Introduction to Bourbon Coffee: Pointed Bourbon Characteristics and Features

FrontStreet Coffee — An Introduction to Laurina Bourbon Coffee

Bourbon is one of the oldest and finest varieties in coffee, held in the same regard as Typica — some would argue it is the finest sub-variety of the Typica line. Certain botanists go further and suggest that Bourbon is what early Typica became after it was transplanted to Yemen.

Bourbon beans are almost always rounded and slightly smaller than Typica, and they ripen later. In exchange for that, they yield about 30% more than Typica — still modest next to modern high-yielding cultivars. Bourbon thrives above 1,200 meters, where its flavor is markedly better than beans grown below 1,000 meters. It has one notable weakness: it needs a resting year between crops. Round Bourbon beans are vigorous and resist leaf rust better than Typica, yet their cup is anything but a compromise — aroma and body are both of exceptionally high quality, and often superior.

By 1810 Bourbon beans were small and round, growing in dense clusters that produced the variety's characteristic S-shaped center line. On Bourbon Island, some of those round beans mutated into pointed ones, and the result became known as Laurina, or Pointed Bourbon. It carries only half the caffeine of ordinary coffee, yields poorly, has a fragile constitution and is extremely rare — a delicate, beautiful young aristocrat of a variety.

One trait Bourbon varieties share is their need for shade trees. Without them to cut the harsh sun, the trees not only grow poorly but the beans they produce lose much of their flavor.

Laurina was celebrated in the 18th century, but a run of diseases — leaf rust among them — drove it to the edge. By 1942 the variety was believed to be extinct.

In 2001, Laurina was rediscovered on Bourbon Island. French scientists and Japan's Ueshima Coffee later cultivated and restored it, and small quantities began to appear on the market from 2007. Because it was so rare, it was priced at four times the cost of Blue Mountain coffee when it was released.

Laurina Bourbon is known above all for its low caffeine. Its caffeine content is roughly half that of typical Arabica, and its chlorogenic acid is about 20% lower than normal. With caffeine and chlorogenic acid both so low, Laurina contains almost none of the compounds that make coffee taste bitter.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research workshop in Guangzhou, devoted to sharing coffee knowledge without reservation in the hope that more people fall in love with the drink. We also hold three heavily discounted coffee events every month, because our mission for the past six years has been to let more people enjoy the best coffee at the lowest price.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

The Bourbon family runs through some of the most traditional, most comforting cups on our list. Two FrontStreet beans carry that lineage especially well.

FrontStreet Brazil Queen Estate — where Mandheling is all force, Brazil Queen Estate is calm and even. It shows clear nut, cocoa and caramel aromas with a round, smooth body. Acidity is low but sweetness is prominent, and it performs with remarkable consistency whether you brew it as pour-over, in a moka pot or as espresso. Brazilian beans also carry a naturally generous crema, which is why this one has long been a dependable everyday bean for home drinkers who prefer classic coffee flavors.

FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 — grown in Jamaica's certified Blue Mountain range at Clifton Estate, a well-known holding in the region. High-altitude mist, volcanic soil and a mild climate let the cherries ripen slowly, and that patience shows up as balance: acidity, sweetness, bitterness and aroma arrive in harmony. The entry is soft and rounded, opening into cream, caramel, chocolate, nuts and honey, with a clean, long finish. It is equally good as pour-over, in a moka pot or as espresso, and the medium-dark roast keeps the classic profile intact.