Free the Luwak

The Luwak (or Civet) is an Indonesian possum like creature famous for eating coffee cherries and for excreting partially digested coffee beans. These coffee beans are then cleaned and roasted into a very expensive coffee.

As a barista teacher I am always asked about this "Cat poo" coffee, so on a recent visit to the coffee plantations on Indonesia I sought out a producer of what the locals call Kopi Luwak to learn more.

I was alarmed to find out that rather than being free to roam and choose the finest of coffee cherries to produce the best quality coffee, the Luwaks were kept in small cages and force fed coffee, much like battery chickens.

I am trying to raise money to fund another trip to Indonesia to research more into the mistreatment of the Luwaks, and to raise awareness of the shameful origins of what is a high end delicacy in western countries.

My ultimate goal is to open a free range Luwak centre in Bali, Indonesia producing ethical Kopi Luwak and using the profits to fight the poor treatment of the Luwak. Bali is the tourism epicentre of Indonesia and the perfect stage to show the rest of the world what is really happening.