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Bourbon Coffee: The History, Colors, and Why We Love This Classic | Hälla Kafferosteri
Hälla Kafferosteri |30/06, 2026
Bourbon Coffee: The History, Colors, and Why It's a Cornerstone of Specialty Coffee
If the coffee world had royalty, Bourbon would be sitting securely on the throne alongside its sibling variety Typica. Almost every specialty coffee you drink today has some thread leading back to this legendary plant.
But what exactly is Bourbon, how did it end up in Latin America, and what is the difference between the different colors of the berries that we so often see on coffee bags? Let's take a closer look at one of the coffee world's most influential families - and the pink newcomer that has recently shaken up the family tree.
👉 Do you want to learn more about different arbacia varieties?
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The story: From Yemen to a French island in the Indian Ocean
The entire history of commercial Arabica coffee begins in Ethiopia and Yemen. In the early 18th century, French colonizers gave coffee plants from Yemen to the island of Île Bourbon (today known as Réunion), located off the coast of Madagascar.
In the unique volcanic soil of the island, the coffee plants mutated. They developed a different growth habit, larger leaves and – most importantly – a much sweeter and more complex flavor profile than the original coffee. This new, natural mutation was named after the island: Bourbon .
It would not be until the mid-19th century that French missionaries brought the plant to Africa (including Kenya), and Portuguese traders introduced it to Brazil. From there, it quickly spread throughout Central and South America, becoming the backbone of the continent's coffee production.
The Bourbon Rainbow: What differentiates the colors?
When we talk about these coffee beans, we are usually talking about berries that change color depending on their genetic characteristics and how they break down sugars during the ripening process.
Here is the guide to the four most important color variations you will encounter in the specialty coffee world today:
| Variety | Character & Flavor Profile | Features on the farm |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bourbon (Red) | The original and most common variety. Known for a fantastic classic flavor profile: deep sweetness, full body, balanced acidity and distinct notes of chocolate, caramel and red berries. | The most stable tree in the family, but the berries must be picked exactly when they turn from bright red to deep burgundy. |
| Yellow Bourbon (Yellow) | A natural cross between Red Bourbon and a yellow variety, the taste leans more towards the bright and fresh: higher acidity, intense sweetness and flavors of citrus, tropical fruit and nuts. | The trees are a little smaller than the red ones and the berries ripen faster. It takes experienced pickers to see exactly when the yellow berries are perfectly ripe. |
| Orange Bourbon (Orange) | The rare in-between child of the coffee world. The taste is often described as the best of both worlds: Red Bourbon's rich, creamy body combined with Yellow Bourbon's fruity citrus notes. | Very rare to find in pure form, as it requires the farmer to isolate and separate these specific trees completely from the rest of the crop. |
| Pink Bourbon (Pink) | The new darling of the specialty coffee world. Despite its name, DNA tests show it is more of an Ethiopian landrace . The taste is extremely elegant and complex with lively acidity ("pink lemonade"), floral jasmine aromas and bright tropical fruit. | Incredibly popular and yields good yields, but the fields must be kept strictly isolated from other coffee varieties to prevent the berries from interbreeding and losing their unique pink color. |
Why do specialty coffee roasters love Bourbon?
For us coffee roasters, these varieties are a dream to work with. Thanks to their naturally high sweetness and balanced acidity, they are incredibly versatile beans. They work just as wonderfully as a clean, elegant and fruity single-origin (brewed coffee from a specific bean) as they do to add body and deep sweetness to an espresso blend.
Today, the classic trees on farms are being challenged by more modern hybrids that yield larger yields, but when it comes to pure taste and quality, the Bourbon family and its pink cousin are still hard to beat in the coffee cup.
In the next installment of our coffee variety series, we'll zoom in on the pink sensation. We dig deeper into how Pink Bourbon was discovered in Colombia and reveal the genetic mystery that recently shocked coffee scientists. Stay tuned!
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Have a nice day!
/ Kaj and Dan, Hälla Coffee Roastery