How Does Brazilian Red Bourbon Taste? Characteristics of Semi-Washed Process Coffee Beans: Low Acidity, Clean Flavor

FrontStreet Coffee - Brazilian Red Bourbon Coffee & Semi-Washed Processing Method

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What is Bourbon Coffee?

Let me briefly explain what Bourbon coffee is. Bourbon coffee was originally cultivated on Réunion Island, which was known as Bourbon Island before 1789. Bourbon is a sub-variety that resulted from a mutation of Typica. Along with Typica, it belongs to the oldest existing coffee varieties. When the green cherries mature, they display a bright red color.

For Red Bourbon coffee trees, after flowering and fruiting, the color change of coffee cherries follows this pattern: green > light yellow > light orange > mature red > darker red when fully ripe. This is why some call it "Red Bourbon variety." In fact, Red Bourbon is simply what we generally refer to as Bourbon variety. Bourbon varieties grown at high altitudes typically have better aroma, brighter acidity, and may even exhibit wine-like flavors.

To put it simply, Bourbon is a coffee variety belonging to a branch of the Arabica species. It generally produces red fruits, called Red Bourbon. In addition, there are also Yellow Bourbon and Orange Bourbon. Yellow Bourbon has relatively lower yields but superior quality.

Semi-Washed Processing Method

Some coffee-producing regions suffer from perennial drought and water scarcity, which led to the invention of the semi-washed method - a combination of natural (dry) and washed processing.

Like the washed method, it begins with flotation to remove impurities such as branches, leaves, and stones. Then the outer skin and part of the mucilage layer are removed, followed by water washing, and finally sun-drying.

Processing steps: Flotation - Pulping - Washing - Sun-drying

Flavor Profile

The semi-washed method has the fewest variables affecting quality. The coffee's acidity is slightly lower than washed beans but higher than natural (dry) processed beans. The sweetness is somewhat lower than honey-processed beans, but the cleanliness is better than honey processing. The flavor profile falls between honey and washed processing.

Knowledge point: The more mucilage, the darker the bean color, and you'll experience stronger, richer sweetness and mouthfeel.

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