Martin's Coffee & a Movie: "The Bucket List" and Animal Coffee

I'm Marchin, one of the staff members, and I've always wanted a projector so I can watch movies at home!

This is the sixth installment of our column focusing on coffee in movies, and this time it's from a moving film starring two famous actors...

The film I'm introducing is the 2007 American movie, "The Bucket List."

This heartwarming and tear-jerking film makes you think about family love, friendship, dreams, life, and the importance of taking action. After watching it, you'll want to make your own bucket list. Now, let's introduce the coffee in "The Bucket List."

Click here for the column on "The Great Escape," the fifth installment in the series: Marchin's Coffee and Movies: "The Great Escape" and wartime coffee

Synopsis of "The Bucket List"

"The Bucket List" (original title: The Bucket List) is a human drama film released in 2007, directed by Rob Reiner of "Stand by Me," and co-starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

The synopsis of "The Bucket List" is...

Carter, a diligent auto mechanic who has worked faithfully for his family for 45 years, and Edward, a wealthy magnate who made his fortune from scratch, find themselves sharing a hospital room. Their backgrounds are completely different.

Initially, there was a distance between them, but they gradually became closer, their conversations increased, and they opened up to each other, eventually discussing their personal lives.

One day, Edward notices Carter writing something on a memo, making a list. He asks what he's writing, but Carter stubbornly refuses to tell him.

Amidst this, both men are given a prognosis of six months to live. A shocked Carter throws away all the lists he had written.

Edward finds them and asks about the list again, and Carter finally opens up, explaining that it's a list of things he wants to do before he dies, a "bucket list."

Hearing this, Edward proposes that they fulfill the list, adding his own wishes to it.

Their list is filled with various items such as "be kind to a stranger," "go skydiving," and "laugh until I cry." Carter, initially reluctant, decides to go through with it, and the two embark on a journey.

As they carry out the list on their journey, the two men learn many things about what life is and what is truly important...

...and so on. The story itself progresses relatively calmly, yet before you know it, you're drawn in, and after watching it, something deeply resonates with you. It's truly a wonderful film.

By the way, I really like the content of Edward's "kiss the most beautiful woman in the world" item!

Coffee in "The Bucket List"

In the movie, coffee plays various roles: it reveals Edward's personality, creates subtle foreshadowing in the story, and connects the bond between Edward and Carter.

Coffee first appears in Edward's introductory scene. In a courtroom, Edward, looking composed, pours coffee from a thermos into a cup, savors its aroma, and offers it to his lawyer, saying, "Kopi Luwak, the most valuable drink in the world."

This single scene showcases Edward's fearless personality—how he remains unperturbed even in court, taking things at his own pace—and his identity as a wealthy man with a discerning eye for the finest things.

The wealthy Edward's favorite coffee is Kopi Luwak, one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

Edward drinks this coffee, believing it to be "the finest coffee," without knowing what it truly is. But finally, the day comes when he learns its true nature.

During their journey, the two men have a falling out and return home. Carter, enjoying his time with his family after a long while, collapses that night and is rushed to the hospital.

Upon hearing the news, Edward rushes to the hospital. He approaches Carter, who is lying in bed, a little awkwardly. Carter then hands him a piece of paper and tells him to read it, asking, "Are you still drinking that coffee?"

It states that Kopi Luwak, the coffee Edward loves, is actually coffee that comes from civet droppings, and the two burst into laughter. It was the moment the item on their list, "laugh until I cry," was fulfilled.

It was Edward's coffee, which had appeared from the beginning of the story, that became the catalyst for bridging the gap between the two men after their quarrel.

Animals and Coffee

Kopi Luwak, Edward's favorite coffee, also appeared in a previous column, "The Secret to Delicious Brewing at Kamome Diner."

Many people probably learned about coffee made from the droppings of civet cats from this movie. But Kopi Luwak isn't the only coffee related to animals!

Here are some unique coffees that are significantly involved with animals!

Jacu Coffee

Inspired by Kopi Luwak, there is a coffee called Jacu Coffee.

While Kopi Luwak is coffee collected from civet droppings, this coffee is collected from the droppings of a large bird similar to a pheasant, called a Jacu.

These birds, which inhabit warm regions, are raised near coffee trees in places like Brazil. Similar to civets, they are fed coffee cherries, and the coffee beans excreted as droppings are collected and traded as a rare and valuable coffee.

It is said to have a unique taste like Kopi Luwak, but because the transit time through the digestive system is shorter than that of civets, it undergoes less excessive fermentation, resulting in a clean, clear, and fruity taste.

Black Ivory Coffee

While Kopi Luwak comes from civet cats and Jacu Coffee from Jacu birds, both relatively small animals, Black Ivory Coffee is collected from a much larger animal.

That animal is, surprisingly, an elephant. This Black Ivory is produced in Thailand.

Harvested Arabica coffee cherries are mixed with the elephants' regular food, like fruit, and fed to them. Approximately 30 hours later, the coffee beans are sorted from their droppings, washed, and dried to finally become Black Ivory.

Because it undergoes fermentation with fruits and other foods for a long time in the stomach, it is said to have a robust yet mild bitterness and a fruity taste.

Monkey Coffee

Not all animal-involved coffees are collected from droppings; in India, there is a coffee called Monkey Coffee, which is made from beans that monkeys have eaten and then spit out.

Monkey coffee is made from coffee beans that monkeys have eaten and then spat out. Monkeys eat ripe coffee cherries, chew them for a while, and then spit out the parts they can't chew through.

The coffee that is spat out and falls to the ground is collected, washed, and dried, then traded as monkey coffee.

Monkey coffee is believed to develop a unique flavor due to the fermentation caused by saliva during mastication. Many of the beans even have teeth marks.

Besides the ones I introduced this time, there are several other coffees involving animals. Their prices vary greatly, from around 5,000 yen per 100g to 10,000 or 20,000 yen, or even more. However, they all share the commonality of being very expensive...

In reality, the high value is largely attributed to their rarity—the inability to produce them in large quantities at once. Therefore, opinions are divided on the unique taste of the coffee itself. As Base Coffee, we've determined that the quality isn't consistently high enough, so we currently do not sell them.

Furthermore, there are issues such as animal abuse concerns arising when animals are forced to eat coffee for collection, or cases where coffee that only contains a tiny blend of animal-involved coffee is marketed under that name. However, a certain number of enthusiasts like Edward are fascinated by their unique flavors, and they are still traded at high prices worldwide. While you might not be able to drink them daily, perhaps adding "try it once" to your bucket list wouldn't be a bad idea.