Elephant Gut Bacteria Unlocks Secret to World's Rarest Coffee's Smooth Taste

• Scientists in Japan discovered that gut bacteria in Asian elephants reduce bitterness in Black Ivory coffee.
• Black Ivory coffee, produced at a Thai sanctuary, involves elephants consuming Arabica cherries, which are then collected and roasted.
• Elephant digestion, specifically pectin-degrading bacteria, breaks down pectin in coffee beans before roasting, preventing bitter compound formation.
• The study, published in Scientific Reports, highlights how animal digestion and microbial activity influence food flavor.
• Findings could inspire new fermentation methods mimicking natural microbial processes for flavor development.

Why It Matters: Elephant gut bacteria are key to Black Ivory coffee's smooth, low-bitterness profile by breaking down pectin.