Sometimes, a cup of Joe isn't fully made of coffee beans, sugar, and cream. At times, the coffee beans may come from unimaginable sources, while people put in certain ingredients you never thought of putting into your cup.
So, the next time you go into a Starbucks joint, considers yourself fortunate to not see these on the menu. Sure, you would want to try some these out, but remember, discretion is a better part of valor, so to speak.
Kopi Joss - Indonesia
Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country known for being a tropical tourist hotspot. Though it's an awesome country with awesome people, its coffee is definitely not its selling point. One of the brews in Yogyakarta, Java is called Kopi Joss. It is basically a regular cup of coffee though a hot burning piece of charcoal is added into the mix. This is not without reason, though: the charcoal neutralizes the coffee's acidity, making it perfect for people whose tummies get upset due to acidity.
Kopi Luwak - Indonesia
Another caffeinated delicacy by Indonesia is Kopi Luwak, which is popularly known in the west as Civet Coffee. Although its namesake sounds rather innocent, the way it is harvested is unthinkable: the coffee berries are fed to the civets, and the beans are then harvested...from its droppings. The harvested beans are then cleaned, roasted, and brewed. Apparently, it is pretty expensive, though people who have tasted it claim that it's not worth the price.
Elephant Coffee - Thailand
Touted as the most expensive type of coffee in the world, elephant coffee is touted as one of the best and the most expensive coffees in the world. Following the way this article is going, you can safely guess where it comes from. Yes, it is harvested from elephants' dung. However, unlike the Kopi Luwak though, elephant coffee is delicious and the reason is simple: as the beans pass through the elephants' digestive tracts, the acid is broken down, giving the coffee its non-acidic and rich flavor.
Would you like to try out any of these brews or do you have any you want to suggest? Tell us in the comments!
