Coffee culture

Yunnan Coffee Varieties and Characteristics - Is Yunnan Small Bean Coffee Arabica? Bloodline Constraints Quality

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange for more coffee bean information please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style) FrontStreet Coffee - Yunnan Coffee Varieties Introduction Yunnan is the world's seventh largest Arabica coffee producing area (2017/2018 harvest), Yunnan mainly cultivates Catimor Catimora and Tim's hybrid Arabica varieties, fully washed Catimor brings gentle tones, good mouthfeel and

Professional Coffee Knowledge Exchange. More Coffee Bean Information. Please Follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat Official Account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee - Yunnan Coffee Varieties Introduction

Yunnan is the world's seventh-largest producer of Arabica coffee (2017/2018 harvest). The main cultivated variety in Yunnan is Catimor—a hybrid Arabica variety of Caturra and Timor. Fully washed Catimor has attracted attention for its soft tones, good mouthfeel, and sweet flavor combination.

Coffee trees are extremely particular about their growing environment, with specific requirements for sunlight and irrigation water quality. The most suitable regions for coffee tree cultivation and growth must have appropriate temperatures (annual average temperature: between 15-25°C), moderate rainfall (annual rainfall must reach 1500-2000mm and align with the coffee growth cycle), fertile soil, and good drainage.

Typica and Bourbon, two classic high-quality coffee varieties, are the main cultivated varieties in Yunnan. In 1991, Yunnan also introduced the Catimor series from Kenya, which has stronger virus resistance and higher yields. Currently, the most widely planted variety in Yunnan is the Catimor series, with small amounts of Typica and Bourbon still cultivated in the Baoshan region.

Coffee Varieties

Typica

Typica is the most classic high-quality Arabica variety. World-famous coffees such as Blue Mountain and Mocha are almost entirely Arabica varieties. Typica coffee originates from Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan and is the most widely cultivated coffee variety in the Western Hemisphere.

Bourbon

This variety originates from Typica and was expanded after being planted by the French in 1708 on Bourbon Island (now Réunion Island). Bourbon also has wonderful aroma and rich flavors, with higher yields and growth vigor compared to Typica, suitable for cultivation in regions at 1200-2000 meters altitude. Bourbon coffee is the second most important variety after Typica among small-grain coffees.

Catimor

A small-grain coffee variety belonging to the Catimor high-generation series. Catimor is not purely of Arabica lineage; it is a hybrid between Timor (which belongs to the Robusta species) and Caturra (a Bourbon variety), therefore Catimor has 25% Robusta lineage.

Knowledge Point

Typica is an old variety with excellent flavor, good mouthfeel, and distinct aroma, but weak disease resistance.

Conclusion

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research hall that loves to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation only to help more friends fall in love with coffee, and we hold 3 low-discount coffee events every month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends drink the best coffee at the lowest price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's principle for 6 years!

END

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

0