English Reference

Word

kopi luwak

PhoneticsKo·pi Lu·wak

US/ˌkoʊpi ˈluːwæk/

UK/ˌkɒpi ˈluːwæk/

Definition

compound. a rare and expensive coffee produced from beans that have been eaten and passed through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet, an animal native to Southeast Asia

compound. a specialty coffee produced from cherries consumed and fermented in the digestive tract of the Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, harvested from fecal matter, and processed for its unique, smooth flavor profile.

Examples

“He wanted to try Kopi Luwak because it is the most expensive coffee in the world.”

“The boutique roastery faced criticism from animal rights groups for including Kopi Luwak on their luxury tasting menu.”

“Ethical concerns regarding the battery-caging of civets have led many connoisseurs to boycott Kopi Luwak in favor of sustainably sourced, wild-gathered alternatives.”

Examples

simple

“He wanted to try Kopi Luwak because it is the most expensive coffee in the world.”

contextual

“The boutique roastery faced criticism from animal rights groups for including Kopi Luwak on their luxury tasting menu.”

complex

“Ethical concerns regarding the battery-caging of civets have led many connoisseurs to boycott Kopi Luwak in favor of sustainably sourced, wild-gathered alternatives.”

Real-World Examples

“Kopi luwak is made from coffee beans excreted by Indonesian palm civets - small, mongoose-like creatures.”
BBC News · 13 Sept 2013
“Kopi Luwak, renowned as the most costly coffee globally, is produced using excrement, but experts on animal welfare argue that enthusiasts should be more troubled by the "appalling" mistreatment involved in its creation process.”
The Guardian · 19 Nov 2012

Etymology

Derived from the Indonesian words 'kopi', meaning coffee, and 'luwak', the local name for the Asian palm civet.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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