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Typica vs Bourbon: Which Coffee Variety Reigns Supreme? What is Brazil's Best Coffee Known As?

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 account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Bourbon and Typica varieties. In Ethiopia, the recognized homeland of Arabica coffee, there are over 2000 known bean varieties, with even more unknown varieties waiting to be discovered in the wild coffee forests. Most of these are collectively referred to as heirloom varieties, such as the ones we are familiar with.

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

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Bourbon and Typica Varieties

In Ethiopia, the recognized homeland of Arabica, there are as many as 2,000 known coffee varieties, with even more unknown varieties waiting to be discovered in the wild coffee forests. Most of these are collectively referred to as "heirloom varieties." For instance, the "Geisha" that we are familiar with and love is widely considered an heirloom variety from Ethiopia.

Today, we will discuss Typica and Bourbon, the two most ancient families among these "heirloom varieties." They ventured out from Ethiopia, spread across the world, and undertook the great mission of propagating fine coffee to the world.

Typica

In Ethiopia, the recognized homeland of Arabica, there are as many as 2,000 known coffee varieties, with even more unknown varieties waiting to be discovered in the wild coffee forests. Typica is the most ancient and outstanding among these heirloom varieties.

Typica has given rise to numerous excellent coffee varieties. For example, Mandheling, Blue Mountain, Maragogipe (Elephant Bean), Kona, and others are all derived varieties of Typica. However, Typica itself, despite its excellent flavor, has gradually been replaced by Catuai and Catimor (both variants of Bourbon) in Central and South America in recent years due to its weak constitution, poor disease resistance (susceptibility to leaf rust), and low fruit yield, making it economically unfavorable. It has become increasingly rare.

Bourbon

Alongside Typica as an ancient and excellent variety is Bourbon. (Some sources suggest that Bourbon is a variant of Typica after it was transplanted to Yemen). The coffee varieties derived from Bourbon are also extremely rich. Pacas, Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Kenya's "SL28" and "SL34," Caturra, Villa Sarchi, and others are all direct derivatives of Bourbon. Moreover, Bourbon itself, with its vigorous vitality, has better resistance to leaf rust than Typica, yet its flavor is not inferior to Typica—it may even be superior, often winning in cupping competitions. Therefore, its production yield is also slightly higher than Typica.

Among Brazil's numerous coffee varieties, Yellow Bourbon is one of the most outstanding variants. While regular Bourbon typically turns from green to yellow and then to red, Yellow Bourbon only reaches the yellow stage in appearance. Yellow Bourbon grown at high altitudes and processed using the natural method offers exceptional flavor. Brazil Chacal Yellow Bourbon comes from the Aguas Claras farm in the Llcinea region of Minas Gerais. Due to the excellent water quality in the region where this farm is located, all coffee produced there maintains an excellent standard.

Knowledge Point

For a long time, Bourbon coffee has been considered one of the finest coffees due to its low yield and high quality.

In Brief

FrontStreet Coffee is a research-focused coffee specialty shop, delighted to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation simply to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee events with significant discounts. The reason is that FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price—this has been our mission for the past six years!