Tasty bits. Flirty wits.: Bali Kopi & Luwak Coffee Tasting

STARBUCKS CORPORATE OFFICES

What better place to taste two exclusive Balinese coffees than with colleagues and friends at Starbucks? Both of these coffees were purchased at a small coffee plantation down the road from Jatilwuth on the way to the sea.

The history of the most expensive coffee in the world ~ this 100 gram packet was 600,000 rupiah or a little over $60 is interesting. In the 1650s the Dutch had command of the Indonesian farms and farmers and did not allow the common folks to pick the beans for there own use. Industrious as they were, instead they collected the civet cat poop, who fed off bright red ripe coffee berries, carefully separately and cleaned the beans from the rest.

The digestive system of the cats were delicate enough to pass the beans unharmed. Farmers roasted them lightly and thus created a highly specialized Luwak Coffee.

Bali Kopi and Luwak Coffee...let the tasting begin!

Jennie with knife in hand!

Always important to have delicate pairings when tasting coffees. Here we share an Italian fruited panettone, brioche, and squash breads.

The grind of these coffees is extremely fine so Dixie was kind enough to figure out the best way to "brew" the coffees. It took a bit of time for the grounds to sink towards the bottom of the press.

Dixie: Strong cherry berry flavor with a clean finish. It left the tongue quickly. It wasn't roasty, which makes sense since it would take away from the flavor.

pictured left to right: Dixie, Jody, Jeremy, Kelly, Alicia and Jennie's head

Jeremy especially like the soft bread with fruity goodness...when you drink this much coffee perhaps the flavor nuances are not as critical!

Carlos: I thought the Bali coffee was outstanding! My favorite was the first one we tried. I like it because it was strong but not overwhelming.

Taiece: I thought the coffee tasted great! It was really smooth without that bitter after taste many coffees have. The flavor was earthy/organic like a homegrown tomato.

left around the table: Jeremy, Kelly, Alicia, Jennie, Carlos, Taiece, Dixie's head and Jody

ready, set...slurp and swish!

Myrna and Jody

Kelly on Bali Kopi:

I was surprised that this coffee had a very mild aroma – nothing really stood out to me at all. I was also surprised when I tasted it. It had no acidity – which is typical of an Indonesian coffee, but it did not have the typical body. The coffee had a surprisingly light mouthfeel – and the flavor was very balanced. It was quite yummy, and I would definitely drink this coffee again.

Luwak:

This coffee was very intriguing from the first smell. It had a strong earthy, herbal aroma – it smelled…..green. The aroma in the cup reminded me of the smell of green coffee beans. The flavor was very similar to the taste – rich with notes of grass, soil and herbs. Like the Bali, the Luwak had no acidity, but was still very light in the mouth – no heavy, lingering aftertaste.