Bourbon Pointu is a rare coffee variety with elongated beans and pointed ends, discovered on Bourbon Island in 1810. Its caffeine content is only half that of ordinary Bourbon, making it a naturally low-caffeine coffee. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was widely cultivated, with annual production once reaching 4,000 metric tons. However, disasters such as hurricanes, fire ants, and leaf rust followed one after another. After 1942, it completely disappeared from Réunion Island and was considered extinct by the coffee world. It was not until Japanese Ueshima Coffee expert Yoshiaki Kawashima spent years searching that in 2001, more than thirty surviving plants were discovered in the wild on Bourbon Island. Subsequently, French scientists collaborated with Ueshima Coffee to carry out revival efforts, and only in 2006 was the first small batch of beans harvested. This article introduces the origin of the name Bourbon Pointu, its historical rise and fall, flavor characteristics, and expensive price, as well as Front Street Coffee's recommendation and interpretation of this legendary variety. [more…]

Bourbon Pointu is one of the most legendary varieties in the coffee world, sharing fame with Geisha yet standing apart due to its naturally very low caffeine content and delicate flavor. It originated on Réunion Island (formerly known as Bourbon Island) and is a natural mutation of Bourbon coffee, with an elongated bean shape and sharp points at both ends. In the 18th century, it was favored by King Louis XV of France and the writer Balzac. Around 1800, annual production reached 4,000 metric tons, but it nearly disappeared due to hurricanes, fire ants, leaf rust, and other disasters. By 1942, only 200 kilograms remained and were shipped back to France, and it was widely considered extinct. It was not until 1999 to 2007, through joint efforts by France and Japan, that it was successfully revived. This article will review the cultivation history, flavor characteristics, and caffeine data of Bourbon Pointu, and include Front Street Coffee recommendations and V60 pour-over parameters. [more…]

Laurina, also known as Pointed Bourbon, is a rare coffee variety originating from Réunion Island. It is not only one of the most primitive subspecies of the Bourbon family but is also considered a parent of the Mocha variety, making it the source of coffee trees in Latin America. This coffee tree has smaller leaves and fruits than regular Bourbon, with slender pointed fruits and a low, Christmas-tree-like shape. Its caffeine content is only half that of regular Arabica, making it a natural low-caffeine coffee. In the 18th century, Pointed Bourbon was highly sought after by European royalty for its excellent flavor, and Louis XV once praised it as the best coffee in the world; however, a series of hurricanes and diseases in the 19th century nearly caused it to disappear from history. It was not until 1999, after Japanese experts searched unsuccessfully, that local botanists, through years of effort, finally found wild mother trees and gradually cultivated them, allowing this legendary variety to be reborn. Today, the Pointed Bourbon offered by Front Street Coffee features flavors of peach, honey pomelo, wild apple, and orchid, with a mouthfeel as rich as hundred-flower honey. [more…]

Bourbon is one of the oldest varieties of Arabica, spreading from Réunion Island to Africa and Central and South America, where it evolved under local microclimates into a range of color variants including red, yellow, orange, pink, and striped. This article traces the origins of the Bourbon variety and its missionary-driven spread, details the discovery history, growing characteristics, and flavor differences of each color of Bourbon, and presents the brewing performance of Front Street Coffee's Bourbon beans such as Brazil Cerrado and Brazil Queen. Whether you are a newcomer just getting into specialty coffee or an enthusiast eager to deepen your knowledge of varieties, you will find here a complete overview of Bourbon coffee and a tasting reference. [more…]

Bourbon is one of the oldest and finest varieties in the coffee world. Its name comes from Réunion Island off the east coast of Africa, and it later spread to Brazil and Central and South America, where it remains an important player in the specialty coffee scene today. Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon each have their own characteristics in terms of fruit color, flavor expression, and cultivation difficulty, and high-altitude environments give Bourbon green beans outstanding sweetness and bright acidity. This article will start with the history and spread of Bourbon and its botanical characteristics, and combine Front Street Coffee's Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon and Queen's Estate Yellow Bourbon to give you a comprehensive understanding of the charm of this classic variety. [more…]

