The world’s most expensive coffee, known as kopi luwak, has once again come under intense scrutiny after experts warned that its production could potentially contribute to a Covid-like viral outbreak, raising fresh concerns over wildlife farming practices across parts of Southeast Asia.
Often sold for thousands of pounds per bag in the UK, including high-end retailers such as Harrods, the luxury beverage is produced using coffee beans that have passed through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet. The unusual process is said to give the drink its distinctive smooth flavour, making it a sought-after item among premium coffee buyers. In a broader sense, the global appetite for rare and exotic food products continues to fuel controversial industries involving animals.
Animal welfare groups, including PETA, have raised alarm over the conditions in which civets are kept on farms in countries such as Indonesia. Investigations found that the animals are frequently confined in cramped, unsanitary cages, where they are force-fed ripe robusta coffee berries. According to the charity, civets are often captured from the wild at less than six months old and sold through markets across Asia, a practice they describe as deeply concerning for both animal welfare and public health.
Elisa Allen, Vice President of Programmes at PETA, warned that such environments may create the perfect conditions for disease transmission. She stated that placing wild animals in overcrowded and filthy spaces could “create a perfect storm for dangerous pathogens,” adding that the world could be edging closer to another global pandemic if such practices continue unchecked. Her comments reflect wider concerns about how human interaction with wildlife in commercial settings may increase biological risks.
Scientific voices have also weighed in on the matter. Microbiologist Simon Clarke from the University of Reading explained that civet cats should not be compared to domestic pets, highlighting that they can act as intermediate hosts for viruses capable of crossing into humans. He noted that similar transmission patterns were linked to previous outbreaks such as SARS, and warned that cramped conditions could accelerate the spread of zoonotic diseases among both animals and handlers.
Historical outbreaks have previously drawn attention to civets, with experts pointing out their role as an intermediate host in the transmission of the SARS coronavirus in China. In response to concerns at the time, Chinese authorities reportedly culled thousands of civets in 2004 after they were linked to the spread of the disease, underscoring the potential public health risks associated with wildlife trade and farming.
Further investigations referenced by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, in collaboration with World Animal Protection, found nearly 50 civets being kept in cages across 16 plantations in Bali. These findings have added weight to long-standing criticisms of the industry, although not all production methods are considered harmful. Some suppliers claim that wild civets naturally consume coffee berries and that beans are collected from their droppings in forest environments without captivity.
Despite ethical debates, kopi luwak remains widely available on the international market, with premium retailers continuing to sell the product. Harrods, for example, markets the coffee as being sourced from wild civets and states that no animals are harmed during production, with foragers collecting beans left in forest areas. Prices reflect its exclusivity, with some listings exceeding £1,250 per bag, while smaller quantities are also sold at lower but still high-end rates.
In stark contrast, everyday coffee remains widely accessible at a fraction of the cost. Major supermarkets such as Tesco do not stock kopi luwak and instead offer standard espresso blends priced at just a few pounds, highlighting the vast divide between luxury coffee culture and mainstream consumer goods.
