact, not at all. But when I got the chance to visit a coffee farm in Bali and learn about the world’s most expensive coffee which is made from… poop, I was strangely intrigued. Visiting a coffee farm was included in a bike tour so I signed up for a day of coffee touring and biking past rice fields, temples and jungle in blazing speed. Or so I thought.
But first things first..
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THE BALI COFFEE FARM
First stop of the day was at one of Bali’s numerous coffee farms. Upon arrival, we were shown through a narrow path surrounded by lush bushes and coffee plants. The guide gave us a speedy introduction to the brewing process and the farm’s various coffee beans and spices. They had everything from cocoa beans, vanilla and cinnamon to different tea types and chilis.
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Fresh, organic vanilla
Different sorts of coffee beans
Cinnamon
The coffee beans are left out in the sun to dry
After they’re roasted, the beans are grounded and brewed
After witnessing how the coffee farmers roasted the beans, we were shown to a table area with a magnificent view of lush rice terraces. We were each served a selection of different coffee and herbal teas ranging from coffee ginseng, ginger tea, Bali coffee, lemon-grass tea, cocoa, Rosella tea and coconut coffee. They were all free.
Except for one…..
We were each served 7 kinds of tea and coffee
Herbal ginger tea
Cat in a box – he was not on the menu
LUWAK COFFEE: DRINK UP, COFFEE SNOBS!
Although the guide’s introduction to the coffee production was sparse, I did notice one thing he mentioned.
It was animal poop.
Not kidding.
On the guided tour, we were introduced to the Luwak – a furry little cat-like fella that loves to feast on coffee cherries. The luwaks eat the beans, that are left intact all the way through the digestion system, and they poop out what people refer to as a deliciously tasty bean.
So, on the coffee farms, they roast the beans, ground them into powder and boil them in water and voila! Supposedly the world’s best cup of coffee. It’s called Kopi Luwak.
Meet the luwak
A coffee farmer roasting the luwak beans
The price is 50,000 INR for a cup of luwak coffee
If you’re in Bali, I dare you to give Kopi Luwak a try and tell me what you think. Without vomiting!
BALI BIKE TOUR: DRIVING MISS DAISY
After enjoying breakfast with a gorgeous view, we were shown outside where the mountain bikes were parked. Feeling naturally immortal, I was planning to have a mean ride down the steep mountain, speeding all the way of course.
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Breakfast with a volcano view
The guide got in front and ordered the group to follow him so I got in line. I put on my helmet. Adjusted my bad-ass shades and got on my bike. Building speed rather quickly, I was soon in front of the group right behind the guide who seemed to confuse the breaks for the pedal.
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!
At first I didn’t want to outpace him. He was the guide after all and maybe he wanted us to turn at one point, but with his 10km/hr he was ruining the fun and people (aherm) got impatient. After 10 minutes of driving like a grandma, everyone in the group blazed right past him.
CUTE BALINESE KIDS & WATER TEMPLES
On our way down the mountain, we stopped in a small village to see a traditional home and meet a Balinese family. The guide explained that the home consists of a house temple and 4-5 houses where everyone (mom, dad, kids, grandparents, uncles, aunts, their kids) lives. The houses are well-kept and they usually have a high wall surrounding them.
Aren’t these cuties adorable?
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A wood-carver. This is a well-known trade in Bali
Last visit of the day before getting to the rice paddies was a water temple. Locals believe that the water has a healing power so they go there to cleanse themselves of their sins before entering the temples.
We were each provided with a temple scarf (selendang) before entering
The water temple
THE BEST PART
Apart from the Luwak coffee and racing, this was the part I’d been waiting for all day: to bike around the rice fields taking in the fabulous view. Everywhere I looked, there were locals in the fields or on the paths, busy harvesting. I don’t know what it is about rice fields that makes them so serene and relaxing, but they have a tremendously calming effect on me. You know, like mountains and the ocean can make some people feel at peace, enlightened and inspired? That’s what rice fields do to me.
Kites are seen everywhere in Bali
Now, be honest. Would you ever try Luwak poop coffee?
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I would definitely try that coffee! It looks like a brilliant day trip and I love the photos!
That’s my kind of adventurer! You’re way more cool than me, Karlijn, haha.
Yep, I would definitely try poop coffee haha. I’m a total coffee addict so if it’s the best coffee in the world, I’ll give it a go! These photos are beautiful too 🙂
Thanks so much, Charlie! I admire your courage 🙂
Balinese coffee is amazing!! <3 I tried it and I fell in love!
