Get the Scoop on Cat Poop Coffee (Yes, It’s a Real Thing)

Name: Get the Scoop on Cat Poop Coffee (Yes, It’s a Real Thing)
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients: 1/4 cup dark roast coffee, medium ground; 2 cups hot water; 4 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, divided; ice

Patricia Conte

Feb 22, 2018

If you’re a coffee lover and into the latest and greatest trends around the world, you may have had cat poop or weasel coffee (traditionally known as kopi luwak or ca phe chon). It’s somewhat rare, which is likely why it has become so coveted lately. I recently had the chance to try this coffee drink and I was eager to get to the, ahem, bottom of its taste.

As for the cat poop, there are no cats involved in the making of ca phe chon that’s popular in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. The civet, however, is well into the mix of things. This furry, nocturnal mammal is native to the area, and looks a bit like a cat (or a weasel), hence the nicknames. Let’s travel back in time for a moment to when the Dutch introduced coffee in Southeast Asia. Those little civets were known to eat the coffee berries. The berries and seeds would separate in their stomachs, and the seeds (or coffee beans) would become fermented while in there and, well, would eventually get pooped out. The beans would be collected, cleaned, and roasted. And that, my friends, is how we get to cat poop coffee.

Ca phe chon coffee is still around today and can be very expensive to buy because of its rarity (trend alert). Like anything that’s coveted and rare, however, you can get ripped off with either low-quality beans or those that come from questionable sources. I received a gift of this coffee from a friend who’d recently returned from a trip to Vietnam.

I couldn’t wait to try it, since I knew about its legend and popularity. Now, my friend is a true pal, but I’m sure she didn’t spend a fortune on my gift. In fact, she said she picked it up at the airport. The coffee was good, but to me, it didn’t have any distinguishing characteristics from my standard, favorite beans. This type of coffee is said to be smoother, less acidic, and less caffeinated than other coffee due to how it’s processed.

My recommendation? If you’re trying to decide whether or not to pay big bucks for coffee, stick to buying your favorite beans. The money you save will be well spent on, say, a trip to Southeast Asia instead. In the meantime, enjoy this easy-to-make version of Vietnamese iced coffee (cat poop coffee not required).

Vietnamese iced coffee is made with a dark roast coffee combined with sweetened condensed milk and served iced. You’ll love this drink as a tasty afternoon (or anytime) pick-me-up.

While Vietnamese iced coffee is traditionally brewed using a special stainless steel filter, there’s an easier, more Americanized way to do things. If you don’t have the special filter, simply brew a dark roast coffee using an espresso maker or French press. Next, add a few tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk to a heat-proof glass, add the brewed coffee to about 3/4 of the way full, stir, and add ice. Voilà!

Vietnamese Iced Coffee RECIPE

Recipe by Patricia Conte, Brit + Co

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dark roast coffee, medium ground
2 cups hot water
4 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, divided
ice

Instructions:

Combine coffee and hot water in a French press. As the coffee brews, divide the sweetened condensed milk between two (eight-ounce) heat-proof glasses.
After four minutes, press the coffee, then pour the strained coffee between the two glasses, filled to about 3/4 from the top. Stir to combine.
Add ice and serve.

For more coffee drink inspiration, head to Pinterest.

(Photos via Patricia Conte / Brit + Co)

5 Wellness Retreats to Escape To In 2024

We're thrilled to kick off our new Jetset Journeys series, where we turn the best U.S. cities to explore this year into our own personal playgrounds. This is not just a travel guide but a way to spark your creativity and your wanderlust for weekend and week-long travel. Pack your bags , join us here every week, and get jetsetty this summer.

Though you might not get summers “off” anymore, the season is a great chance to slow down a little, press the reset button, and carve out some time for yourself. What better way to do this than to book a visit to a wellness retreat? There are so many options available that include indulgent massage treatments, nourishing meal choices, and activities like hiking and forest bathing geared toward getting you more centered and reconnected with yourself. Here are a few of our favorites.

Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, TX

Photo: Lake Austin Spa Resort

Located just about 20 miles from downtown Austin, this lakeside all-inclusive wellness getaway feels much farther from the city than that. Your stay includes all meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic drinks, including fresh juices and smoothies; access to the spa’s pools and relaxation spaces; wellness activities; and gratuity.

Photo: Lake Austin Spa Resort

Summer is a beautiful time to visit and enjoy full access to the resort’s watersports, such as hydrobikes, waterskis, wakeboards, and kayaks on secluded Lake Austin. Daily programming includes activities like lakeside yoga, guided hikes through private trails in the Texas Hill Country, Japanese sword classes, myofascial release in the water to help unwind those stubborn knots in your neck and shoulders, Tarot readings, and wine cruises.

Photo: Carly Diaz

The on-site spa’s [ comfort zone ] FACE SPAce is the first of its kind in the U.S., utilizing new specialty therapies to stimulate collagen and leave you glowing. Challenge yourself to a treatment that includes an outdoor cold plunge (this can be fun with friends) followed by a warm, soothing massage to fully relax. Then follow it up with a thoughtfully presented meal, such as heirloom tomato salad, whipped ricotta made with local honey, or Texas blackened redfish, served in the dining room or outside on one of the breezy patio spaces.

