This gives new meaning to the term steaming cup of joe. The Bean Stop in Eau Claire Market is set to start serving Kopi Luwak better known as cat poop coffee on Tuesday, one of the most unique blends available anywhere on the planet.
This will appeal to two groups of people, said owner Ken Cutler.
Coffee connoisseurs and theres probably a group of people who will have a cup just say they had a cup.
Its such an unusual, odd and unique product.
Produced in the Doi Chaang region of northern Thailand, Kopi Luwak is made when the common palm civet a small, tree-dweller Cutler said is closer to a raccoon than a cat eats coffee cherries.
Once passed through the animals digestive system, workers pick the seeds out by hand and they are processed.
The end result is what Cutler describes as one of the most unique blends of java you can find.
Its very smooth, he said.
Its got both a fruity and an earthiness, its almost got a natural sweetness to it which is very unusual. And this kind of coffee doesnt come cheap.
A single cup will set you back $25 (including tax) while a 50 gram tin will sell for $60.
Despite the high price, Cutler said theyve already taken orders for 25 cups and have pre-sold 11 tins.
Its a very exclusive-type product, he said.
Just finding Kopi Luwak is tough. My understanding is there is only 1,000 kg produced each year so the supply is obviously very, very limited, said Cutler.
Ive been able to obtain 41/2 pounds, which will translate into about 125 cups.