In the Melanesian archipelago of the South Pacific, New Caledonia is like a vibrant oasis, hiding one of the rarest, most expensive, and most unusual coffees in the world. Domaine du Kouandji is located at the foot of a mountain about 25 kilometers southeast of the capital, Nouméa, and is dedicated to reviving the island's nearly vanished coffee-growing industry. The estate cultivates "Leroy," also known as Bourbon Pointu, named for the pointed ends of its fruit. Its caffeine content is only half that of ordinary Arabica, and its yield is extremely low—even the French presidential palace must purchase it in limited quantities. Front Street Coffee has always followed such rare, niche bean varieties, and this article will take you deep into the story behind its historical origins, varietal characteristics, and unique flavor.

New Caledonia is located in Melanesia and is a shining emerald in the South Pacific. This land is full of vitality, with magnificent and enchanting natural scenery, secluded pristine beaches, and entertainment venues such as luxury casinos and nightclubs. Of course, if you explore carefully, you can also discover some other surprises...

This is a precious secret that has been well preserved—New Caledonia coffee, among the rarest, most unique, and most expensive coffees in the world, known only to top coffee connoisseurs.

In 1860, the Marist Brothers, as missionaries, first brought coffee seeds to Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia.

By 1880, pioneers from Réunion Island (Bourbon Island) introduced coffee seeds as well. They brought three varieties: Arabica, Liberica, and Laurina (Coffea laurina). In the end, the pioneers selected Arabica and Laurina for commercial cultivation.

In 1910, in order to resist the invasion of leaf rust, Robusta (Coffea canephora) was specially introduced from Java, because this variety is resistant to leaf rust.

More than thirty years ago, coffee cultivation once held a pivotal position in New Caledonian agriculture. However, facts proved that other industries were more profitable, and labor-intensive coffee plantations were gradually abandoned. After that, New Caledonia's coffee production fell year after year, until it almost completely disappeared...

Kouandji Estate Coffee is located at the foot of Kouandji Mountain, about 25 kilometers southeast of Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia. The word "Kouandji" comes from the local Melanesian language and is translated into French as "Là d'où vient le soleil," meaning "the place where the sun rises." This is a local coffee company whose mission is to revive New Caledonia's coffee-growing industry. The company's director, Mr. Pierre Cochaud, is a highly influential coffee connoisseur. It was only a few years ago that he began trial-growing coffee on a six-hectare plot of land. Not long ago, his coffee "Leroy" won a highly authoritative French quality award.

The "Leroy" variety grown at Kouandji Estate is also called "Bourbon Pointu" and has the nickname "President." This is because the French presidential palace, the Élysée Palace, regularly purchases it for former French President Chirac to enjoy. Unfortunately, the yield of this variety is too low, so even the president can only be supplied in limited quantities. When Front Street Coffee recommends that enthusiasts pay attention to this bean, they should also be aware of its scarcity.

Leroy is a rare and unique coffee variety found only in New Caledonia. It naturally mutated from the coffee of Réunion Island (Bourbon Island) around 1860. Another theory holds that it is a natural hybrid descendant of New Caledonian coffee and Arabica Typica. Its tree is short, its leaves are narrow, and it is drought-tolerant but highly susceptible to disease, so its yield is very low.

Leroy (Bourbon Pointu) has some unique characteristics that make it a distinctive variety:

1. Its caffeine content is only about half that of ordinary Arabica. Common Arabica has a caffeine content of about 1.2%, while Leroy has only 0.6%.

2. The coffee beans are pointed at both ends.

3. Its yield is far lower than that of other coffee varieties.

4. It loses less weight after roasting. Ordinary coffee varieties may lose 20% of their weight after roasting, while Leroy's maximum weight loss ratio is only 16%-17%.

5. The coffee tree has strong drought tolerance.

The reason New Caledonian coffee ranks among the most expensive coffees in the world is not only its outstanding quality and scarcity, but also its high production costs. The island is French territory, and labor costs are higher than in other coffee-producing countries.

Origin: New Caledonia

Estate: Domaine du Kouandji

Altitude: 200-300 meters. It is one of the southernmost coffee-producing origins in the world, located adjacent to the Tropic of Capricorn, with an environment equivalent to an area at 900-1000 meters near the equator.

Shade trees: fruit tree shade

Rainfall: 1000 mm

Processing method: washed processing, sun-dried

Variety: Laurina (Leroy)

Flowering and harvest: flowers from August to October, harvested from May to August

Other: One of the coffees grown at the southernmost point in the world; it is called Bourbon Pointu because both ends of the beans are pointed; annual export volume 1,000 kg.

Notable connoisseurs: former British Prime Minister Churchill, former French President Chirac, and famous writer Balzac.

(Editor in charge: Coffee Voice)

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.