Dinkin, 42, has invested the past decade and about US$300,000 (9 million baht) into turning coffee beans into black gold, or at least making them profitable enough to make the money back.
His journey started in 2002 in Ethiopia, where Mr Dinkin attempted to convince civet farmers to use their livestock to process coffee beans.
Dinkin said: ‘When an elephant eats coffee, its stomach acid breaks down the protein found in coffee, which is a key factor in bitterness. You end up with a cup that's very smooth without the bitterness of regular coffee.'