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Afineur's first batch of fermented coffee is available through Kickstarter
Back in October, we told you about Afineur's goal of replicating the process of civet coffee without all the pooping. To create a flavor profile similar to the pricey Kopi Luwak beans, and bypass the bowel movements, the company uses fermentation to create coffees with low bitterness and astringency so that fruit and other flavors shine. Well, now's your chance to try it as Afineur's first batch is up for grabs via a Kickstarter campaign. The so-called cultured coffee not only leverages science to create its flavors, but it makes the brew easier on your stomach while leaving those cute little animals out of the equation. The coffee is made in Brooklyn (where the company is based) with the help of Pulley Collective's roasting facility. In terms of origin, the beans are currently sourced from Guatemala, but the folks behind Afineur are "open to new collaborations."
Scientists look to take the pooping out of civet coffee
At first glance, coffee that's result of animal's bowel movements sounds pretty gross. But for anyone who's actually tasted brew from those poop beans (or a beer that features them), the process takes a backseat to the taste. And it makes for one of the most expensive cups of joe in the world. Well, a pair of scientists are skipping the civet's digestive tract when it comes to the flavors of the Indonesian Kopi Luwak coffee, opting for a fermentation process to achieve similar results. A company called Afineur has developed a two-day process that's "inspired by" the civets' work rather than recreating it exactly. It does, however, reduce the bitterness of the coffee and modify aroma just like the small animals do. Fermentation also adds another variable that can be tweaked to fine-tune flavor profiles -- on top of bean selection and roasting techniques. When Afineur's coffee goes one sale later this year, the price per pound should be between $50 and $100 -- cheaper than the several hundred dollar figure that civet-digested beans demand. Of course, you'll still need to decide on a brewing method once you're able to snag a bag. [Photo credit: SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images]
