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What's the Difference Between Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon_How Much Does a Cup of Brazilian Yellow Bourbon Coffee Cost at a Cafe

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style) Bourbon is an Arabica coffee bean variety a branch of Typica native to Bourbon Island in the Indian Ocean (now called Réunion Island) generally planted in Central and South America including El Salvador Brazil Rwanda Panama

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Cafe Style (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Introduction to Bourbon Coffee

Bourbon is a variety of Arabica coffee bean and a branch of Typica, native to Bourbon Island in the Indian Ocean (now called Réunion Island). It is generally grown primarily in Central and South America, in places like El Salvador, Brazil, Rwanda, Panama, and others. Early Bourbon was a variant of Ethiopian Typica that was transplanted to Yemen. France began transplanting round beans from Yemen's Mocha to Bourbon Island on the east coast of Africa in 1715 AD (renamed Réunion Island after the French Revolution), which is how it got its name Bourbon. The Bourbon round beans were also passed along to Brazil and Central and South America in 1727, and in 1732, Britain also transplanted Yemen Mocha's round beans to St. Helena Island. The biggest difference in appearance from Typica is its broader leaves, smaller coffee cherries, and more concentrated production, so the appearance of Bourbon coffee cherries differs from Typica in that they are smaller and rounder.

Bourbon is often the champion in American specialty coffee cuppings. Taiwan has also successfully cultivated Yellow Bourbon since 2011, mainly in areas like Taichung's Xinshe and Dongshi, Alishan, Dongshan, Pingtung, and Taitung. Currently, the cultivation quantity has not yet reached economic scale, making it quite rare.

Generally, mature coffee beans present a red color, but Bourbon variety mature coffee presents a yellow color, so it's generally called Yellow Bourbon. In Brazil, the world's largest coffee export region, Yellow Bourbon production accounts for less than 1%, making it quite precious and rare.

Yellow Bourbon Characteristics

Image 1: Photo of red ripe coffee beans

Image 1: Photo of red ripe coffee beans | Image 2: Photo of yellow ripe Yellow Bourbon coffee beans

Yellow Bourbon coffee beans have higher cultivation difficulty and lower yield. Roasted coffee beans present a dry yet sweet taste, with nutty and cocoa/chocolate-like aromas. Yellow Bourbon beans generally use the semi-dry method (or semi-washed method), and some Bourbon varieties will have fruity aromas, especially the aroma and sweetness during brewing are particularly pleasant.

Brewing Yellow Bourbon

Hand-pour Yellow Bourbon blooming video

When hand-pouring Yellow Bourbon coffee beans, the recommended coffee bean to water ratio is as follows:

15 grams of Yellow Bourbon coffee beans ground to setting 4, starting with 92°C hot water, blooming with about 45 grams of water for about 30 seconds, using a continuous pour method to brew about 220 grams of coffee (about 2/3 of a mug) at once.

When hot coffee enters the mouth, it carries a cocoa/chocolate-like aroma with some caramel sweetness.

When the cooled coffee enters the mouth, it has a slight acidity that blends with the original cocoa/chocolate flavor, and the caramel taste leaves a sweet aftertaste in the mouth.

Bourbon Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

The Brazilian natural processed Yellow Bourbon coffee beans roasted by FrontStreet Coffee have full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, the cost-performance ratio is extremely high. A half-pound (227 grams) bag costs only about 85 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams of powder per cup, one bag can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 6 yuan. Compared to cafes selling coffee for dozens of yuan per cup, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.