Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

Our Author: Saiyora

There are so many stereotypes about Italians. Many of them are based on the gastronomic habits if this Mediterranean nation. Italians are known in the world as main pasta eaters- or Italiano Maccheroni Pasta. And it is in fact true that the inhabitants of one of the most gorgeous peninsula do like a lot pasta products. Also they are known for their immense love for the ice-cream, or gelato. And I admit it is one of the most tasteful in the world.

But today I would like to talk about a different Italian passion, which is coffee, very special coffee in Rome. As you may or may not know coffee beans were brought to Europe from Ottoman Empire, which in its turn borrowed them from Africa, precisely Ethiopia historical birthplace of coffee. Italy has a whole range of different coffee types, from espresso, cappuccino, ristretto, etc, etc… One of the first places on each agenda of any tourist that comes to Italy should be to try all the types of coffee, prepared in Italy. But again today I will not speak about a normal coffee. I will speak about a very special type of coffee, well, the most expensive in the world! You may be puzzled now, for sure, but I do inform you that this coffee is very, very special and you should be courageous enough to try it. Well, about the costs, this coffee, and let us reveal the secret, called KOPI LUWAK costs 90 euros per 100 gramms!!!

«Kopi Luwak» (in Bahasa Indonesian Kopi means coffee and Luwak is the name of the animal "producing" beans), or «Civet’s Coffee » is prepared from the coffee beans that have passed through the alimentary system of these animals in Indonesia. These civets are specifically put on coffee plantations and, as they say, they know how to find the best beans of coffee. They eat them, digest, and… Plantation workers then gather excrements , separated from them coffee beans, launder and fry them. Specialists say that this coffee has such a unique aroma. And I do confirm that this smell is all but nasty!
Just some interesting facts about these civets. Recently many hundreds of animals were killed in an attempt to stop the outbreak of SARS. The meat of these animals is being prepared in many Asian countries, especially in China, but it is believed that the Indonesian civet is different from the Chinese ones. And there practically no chances that a person would drink this coffee accidently. First, it is very expensive and second is specially made!

So, if you have enough courage to drink it while you are in Rome, just go to the Bar Bonito in the Ostiense Train Station and enjoy its particular taste and aroma, as I did just a week ago!

Ostiense station is just few steps away from the Piramide Line B Metro station, if you stay in Hotel Des Artistes in Rome just hop on the train on Castro Pretorio and in 10 minutes you will be in the right place to try the right coffee!

HAVE A GOOD… COFFEE!!!