Poop... Included in your coffee?

 

Image via WarnerWords

The simple story

Humans (why?) collect the partially digested leavings, and sell them to others at significantly more expense than any other coffee on the market. 

If you really can’t think of a better way to spend your money, just go to a participating coffee shop (not Starbucks, they’ve resisted the impulse of second-hand coffee delight) and buy yourself some java to really impress your friends. In the USA, Kopi Luwak sells for 50¢ to 85¢ per cup.

How it happens

Yeah, in some countries, mostly like Indonesia and the Philippines, civets are kept on farms and fed coffee-cherries to produce coffee in the same way. Civets in their natural habitat like to hand pick the best, ripened and plump berries for their own consumption, but farmed, they have to make do with berries of any grade, and they are kept in cages. Sometimes in appalling conditions.

It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out your coffee will take a hit in terms of quality. But you’re still going to pay premium prices for that Kopi Luwak cuppa. It has varying costs, but in the USA, $5.90 per pound is a good guess.

Coffee as an animal partnership?

Turns out there’s more than one kind of this animal-produced exotic coffee. Always just a step further, especially when money is involved!

So depending on which country you’re in, and whether you’re enterprising enough to handle it,  there are lots of wealthy folks ready to buy your product, eaten and processed into poo by animal friends.

More delicious coffee...

Bat coffee is also said to be delicious, with a slightly fruity taste.

The most expensive coffee in the world though is processed through the digestive system of elephants in Thailand, and presumably can be found in copious excrement quantities. There is a website devoted to this product. It’s worth reading, just click here to view it. 

And yes, you can also purchase it via Amazon. 

None of the original discussion group had heard of this type of coffee, or its manufacturing process. Many thanks for reading here, even though it might not have been your favourite topic. I’m always grateful for your comments, if you find my work interesting. 

None of the original discussion group had heard of this type of coffee, or its manufacturing process. Many thanks for reading here, even though it might not have been your favourite topic. I’m always grateful for your comments, if you find my work interesting.

A micro-garden move

My entire micro balcony-garden is now taking up a large portion of my living room. I’m fortunate indeed to be on the sunny side of this building, but all the balconies and exterior are going through extensive renovations and painting.

So this week I can offer a sweet picture of my blossoming Indian Rope Hoya.

Image via VickiW

You can just see part of the balcony. No plants are out there. Cabbages continue to thrive inside!

Thank you!

Your visits are always much appreciated! Hope you’ve enjoyed the post and if you’ve got any experience or even preferences for animal-coffees, please tell us all about it in the comments!

VickiW

Want your receipt?

 Image via SutoriMedia of  Pixabay

Christmas is approaching rapidly. Traditionally it’s a time to celebrate family get-togethers, harmony,  peace and joy. These days it seems more a global mess of wars mixed with natural disasters.

Inequality rules. The “haves” really have too much of the good stuff. The “have nots” struggle to find good food, shelter that is affordable, with any degree of permanency about it. 

All those wonderful things...

Christmas is a time for eating good food, gift-giving and being kind to neighbours.

That’s a pretty tall order for so many of our fellow inhabitants of today. 

Was there really a time when most people could actually afford to enjoy those traditions? 

Image via Jill Wellington of Pixabay

Off to the shops!

I seem to go grocery shopping a lot these days. Theoretically, that’s not considered to be a good thing. Most folks believe buying larger amounts of good deals is the way to go. I do seek those special offers of course. But with limited space, I have to be careful about amounts of food to be stored. My best achievement is actually cooking enough to last a couple of days. 

I have lots of practice too, with standing in checkout lines. I’ve never used these automated ones. Just seems that those grocery store owners with billions of profit dollars should be employing people, not machines to do away with humans. 

The bright spot about this though, is according to news reports, this week entire chains are now getting rid of the machines, not because of my thoughts on this, but because the machines allow savvy shoppers to steal from them. 

It seems most customers use credit or debit cards to pay. See, that’s one of several advantages that you tend to notice when you’re waiting in line. You see what people are eating. You mentally compare different boxed and packaged items with the homemade ones you prepare in your kitchen. You interact with others, sometimes a smile, other times with full-blown conversation. Machines can’t do that either.

One very interesting thing to notice in a checkout line is how many customers refuse the offer of a receipt for their purchases. I can’t imagine doing that. My receipts are the gold in managing what I buy, and a daily record that helps in the budget for everyday living.

Image via Alexas _Fotos  of Pixabay

People have tried to explain to me that their credit cards issue full accounting of their expenditures for each month. The problem is, by the time you get that you’ve already spent your money! There’s no choice to consider whether you should or shouldn’t make the purchase. 

Receipts are magic, as long as you record them daily. If you do this one simple thing you will be amazed at how much you save each month!

Image via cpastrick of pixabay

This is nothing new. It’s not high-tech, but it can be a good adventure. Just remember with the money you save, there’s another choice. You can physically save it, or you can use it to pay off debt. 

I wrote about this way back in 2014. Click here to see. 

Since then Covid-19 has had an astounding negative effect on money matters. At that time we paid cash for everything. Now we have to use our one-and-only credit card. But we still use the time-honoured job of recording the receipts every day. 

We now have no mortgage, no debt. It’s been worthwhile to always ask for receipts, no matter how small the purchase. 

Christmas is almost upon us. Time to consider finances, needs and wants. It’s a harsh world out there, but you can tame your little corner of it. Just remember to ask for your receipts.

A beautiful perspective

My goodness! Still, some spawning salmon to be seen in the little creek. The garden lawns are a mass of delicate green grass. 

This morning, two ducks strolled around, making a mirror image and there are lots of pretty Christmas greenery and lights to enjoy.

It’s a meaningful time of the year. 

Thank you so much to all my wonderful, supportive readers!

Image via VickiW