For an updated version of this post, go here.
March 10, 2009 – Drove my bike to the Honda dealership for a maintenance check . . . . . again, but they were already working at capacity for the day. It appeared I would be forced to return on the morrow. Luckily, annoyance turned to glee as my rejection was most fortuitous. After leaving the dealership in defeat I decided to console myself the only way I knew how, with a cup of coffee a la caca.
I am of course referring to Kopi Luwak , the coffee ground from beans that have passed through the intestines of the Asian Palm Civet. Shitty and delicious. Num-nummy.March 10, 2009 – Drove my bike to the Honda dealership for a maintenance check . . . . . again, but they were already working at capacity for the day. It appeared I would be forced to return on the morrow. Luckily, annoyance turned to glee as my rejection was most fortuitous. After leaving the dealership in defeat I decided to console myself the only way I knew how, with a cup of coffee a la caca.
It is billed as the most expensive coffee on the planet. A cup will run you anywhere from $30 to $100 US dollars depending on where you are in the world. I scored two small cups (8 grams) for $200,000 rupiahs ($18). Fifty grams of the beans cost $150 at the Kopi Bali House in Sanur, Bali.
What’s the verdict? Well, I do not possess a discriminating palate so I cannot say I was all that impressed. It tasted nice, a bit earthy with nary a hint of doodoo aftertaste. It certainly is potent (I was jittery for some time) but I am not sure it is really worth the price. What do I know? Nothing.
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| All this could be yours for $150 |
When I returned to Ubud I stopped by my Indo friends’ office to say hello. They informed me that I could get a cup of poop de Java right across the street at a spa. I was forced to investigate. After my friend asked the manager about it I was presented with a 200g bag of ‘Kopi Luwak’. Price: $50,000 rupiahs ($4). Huh? She told me that it was the real deal but I read on the package that it was mixed with Arabic coffee. She insisted this was not the case but I just do not see how they could be selling 200g bags of the stuff for $4 when there is only about 500 kg of the coffee produced in a year. But then again, what the hell do I know? This was another episode of I don’t understand what the hell is going on . . . . .again.
This day spa had various bird species in cages on site. Guess what else they had? None other than our hero, the Asian Palm Civet. Why? Like I can answer that. I am not all that thrilled about snapping photos of a caged animal but I figured my psuedo-journalistic integrity was at stake. You will notice the piles of florescent red poo-poo. My hands are too big so I was unable to reach through the cage and stuff my pockets full of crapola. This is probably just as well because I doubt they had been feeding Edgar (I named him) coffee beans. Too bad.
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| Caca is king |
After my adventure in coprophilia I happened across a bike shop specializing in ‘Big Bikes’ so I decided to stop and have a look-see. Good call. The shop is owned by an Aussy, allowing me to voice my mechanical concerns in English. He had his people check out my bike thoroughly and now I am confident enough to finally get a move on. It appears I may actually be departing on Saturday but who knows. I’ve tried to escape before.
Kopi Luwak is one great coffee which is very different in taste and texture. Unlike other coffees, Kopi Luwak is not bitter. Its smooth, silky kinda of taste is what I like the most about this rare coffee.
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