I’m sure that someone somewhere has already tried that. And if it was any good, we’d be drinking it by now.
But, who knows?
2 Likes
Guess I won’t be swallowing coffee beans… read on!
AI Overview
While humans cannot replicate civet digestion internally, scientists and food companies have developed external methods to mimic the process and produce similar “animal-free” coffee. The fundamental differences between the human and civet digestive systems mean a person cannot simply consume coffee berries and have the same outcome.
Key differences between civet and human digestion
The unique traits of the civet’s digestive tract are what produce the distinct flavor of kopi luwak (civet coffee).
| Feature | Civet digestive tract | Human digestive tract |
|---|---|---|
| Digestion speed | The civet’s gut passage time is relatively fast, under 9 hours. | Human digestion is much slower. |
| Key enzymes | Digestive enzymes in the civet’s stomach break down proteins in the coffee beans that contribute to bitterness. Research also shows that specific bacteria, such as Gluconobacter, are highly abundant in the civet’s gut and play a key role in fermentation. | The human digestive system metabolizes caffeine primarily through the liver enzyme CYP1A2, which affects the caffeine itself, not the bean proteins. Humans do not possess the same mix of enzymes and gut microbes to perform the crucial fermentation process that modifies the beans. |
| Aromatic compounds | The civet’s digestive process significantly alters the chemical composition of the beans, yielding a different profile of fats and flavor-enhancing compounds. | The human system is not designed to ferment and modify the coffee beans in this way. The beans would likely be excreted intact but without the unique fermentation effect. |
| Ethical concerns | Consuming coffee processed by a civet encourages the inhumane practice of keeping the animals in captivity and force-feeding them. For this reason, many companies and animal rights groups actively discourage purchasing civet coffee. | While a human could conceivably consume and excrete coffee cherries, it is neither practical nor sanitary. Furthermore, a human digestive tract would not produce the desired flavor outcome. |
It is neither practical nor sanitary. Furthermore, a human digestive tract would not produce the desired flavor outcome.
1 Like
While on the topic of 
poop…
Why does pooping feel so good? | Live Science
I already mentioned a while back about an article on defecation before gym workout. Have found this a real plus.
1 Like