The Relationship Between Bourbon and Typica_Comparison of Red Bourbon Coffee's Unique Characteristics_Is Red Bourbon Coffee Expensive

Bourbon Variety: An Elite Coffee Cultivar

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The Bourbon variety is a sub-species that mutated from Typica, belonging to the oldest existing coffee varieties alongside Typica. When green cherries mature, they turn bright red. Compared to Typica, Bourbon plants have broader leaves and grow more densely. Although the yield is higher than Typica, the harvest cycle is similarly two years, making it a low-yield variety. However, it offers exceptional quality with wine-like acidity and sweet aftertaste. Bourbon coffee beans are typically large, uniform in size, and evenly colored with a lustrous appearance. For easier harvesting, farmers often prune coffee trees to no more than 150 centimeters in height.

Red Bourbon Coffee Beans

After Red Bourbon coffee trees flower and fruit, the color transformation follows this progression: green > light yellow > light orange > mature red > darker red when fully ripe. This is why some people call it "Red Bourbon variety." In fact, Red Bourbon is essentially what we commonly refer to as Bourbon variety. Bourbon grown at high altitudes typically exhibits superior aroma, brighter acidity, and even wine-like flavors when tasted.

Yellow Bourbon

Yellow Bourbon is a hybrid developed by crossing Bourbon with other varieties. Due to its lower yield and lower resistance to wind and rain, it hasn't been widely cultivated. However, when grown in high-altitude regions, it demonstrates excellent flavor characteristics and has become more common in recent years. Yellow Bourbon, with yellow ripe cherries, was first discovered in Brazil and currently grows mainly there. It's generally believed to have resulted from a mutation after crossing red-fruited Bourbon with a yellow-fruited Typica variant called "Amerelo de Botocatu."

French Missionary Bourbon

In Africa, French missionaries known as Spiritan (from the Holy Ghost Congregation) played a crucial role in spreading the Bourbon variety. In 1841, the first mission was established in Réunion, and a branch was founded in Zanzibar in 1859. From Zanzibar, branches were established in 1862 in Bagamoyo (coastal Tanzania, then called Tanganyika) and St. Augustine (Kikuyu, Kenya), with another branch founded in 1893 in Bura (Taita Hills, Kenya). Each branch's establishment was accompanied by planting coffee seeds brought from Réunion.

In 1899, seedlings cultivated in Bura were taken to another French mission in St. Mary's (near Nairobi). In 1900, they were introduced to the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, and seeds were distributed to local residents willing to grow coffee. This marks the origin of what's known as "Missionary Bourbon." Subsequently, the Kent variety was also introduced in 1920. Therefore, to this day, Tanzanian coffee primarily consists of Bourbon and Kent varieties.

The following all belong to the Bourbon family:

Brazilian Red Bourbon Coffee Beans

In some estates in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil, ancient Bourbon coffee is cultivated. The Cerrado plateau in western Minas and southern Minas mostly lies at elevations above 1,100 meters, featuring rich topography, distinct wet and dry seasons, significant day-night temperature differences, and abundant microclimates. These conditions are ideal for cultivating elegant-flavored Red and Yellow Bourbon, naturally making it a key production area for Brazilian specialty coffee.

Roast Level: Medium roast

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Grind Size: 4 (Fuji R440)

Water Temperature: 88°C

Dripper: V60/KONO

Dry Aroma: Nuts, cocoa

Flavor Profile: Low acidity, prominent nutty flavor, excellent chocolate sweetness and body

Red Bourbon Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

Brazilian Red Bourbon coffee beans roasted by FrontStreet Coffee offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value. A half-pound (227g) package costs only around 45 RMB. Calculating at 15g per single-origin coffee serving, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, costing only about 3 RMB per cup. This represents incredible value compared to café prices that often run dozens of RMB per cup.

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou-based roastery with a small storefront but diverse bean selection, offering both famous and lesser-known varieties, plus online services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473