Ethical Innovations: Embracing Ethics in Technology

Ethical Innovations: Embracing Ethics in Technology

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Glasgow Cafe Sells £300 Elephant-Digested Coffee

A cafe in Glasgow, Scotland, is serving a very special and expensive coffee called Black Ivory. This coffee costs £300 for a cup and is made from Arabica coffee beans that have been eaten by elephants in Thailand. The beans go through the elephants' digestive system, and it's believed that the enzymes in the elephants' stomachs help create a unique flavor.

The coffee house, called The Ottoman Coffee House, is owned by brothers Imran and Irfan Akhtar. They prepare the coffee using a method called a v60 to bring out its flavors. They explained that about 20 elephants in Thailand eat feed that includes these coffee cherries, and the process gives the coffee a taste with hints of tamarind and chocolate.

A visitor, a TikTok personality named Kalani Ghost Hunter, tried the coffee and described it as very smooth, like butter, but not the best tasting coffee they had ever had. They noted that the coffee had a stronger profile and chocolate notes when smelled. While they found it to be good coffee, they mentioned they wouldn't pay £300 for it. The cafe also offers other food and drinks, and they support people in need by providing food packages to the homeless.

Original article

Real Value Analysis

Actionable Information: There is no actionable information in this article. It describes an experience and a product but does not provide steps or instructions for the reader to do anything.

Educational Depth: The article offers some educational depth by explaining the unique process of creating Black Ivory coffee, including the role of elephant digestion and the resulting flavor profile. It also briefly mentions the v60 brewing method. However, it does not delve deeply into the science behind the enzymes or the history of this coffee production.

Personal Relevance: The article has low personal relevance for most readers. While it discusses a unique and expensive coffee, the price point makes it inaccessible to the average person. The information about the cafe's charitable work is a positive aspect but doesn't directly impact the reader's daily life.

Public Service Function: This article does not serve a public service function. It is a news report about a cafe and a specific product, with no warnings, safety advice, or emergency information.

Practicality of Advice: There is no advice given in this article.

Long-Term Impact: The article has no discernible long-term impact. It reports on a current event and a niche product without offering advice or information that would lead to lasting changes in behavior or understanding.

Emotional or Psychological Impact: The article is unlikely to have a significant emotional or psychological impact. It is informative but not particularly inspiring, alarming, or comforting.

Clickbait or Ad-Driven Words: The article does not appear to use clickbait or ad-driven language. It presents information in a straightforward manner.

Missed Chances to Teach or Guide: The article missed opportunities to provide more value. For instance, it could have explored the ethical considerations of using animal digestion in food production, provided more detail on the v60 brewing method for those interested in coffee preparation, or offered information on how to support the cafe's charitable initiatives. A reader interested in learning more about unique coffee production could be directed to resources that explain the science of fermentation in food or the ethical sourcing of coffee beans.

Social Critique

The pursuit of an exorbitantly priced coffee, derived from an unusual animal-based process, raises questions about the responsible stewardship of resources and the potential for creating artificial dependencies. While the cafe owners are noted for supporting those in need, the focus on such a luxury item, detached from the practical needs of community survival, can subtly shift priorities away from essential duties.

The commodification of a product through an exotic process, requiring resources from distant lands and involving animal welfare, does not inherently strengthen local kinship bonds or foster intergenerational responsibility. Instead, it can promote a culture of conspicuous consumption that distracts from the fundamental tasks of raising children and caring for elders within one's own community. The high price point creates an economic barrier, potentially fostering a sense of exclusivity rather than shared community well-being.

The involvement of a "TikTok personality" highlights a trend where validation and social standing are sought through novel experiences rather than through the consistent, daily acts of care and responsibility that build trust within families and clans. The visitor's assessment of the coffee as "good" but not worth the price indicates a disconnect between perceived value and the actual cost, which could lead to a devaluation of genuine, earned sustenance and a pursuit of fleeting, superficial novelty.

If such a focus on expensive, exotic commodities over practical community needs were to spread, it would weaken the foundational duties of kin. The natural responsibilities of fathers and mothers to provide for their families and protect the vulnerable could be overshadowed by the pursuit of status through consumption. This could lead to a fracturing of family cohesion, as resources and attention are diverted from essential care to the acquisition of status symbols. The stewardship of the land would suffer as well, as the focus shifts from sustainable, local resource management to the acquisition of rare, often resource-intensive, external goods. The continuity of the people would be jeopardized if the energy and resources dedicated to such pursuits were instead directed towards procreation, child-rearing, and the care of elders, which are the true pillars of survival. The trust within communities would erode as the emphasis moves from shared responsibility and mutual support to individualistic acquisition.

Bias analysis

The text uses words like "very special" and "very expensive" to describe the coffee. This makes the coffee sound more important and unique than it might be. It could be trying to make people think it's worth the high price.

The text says it's "believed that the enzymes in the elephants' stomachs help create a unique flavor." This uses the word "believed" which means it's not a proven fact. It's presenting an idea as if it's true without showing proof.

The text mentions the cafe "support people in need by providing food packages to the homeless." This information seems separate from the coffee story. It might be there to make the cafe seem good and caring, which could influence how people feel about the expensive coffee.

Emotion Resonance Analysis

The text conveys a sense of curiosity and novelty surrounding the Black Ivory coffee. This emotion is evident in the description of the coffee's unique origin – being eaten and processed by elephants – and its high price of £300. The purpose of highlighting this unusual aspect is to capture the reader's attention and pique their interest in this extraordinary beverage. This emotional appeal aims to make the coffee seem exclusive and remarkable, guiding the reader to view it as something out of the ordinary, rather than just another cup of coffee.

There is also an underlying tone of appreciation and respect for the craftsmanship involved in preparing the coffee. The mention of the v60 method and the brothers' explanation of the flavor profile, with hints of tamarind and chocolate, suggests a careful and deliberate process. This builds a sense of trust in the cafe and the owners, portraying them as knowledgeable and passionate about their product. The purpose here is to elevate the coffee beyond its unusual source, emphasizing the quality of the final preparation. This emotional framing encourages the reader to consider the coffee not just for its novelty, but for its potential to offer a refined taste experience.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the TikTok personality's experience introduces an element of mixed reaction and realism. Kalani Ghost Hunter's description of the coffee as "very smooth, like butter" but "not the best tasting coffee" and the statement that they "wouldn't pay £300 for it" injects a dose of honest feedback. This serves to temper the initial excitement and prevent the reader from forming an overly idealized opinion. The purpose of this balanced perspective is to manage expectations and foster a sense of credibility. By presenting a less-than-perfect endorsement, the writer subtly persuades the reader to consider the value proposition more critically, potentially changing their opinion from outright desire to thoughtful consideration.

Finally, the mention of the cafe supporting people in need by providing food packages to the homeless introduces an emotion of compassion and generosity. This detail serves a significant purpose in shaping the reader's overall perception of the cafe. It aims to build sympathy and goodwill towards the establishment, presenting them as a socially responsible business. This emotional appeal is designed to create a positive association with the cafe, making it more appealing to the reader on a deeper level, beyond just the novelty of the expensive coffee. The writer uses the contrast between the luxury coffee and the charitable work to create a more rounded and admirable image of the cafe, subtly persuading the reader to view the business favorably.

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