Coffee beans: Animal poop?

Coffee beans: Animal poop?

Coffee is an essential drink for many people every morning. It can refresh the mind and make people energetic. The most important ingredient in coffee is coffee beans. However, you may be surprised to find that these delicious coffee beans are actually obtained from animal feces.

What is animal poop?

The so-called "animal shit" refers to the product obtained by fermentation after digestion and excretion of certain specific animals. This method has been around for hundreds of years in some places. The most famous and widely used methods for producing high-quality coffee beans are two: one is through the digestion and excretion of cats such as Asian small cats (Civet) or African wild cats (genet); the other is through elephants eating and excreting.

Why use such a strange and disgusting method to produce coffee beans?

Although this production method may sound a bit disgusting, it actually brings some unique benefits. First, the enzymes in the animal's digestive system chemically change the coffee beans, making them more intense and complex in flavor. Second, the coffee beans excreted through the animal's digestive system are naturally screened and filtered to remove immature or defective beans, thus ensuring the quality of the final product.

Production process

In the production process, the feces excreted by animals need to be collected, cleaned and impurities removed. Next, the feces will be placed in the sun to dry and fermented for an appropriate period of time. After that, after a series of fine processing steps, the final product is obtained: high-quality coffee beans.

Controversy and issues

Although the use of animal poop to produce coffee beans has been around for a long time and is still very popular and popular in some places, this method has also caused a series of controversies and problems.

The first is the concern about animal welfare. Some people believe that using animals in the process of producing coffee beans may cause them harm or discomfort. In addition, some businesses may use illegal means to capture and imprison these animals in pursuit of profits.

The second is the hygiene issue. Although the coffee beans after fermentation are basically free of bacteria and viruses, there are still certain risks. Therefore, when buying this type of coffee, you need to choose a reputable and compliant merchant.

in conclusion

Whether you're willing to accept this strange and disgusting method or not, the fact is that animal poop does hide a surprising and fascinating story behind some of the highest quality coffee beans. When you taste a cup of coffee made using these special methods, remember that there are hundreds of years of history and unique craftsmanship behind it.