The Coffee Blog: Cat Poop Coffee? Most Expensive Coffee in the World!

*Photo courtesy of Bantai Civet Coffee

"The idea of cat poop coffee might sound like some type of joke or some weird obsession of food-crazed hipsters, but it's actually some of the most prized coffee in the world.

Granted, it's an oversimplified description, but the civet is an endangered catlike mammal native to the rainforests of Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The animals have a very well-developed sense of smell and pick out the freshest and best-tasting beans to eat. The animals can't digest the beans, so they pass through their digestive systems.

Once the beans have been “processed,” farmers sift through the dung and clean the beans thoroughly.

The resulting coffee has a rich and slightly smoky flavor with hints of chocolate. It also happens to be the most expensive coffee in the world.

One company that sells the rare beans, San Antonio-based Bantai Civet Coffee, will be among the exhibitors Saturday at the inaugural San Antonio Coffee Festival.

“San Antonio's first Coffee Festival is a great way to enjoy the craft of coffee roasting and brewing while taking in a variety of art forms at La Villita Historic Arts Village,” said Felix Padrón, executive director of the city's Department for Culture and Creative Development, which is presenting the festival. “Our department wants to continue to raise awareness of the traditions and cultural importance of La Villta so stay tuned for more.”

The festival, for coffee lovers, connoisseurs and those who just want to learn a little about their favorite morning beverage offers presentations on growing, harvesting, roasting, brewing, fair trade, and even the health benefits of coffee.

Other exhibitors include Ferra Coffee of Boerne, La Bella Vita Gourmet and Kiva Coffee Roasters, both of Fair Oaks Ranch; Redbud Roasters of San Marcos, Independence Coffee of Brenham, Java Jack's Coffee of Nacogdoches and Fara Coffee of Austin.

But the highlight of the event is a tasting flight of different coffees. At $5 per flight, it's a whole lot more affordable than wine or beer flights anyway.

It also include hands-on art activities, live music and the Yarn Bomb, an art installation that adorns the trunks of 20-30 trees throughout La Villita with knit and crochet needlework.