SYDNEYSIDERS pay S$67 for a cup of this black gold, but for the relatively affordable price of about $9, Singaporeans can enjoy the same prized brew too.

It's coffee luwak made from beans ingested and excreted by the civet cat. Luwak is the Indonesian name for civet cat, which is common to South-east Asian countries.

The world's priciest coffee, it hails from Indonesia and can retail for as much as $500 per kilogramme.

A limited supply of these luxury beans will be available at the month-old Wiener Kaffehaus coffee counter at Carrefour in Suntec City on Dec 8.

According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, which regulates food imports here, there have been no imports of coffee luwak in the last five years.

Checks with other coffee retailers also reveal that they have no plans to bring this bean in.

Coffee luwak is valued among coffee connoisseurs for its unique, complex flavour, which has been described as earthy with a syrupy-caramel taste.

It commands top dollar because of its rarity: The civet cat is said to be selective about the type of coffee berries they eat, choosing only the ripest and the reddest.

The flesh of the berries are digested in the stomach of the animal but the beans remain undigested and are excreted.

Because of their foraging habit and finicky palate, civet cats cannot be reared in captivity for luwak beans. Hence, workers have to be sent into the forests to scour for civet cat droppings.

The beans from the droppings are dried, cleaned and roasted for a brew that is exceptionally smooth.

Mr Anton Wiesmann (inset), owner of Wiener Kaffehaus, which first opened in Chinatown two years ago and will relocate to Bukit Timah Road next month, says he is able to offer the coffee at such a low price because he purchases his beans directly from auction houses via the Internet.

'By cutting out the middleman, I'm able to save myself and customers a handsome sum of money.'

He buys the coffee from auction houses in Hamburg, Germany, the centre of the coffee-bean trade, which are certified to be authentic.

He is bringing in the beans because he wants to be able to offer consumers 'something different and exclusive, which dedicated coffee-drinkers can't find off the shelves here'.

Due to limited supplies, he is able to bring in only 30kg of the beans.

But will coffee-drinkers warm up to a hot mug of it?

Madam Angeline Neo, 40, a recruitment officer, says she has heard of coffee luwak, but is 'not curious enough to want to try coffee that has been excreted from an animal'.

Coffee connoisseur Sarapjit Singh, 32, a teacher who roasts his own beans, says he will definitely try it.

'If you're passionate about something, you'll definitely want to know more about it. I love coffee and have never tasted coffee luwak, so I'm looking forward to finding out what it tastes like.'