I probably would have, too, if I liked coffee 😉
I went on a very similar bike tour in Bali and loved it! I’m not a coffee drinker either but enjoyed the samples I tried, my favourite was the creamy pandanus tea, which tasted like caramel, did you try that? Our only concern was the captive Luwaks – even though our guide told us they were only kept in cages for three months at a time and then released back into the wild, I wasn’t sure whether this was true or not and for that reason I probably wouldn’t try the Luwak coffee. Did your guide mention anything about this issue? I had the same worries when we took a tour in Dalat in Vietnam and were shown weasels used to make weasel coffee; they were kept in far worse conditions than the Luwaks, crammed into tiny cages, it was horrible to see.
Amy, I agree with you! I visited two coffee farms and they treated the luwaks differently – at one of them, the luwaks were trapped in small cages and at the other they had a much larger cage with trees and space to move around. I did not appreciate the first place I visited, but the guide explained that they were not trapped all day. I’m not sure I believe him, though. Unfortunately, animals are often mistreated throughout Southeast Asia. It breaks my heart every time I see it.
I have zero appreciation for nice coffee, but that bike ride looks totally up my alley! And how adorable are those kids?
Me neither, I’m more of a tea girl. The bike trip was awesome indeed – would do it again in a heartbeat!
I love Indonesian coffee, especially Luwak coffee, the best stuff comes from the forests where it is literally picked up from the ground, incredibly expensive though!
I didn’t know that, Beau, but somehow I’d feel more comfortable if it came from wild luwaks.
Hey Miriam
The Luwaks are so cute!! I’ve never seen one before, but they’re adorable!!
Not sure if I’d try the coffee or not… I think maybe it depends on how it’s prepared? A good espresso should be at 95 degree C which would kill anything nasty, but if it’s just steeped it might not be hot enough to kill nasties… though I suppose it’s already been roasted…
I’d be curious!! But I don’t know if I’d do it or not!! The point about the Luwaks being in tiny cages in a persuasive one though. Poor little things…
Martina 🙂
Hi Martina, I thinks it’s safe to drink the coffee so it’s just the thought of it that we need to be okay with 😉
I am a complete coffee psycho. I would have gobbled up that poop in a second but like many others have mentioned perhaps I wouldn’t because of the treatment of the animals. I wonder if it is hypocritical to feel this way but still eat all sorts of meats…hmm…I don’t know.
We are actually trying to decide if we want to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines. I’ve heard that it is bad for their environment but others says it’s fine…I haven’t decided yet.
Have you ever been to Flores Island? From the looks of it, you would love it.
I think the difference is that you see the mistreatment here. In Denmark some egg producers are really inhumane and there’s focus on it in the media which has resulted in people boycotting these egg sorts – myself included. However, if people hadn’t been confronted with it I’m not sure they would care as much. The visual has a strong impact!
Regarding the whale sharks – I went swimming with them in Mexico and I’d do it again. As long as you don’t touch them, you’re not harming them. At least that’s my opinion.
Im not a coffee person as well! But when I went to the coffee farm in Ubud, i loved trying all the different types of coffee.
They’re good, right? I think I liked them because they actually didn’t taste of coffe – especially the coffee ginseng, which was my favorite.
Hey there! this trip looks awesome, do you have a link or an idea of where to book this tour? I am trying to get a good sense of our plans for vacation and this looks like a must do!
Hi Stacey.
No sorry, I booked the tour through my hotel. There are lots of tours like this one though. You can easily find a similar one when you get there.
Hi Miriam,
I would like to go to that farm as I want to see coffee, tea, cacao, cinnamon and vanilla. This sounds like a good place to go to. Can you give me the name of the farm and/or the address? I will be in Bali in two weeks or so.
Thank you!
Hi Vera,
I don’t know the name of this particular coffee farm as I went there on a mountain biking day trip. There are lots of these coffee farms around Bali so you’ll have no problem finding a similar one.
Have a great time in. Bali is amazing!
Nice blog thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading, Ali.
Oh, I wish I could try that coffee! As to kites – we have been to Bali and visited a kite festival – it was amazing! Too bad we forgot about that famous Luwak poop coffee… How much does it cost, by the way?
Yeah, it’s a unique cup of coffee that’s for sure 🙂 I don’t know what it costs, but I do know that it’s the most expensive coffee in the world.
Just a heads up, these animals are treated very poorly and the coffee you get from these is not what its supposed to be like. Real Luwak coffee comes from wild animals, not caged, and they pick the ripest coffee fruit. Read the article below please
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/sep/13/civet-coffee-cut-the-crap