What Does Bourbon Coffee Bean Mean - Introduction to Colombian Pink Bourbon Flavor Profile

Introduction to FrontStreet Coffee's Bourbon Varieties and Colombia·Isabella

Bourbon shares the same tall height and conical shape as Typica, but it has more secondary branches and appears denser. The main trunk and branches are thicker, making it more robust than Typica but relatively less flexible. The branches are more compact, and this increased density means Bourbon can produce roughly 30% more coffee cherries than Typica.

Bourbon leaves are wider than Typica's, with a rough texture and wavy edges. Young leaves are usually green but sometimes have bronze tips. The coffee cherries are round and ripen to colors such as red, orange, or yellow, though the color is consistent on the same plant.

Among Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Orange Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon, Orange Bourbon has lower yields, while Pink Bourbon is extremely rare. Because of that rarity, Pink Bourbon was unknown in the past.

Pink Bourbon is a hybrid cross of Yellow Bourbon and Red Bourbon, with particularly strong disease resistance and exceptional flavor. Compared with other varieties, its beans have higher density, but its yield is very low. It is grown at elevations between 1,500 and 2,000 meters. Cultivating Pink Bourbon is not easy, however. Throughout the coffee tree's entire growth period it requires careful attention and higher environmental standards. Another challenge lies in harvesting, since workers find it difficult to judge maturity when picking. The main reason is that both the yellow gene from Yellow Bourbon and the red gene from Red Bourbon are recessive and easily interfere with each other, making Pink Bourbon difficult to produce. In addition, Pink Bourbon is very similar to unripe Red Bourbon and easily mistaken for it, so the two often get mixed together — another reason for its rarity.

Two Common Bourbon Varieties (Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon)

Red Bourbon

As early as 1850, Brazil became the world's major coffee producer, relying heavily on the Typica variety introduced in 1720. Because that variety had low yields, Brazil introduced Bourbon from Réunion — that is, Red Bourbon — and planted it on a large scale to ensure profits.

After the Red Bourbon tree flowers and fruits, the color of the cherries progresses as follows: green > light yellow > light orange > mature red > darker ripe red — the variety we generally call Bourbon. Bourbon grown at high altitudes typically has a better aroma and bright acidity, even exhibiting wine-like flavors when tasted.

Yellow Bourbon

Yellow Bourbon is a unique Bourbon variety native to São Paulo state, Brazil. The cherries do not turn red when mature but instead take on an orange-yellow color, hence the name "Yellow Bourbon." Because of its lower yield and relatively poor resistance to wind and rain, it has not been widely cultivated. Yellow Bourbon grown in high-altitude regions shows excellent flavor performance.

"FrontStreet Coffee Brazil Queen Estate Yellow Bourbon"Flavor characteristics: sweet, smooth fruit sweetness, distinct nutty flavors, balanced and gentle acidity, weak and clean bitterness, rich chocolate aroma and nutty flavors, with a bright and refreshing mouthfeel.

FrontStreet Coffee Colombia·Isabella

Origin: San Adolfo, Acevedo, Huila, Colombia

Processing Station: A group of small producers

Altitude: 1,700 - 1,800 meters

Variety: Pink Bourbon

Processing Method: Fully Washed

Harvest Processing Time: 2018 / 2019

Roast Level: Light

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Pink Bourbon is rare and intriguing, but if you want to explore what Colombia does best, FrontStreet Coffee's core Colombian lineup is the place to start. FrontStreet Coffee's Colombia Huila washed beans come from Huila, one of the country's most famous specialty regions, grown above 1,500 meters on mountain-ringed hills where Colombia's most important rivers converge; roasted medium-deep, they offer dark chocolate, warm nutty sweetness, and a rounded, full body that works in a pour-over, French press, moka pot, or espresso machine. If you want to taste the modern, experimental side of Colombia, FrontStreet's anaerobic-natural Colombian lot uses a low-oxygen fermentation to build a layered tropical profile of passionfruit, grape, apricot, and preserved fruit, best as a medium-light pour-over, cold brew, drip bag, or moka pot coffee. And for those who want Colombian coffee in an espresso blend, FrontStreet Coffee's Signature Blend pairs Brazil's creamy-nut sweetness with Colombia's dark-chocolate bittersweetness for a fine, golden crema that is very beginner-friendly.