Cat Poo Coffee Anyone?

Note: the following description is shamelessly stolen from Frommer’s Australia 2009.

"If strong coffee is on your mind, head to Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms, about a 40-minute drive west from Townsville. This is one of only a few places in the world you can by kopi luwak, or what the locals call “cat-poo coffee”. To explain: The catlike luwak, or Asian Palm Civet, which lives in the coffee growing regions of Indonesia, likes eating ripe coffee cherries, but does not digest the inner bean, which can later be retrieved from its droppings. The beans are washed, dried, and roasted lightly so their complex flavors are not destroyed. Tearoom owners Allan and Michelle Sharpe sell it alongside exotic teas and Australian fare such as scones, cakes, meat pies, and other home-style dishes. "

My friends, Wade was giddy with anticipation as the plane descended over Townsville. The only stop we made before Herveys Range Heritage Tea Room was at the Europcar counter. Emma and I were happy to help him eat the nachos and cheesecake, and she even took a sip of coffee toward the end after Dad added some milk, but we left most of the experience, dubbed “Coffee Loo Puke” by Emma, to Wade. It was an experience he thoroughly enjoyed. Said it was some of the smoothest coffee he’d ever tasted. I refrained from asking him if he thought that was because the cat had the runs . . .