What Are Common Varieties of Arabica? What Are the Differences Between Bourbon and Typica as Subspecies?

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Typica and Bourbon Varieties

From a biological perspective, coffee varieties can be divided into Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. The main varieties consumed worldwide are Arabica and Robusta. Generally, Arabica is primarily used for single-origin or specialty coffee. From both a cultural and genetic standpoint, Bourbon and Typica are the two most important branches of Arabica coffee.

The Bourbon variety originated from Ethiopia as a natural mutation of Bourbon. It first appeared on Réunion Island and was recorded in 1947. Burundi, Rwanda, and South America are the main coffee-growing regions for Bourbon. Although this variety is similar to Typica, Bourbon is more robust than Typica with higher yields and lower caffeine content. However, the plants are shorter and have very low disease resistance, making them more susceptible to leaf rust.

Bourbon is a subspecies that mutated from Typica. Like Typica, it is one of the oldest existing coffee varieties. When the green fruits ripen, they display a bright red color.

Typica Coffee

Typica is a subvariety of Arabica coffee. The Typica variety originally grew on Martinique Island. Central America, Jamaica, the Kona region of Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor are currently the main coffee-growing regions for Typica. To obtain higher coffee yields from high-quality Typica, Typica coffee varieties are often crossbred with other species. Typica coffee is renowned for its sweetness, and some of the world's finest coffees come from the Typica coffee variety family, including Blue Mountain, Sumatra, and Kona.

Knowledge Point: Mundo Novo

Mundo Novo belongs to the natural hybrid variety of Bourbon and Sumatra Typica. It was first discovered in Brazil and was hailed as the new hope of Brazil's coffee industry, hence the name "New World" variety.

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