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What is Missionary Bourbon Coffee - How to Drink and Brew Missionary Bourbon

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). There are over 500 species of coffee trees and 6,000 varieties, most of which are tropical trees and shrubs. There are four main types of coffee trees in the world, but only those with real commercial value and are widely

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

Coffee Tree Varieties and Commercial Value

There are over 500 species of coffee trees with 6,000 varieties, most of which are tropical trees and shrubs. There are four main types of coffee trees in the world, but only two have true commercial value and are widely cultivated. The coffee beans produced by these two varieties are superior in quality to those from other coffee trees.

Choosing African Sun-Dried Beans

For those who enjoy strong fruit acidity, African sun-dried beans are an excellent choice, such as FrontStreet Coffee Kenya Sun-Dried French Mission Bourbon. Kenya coffee has a distinctive flavor profile with natural fruit acidity, rich blackberry notes, and intense wine aroma. The taste is bold and full of tropical character, yet accented with subtle hints of spice and chocolate, revealing delicacy amidst passion.

The Four Major Coffee Categories

Many people think there are only two types of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. In reality, coffee beans fall into four main categories: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Arabusta. Among these, Arabica and Robusta have greater commercial value and are widely cultivated by coffee farmers, making them more readily available in the market.

Arabica Varieties and Bourbon

Through repeated mutations and breeding, Arabica coffee has given rise to numerous varieties such as Typica, Geisha, Bourbon, Caturra, and others. Bourbon is one of the inherent old varieties of Arabica and is also one of the oldest existing coffee cultivars. Bourbon plants have low disease resistance and relatively low yields, harvesting only once every two years. However, their flavor is unique, with small, round beans.

Kenya Coffee Grading

Kenya coffee is graded into 7 levels, with AA being the highest grade, grown at altitudes above 1,500 meters.

The Origin of French Mission Bourbon

As for why it's called French Mission Bourbon? It was French missionaries who first brought Bourbon coffee beans from the Gulf of Aden in Yemen to East Africa for cultivation. Therefore, original Bourbon coffee is still grown in Kenya today.

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya Processing Methods

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya coffee is predominantly washed-processed. Sun-drying is a completely new approach in Kenya. The overall traditional lemon fruit acidity is balanced by fermented wine notes, which emerge later in the profile. The rich chocolate flavor remains, creating a silky-smooth mouthfeel.

FrontStreet Coffee Sun-Dried Kenya Hania

Sun-drying is a relatively traditional processing method, though not commonly seen in Kenya. However, this traditional processing method combined with the French Mission Bourbon variety, an ancient coffee cultivar in Kenya, is quite rare. FrontStreet Coffee Sun-Dried Kenya Hania is French Mission Bourbon from Hania Estate, named after the river that flows through the estate. The local soil consists of deep red, fertile volcanic soil. The Harries family has been growing coffee for nearly a century, combining rich cultivation experience with ideal local terroir conditions for coffee production, consistently yielding excellent flavor profiles.

In addition to the sustainable management of their coffee business, the estate owner focuses on giving back to the local community. They have donated over 50 acres of land to the Thika Municipal Council and Wabeni Technical Research Institution, dedicated to teaching practical livelihood skills to children from impoverished families and improving the living conditions of local people.