Parisian Roaster since 1880
Among the world's most famous coffees, Kopi Luwak holds a unique place. Its history, production method, and rarity have earned it a reputation that extends far beyond the circle of coffee connoisseurs.
But what about it when considered as a specialty coffee? At Verlet, a pioneering house of single-origin coffees in France since 1880, we have chosen to examine it with the same high standards we apply to each of the crus in our selection.
What is Kopi Luwak?
Kopi Luwak is a coffee produced in Indonesia from beans partially digested by the Asian palm civet. The animal consumes the ripest coffee cherries, and the beans pass through its digestive system without being destroyed. Enzymes modify the protein structure of the bean, and consequently some of their characteristics. Once collected, washed, and prepared, they are then roasted like any other coffee.
This unique process has largely contributed to the renown of Kopi Luwak, which has become one of the most sought-after coffees in the world over the decades.
A unique cup
When tasted, Kopi Luwak generally presents a mild profile, low in acidity, and relatively round.
This mildness appeals to some enthusiasts. Others, on the contrary, criticize it for a lack of complexity or personality.
At Verlet, we have always paid particular attention to what makes a coffee unique: its terroir, its altitude, its botanical variety, the producer's expertise, and its cultivation conditions.
And it is precisely these elements that give rise to great specialty coffees.
What makes a coffee rare
For over a century, our roastery has selected coffees whose rarity is primarily linked to their origin.
Some plantations produce only a few bags per year. Some terroirs cover only a few hectares. Some harvests are available only for a few weeks.
Jamaica Blue Mountain, Saint Helena Napoleon, or certain harvests from Yemen belong to this family of rare coffees whose reputation has been built around a place, a climate, and expertise.
Their singularity originates in the plantation before being expressed in the cup.
A question of traceability
At Verlet, each coffee is selected for its origin and for the relationship maintained with the producers who cultivate it.
This requirement for traceability naturally leads us to favor coffees for which we know precisely the terroir, cultivation methods, and harvesting conditions.
Kopi Luwak remains today a production difficult to apprehend from this angle. A significant portion of the available volumes comes from channels whose traceability remains complex to establish, while wild productions remain extremely confidential.
Another idea of rare coffee
Rarity can take several forms.
For some, it lies in an exceptional production process.
For us, it is primarily expressed in the encounter between a terroir, a harvest, and the work of a producer.
It is this philosophy that has always guided the selection of coffees offered in our roastery on rue de Montpensier.
For connoisseurs looking for discoveries, our collection of rare and seasonal harvests brings together some of the most confidential origins in the coffee world, chosen not for their reputation, but for the quality of their cup.
Would you like advice on your choice? Our team welcomes you at 256 rue Saint-Honoré, from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, or you can contact us via our contact form.
