Civet Poop Coffee Hasn't Lost Its Allure Despite SARS Fears

Known as kopi luwak in Indonesia, caphe cut chon in Vietnam and dubbed "poopacino" by humorist Dave Barry, a rare and expensive varietal coffee bean harvested from the feces of a weasel-like creature called the palm civet continues to entice connoiseurs despite fears that the animal is a carrier of the SARS virus. Mainland China recently exterminated thousands of civets based on that supposition, reports the Associated Press, but a major kopi luwak distributor in Jakarta insists the Indonesian civet is a different breed entirely, the coffee is perfectly safe, and sales will remain strong in the coming year. In the U.S., the beans have sold for as much as $300 a pound. Is kopi luwak for real?