• Cleaned coffee beans extracted from elephant dung are left to dryprior to roasting. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Cleaned coffee beans extracted from elephant dung are left to dryprior to roasting. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • The wife of a mahout extracts coffee beans from elephant dung. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    The wife of a mahout extracts coffee beans from elephant dung. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • Blake Dinkin, the founder of Black Ivory coffee, left, and a worker spread cleaned coffee beans to dry them. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Blake Dinkin, the founder of Black Ivory coffee, left, and a worker spread cleaned coffee beans to dry them. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • Roasted coffee beans, extracted from elephant dung, have been described to as earthly in flavour and soft on the palate. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Roasted coffee beans, extracted from elephant dung, have been described to as earthly in flavour and soft on the palate. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • Mahouts feed an elephant with a mixture containing coffee beans. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Mahouts feed an elephant with a mixture containing coffee beans. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • Black Ivory Coffee is produced through elephants under the care of Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Black Ivory Coffee is produced through elephants under the care of Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • A percentage from Black Ivory Coffee sales helps fund a specialist veterinarian to care for elephants in Thailand through the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    A percentage from Black Ivory Coffee sales helps fund a specialist veterinarian to care for elephants in Thailand through the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • A staff prepares Black Ivory coffee for hotel guests at the luxury Anantara resort in Thailand. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    A staff prepares Black Ivory coffee for hotel guests at the luxury Anantara resort in Thailand. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • A mahout’s wife cleans coffee beans extracted from elephant dung. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    A mahout’s wife cleans coffee beans extracted from elephant dung. Christophe Archambault / AFP
  • Up to 33 kilograms of coffee cherries are required to produce just one kilogram of Black Ivory coffee. Christophe Archambault / AFP
    Up to 33 kilograms of coffee cherries are required to produce just one kilogram of Black Ivory coffee. Christophe Archambault / AFP

Black Ivory: Luxury coffee with a conscience – in pictures


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Black Ivory coffee is one of the world’s most expensive, thanks to pachyderms under the care of Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in northern Thailand.