Mii Amo, Sedona, AZ

Photo: Douglas Friedman

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive wellness getaway that feels deeply meaningful, head to Sedona’s breathtaking Boynton Canyon, where the iconic spa Mii amo has recently reopened following a $40 million, two-year renovation. Here you’ll find 23 casitas with private balconies or patios, in-room kiva fireplaces and soaking tubs, as well as a new restaurant called Hummingbird.

Photo: Douglas Friedman

Daily guided meditations and special presentations and ceremonies (examples include a Summer Solstice Ceremony and Canyon Bathing) create an ideal environment to slow down and refocus.

Photo: Douglas Friedman

At the spa, beyond the typical massage and facial offerings, you’ll find a unique to Mii amo menu of services, including Chakra Balancing; Aura Photography; a Connection Ceremony that focuses on letting go of past hurts or welcoming in new beginnings; an Inner Quest including special ceremonial elements like braided sweetgrass and cedar/sage oil; and Intuitive Massage.

Photo: Mii Amo

The chef-created menu at Hummingbird includes items like salmon ceviche, duck breast, poulet rouge, and gluten-free and vegan selections, and there’s a juice bar serving a full slate of smoothies, juices, and wellness tonics.

Photo: K Hayden

Next door at neighboring property Enchantment Resort you’ll find additional amenities you can use while exploring the surrounding 400 miles of trails.

Canyon Ranch, Woodside, CA

Photo: Canyon Ranch

Secluded within 16 acres of majestic redwoods in Northern California, about an hour south of San Francisco, is the all-inclusive Canyon Ranch Woodside. There are additional locations in Tucson, Lenox (outside of Boston), and Las Vegas.

Photo: Canyon Ranch

If you find forest bathing appearling, this is the ideal wellness getaway for you. The resort celebrates its forest environs from its 24 luxury treehouse rooms that peek through the forest, to ropes courses and guided meditations that take place under the magnificent canopy. Locally sourced dining menus are served al fresco or in a cozy dining room and include afternoon tapas, colorful salads, and fresh salmon.

Photo: Canyon Ranch

Each day, Canyon Ranch offers dozens of mind-body activities including hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, dancing, and free-flow abstract painting. Upcoming summer wellness presentations and workshops focus on themes such as “Wisdom of the Horse and Herd” equine therapy; “Activating Your Empathy and Intuition”; and “Find Your Purpose.” Spa treatments include Forest Aromatherapy Treatment and Hiker’s Retreat, designed to perk up your feet after a strenuous hike.

Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC

Photo: Art of Living Retreat Center

You can design your own stay at the Art of Living Retreat Center depending on your intentions. Customizable itineraries include silent retreats, wellness cleanses and detoxes, meditation-focused retreats, and happiness retreats. This summer, guest faculty will lead sessions on “Healing Through Feminine Practices,” “Trusting Our Transformation,” and “Experience the Divine.”

Photo: Art of Living Retreat Center

The spa offers Ayurvedic-informed treatments, including Eye Bathing, targeting relieving tired eyes with warmed ghee; Clear Breath Support with herb-infused oils to clear the sinuses; and a treatment to settle the nervous system, with warm oil poured into the ears. Round these out with soothing body wraps and massage treatments for the ultimate restorative experience.

Photo: Art of Living Retreat Center

Buffet-style meals are prepared with vegetarian, whole foods, and are informed by Ayurvedic wisdom, including selections like Jamaican Jackfruit Stew and Gado-Gado Peanut Sprout Salad. Each day, you can enjoy yoga sessions, nature walks, a fire circle, and there are additional class options such as pottery and Ayurveda cooking.

Hemlock Neversink, Neversink, NY

Photo: Sasithon Photography

The newest all-inclusive wellness resort on this list just opened in October 2023. Hemlock Neversink is situated on 230 acres of land in the Sullivan Catskills, about two hours northwest of New York City. Your stay includes all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, programming, and on-site amenities.

Photo: Clay Banks

The prix fixe menu at the on-site restaurant Bittersweet highlights plant-forward cuisine, including options like enoki mushroom and warm spinach salad and roasted cabbage or skirt steak.

Photo: Upland Creative

Enjoy spa treatments such as the 90-minute Return to Nature Ritual, which exfoliates with berry seats and white peat, then hydrates your skin with organic mushrooms, helichrysum blossoms, and berry oils. Then float while breathing in birch extract and other aromas.

Photo: Sasithon Photography

You’ll find a variety of workshops, yoga and meditation classes, and there’s even a goat sanctuary on site (you can go for a daily goat hike for some animal therapy), as well as tennis courts and hiking trails. This summer, nationally recognized guest instructors will teach classes and lead workouts on mat pilates and dance cardio in the honey-toned wood Movement Building, and in the Activity Building, do a Catskill honey and tea tasting, join a Shamanic drum circle, and make a vision board.

Main Photos: Lake Austin Spa Resort

Follow along for all your travel needs with our Flights of Fancy series and Jetset Journeys series.

Nicole Kidman Is Officially Back For "Nine Perfect Strangers" Season 2

There's something appealing about an anthology show. You know, the ones where we get a new cast every season but the location or the themes remain the same (hello White Lotus and American Horror Story!). Your next TV show obsession is right around the corner because Hulu just announced the full lead cast for Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 and it's literally almost too good to be true. Keep reading for everything you need to know!