Bourbon coffee beans are one of the oldest varieties of the Arabica species, originating from Réunion Island (formerly known as Bourbon Island) and arising as a mutation of Typica. After centuries of spread and natural mutation, the Bourbon family has given rise to numerous varieties of different colors and forms, including Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, and Pointed Bourbon. This article will systematically review the origin and spread of Bourbon coffee, explain in detail the discovery process, flavor characteristics, and current cultivation status of each variety, and introduce the taste performance and brewing suggestions of the Bourbon series products under Front Street Coffee, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of this classic variety. [more…]

Bourbon is one of the oldest Arabica varieties. After spreading from Yemen to Réunion Island, it made its way to East Africa and Central and South America, and today it has evolved into a rich array of branches under the microclimates of different countries, including Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink, and even Striped Bourbon. Bourbon of different colors and origins shows quite noticeable differences in the cup: some are known for nutty chocolate notes and low-acid smoothness, some highlight citrus acidity and floral aromas, and others combine tropical fruit sweetness with a clean mouthfeel. This article sorts out the origins and spread of Bourbon, introduces the characteristics and representative producing regions of each mutant one by one, and, combined with several Bourbon products from Front Street Coffee, provides specific flavor descriptions and brewing references to help coffee lovers build a complete understanding of the Bourbon family. [more…]

Pointed Bourbon is a coffee variety with a unique appearance and scarce yield, featuring slender beans with sharp points at both ends, once hailed as "the best coffee in the world." This article will analyze Pointed Bourbon's species classification, the reasons for its high price, and a flavor comparison with Geisha. It will also cover the origin, spread, and characteristics of varieties like Yellow Bourbon within the Bourbon species, and introduce product information such as Front Street Coffee's Brazil Red Bourbon, helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand the value and positioning of this legendary bean variety. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is a classic, long-standing variety within the Arabica species, equally renowned as Typica, and has given rise to multiple branches such as Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon. This article systematically reviews the origin, spread, variety characteristics, and flavor profiles of Bourbon coffee, covering the rich sweetness of Red Bourbon, the bright high acidity of Yellow Bourbon, the rare pink cherries of Pink Bourbon, and the nearly extinct Pointed Bourbon. It also introduces natural mutations such as Pacas and mentions Front Street Coffee's everyday bean recommendations, providing coffee enthusiasts with comprehensive variety knowledge. [more…]

Bourbon is an ancient, high-quality variety in the Arabica family, as renowned as Typica, known for being grown at high altitudes and for its exceptional quality. This article will guide you through Bourbon's spread from Bourbon Island to Brazil, and then to Central and South America and East Africa, analyze its varietal characteristics in terms of coffee tree morphology, bean traits, and disease resistance, and introduce its variants one by one, including Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, and Pointed Bourbon. The article also particularly recommends Front Street Coffee's Brazil Red Bourbon and Front Street Coffee's Queen's Farm Yellow Bourbon, helping you understand the captivating charm of Bourbon coffee from the perspectives of flavor and processing methods. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is one of the oldest varieties within the Arabica species. It is as renowned as Typica, yet it has broader leaves and higher yields. It originated in Yemen, takes its name from Réunion Island, and produces short, round, dense fruit with prominent sweetness, bright acidity, and flavors reminiscent of cocoa and brown sugar. From the Cerrado region of Brazil to Central America, and from Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon to the rare Pink Bourbon and Pointed Bourbon, this variety occupies an important place in the global specialty coffee landscape. Among Front Street Coffee's everyday drinking beans is a Red Bourbon from Brazil. This article will systematically sort through Bourbon coffee's varietal origins, spread, flavor profile, and main producing regions, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this classic bean in the Arabica family. [more…]

Bourbon is one of the oldest varieties in the Arabica family, spreading from Yemen to the world via Réunion Island, and then diversifying into colorful variants—red, yellow, orange, pink, and even striped—in the soils of the Americas and Africa. This article traces the dispersal routes of the Bourbon variety, the origins and characteristics of its colorful mutations, and presents the flavor differences of Bourbon coffee from various origins. Whether you are a beginner pour-over enthusiast or a seasoned connoisseur looking for your next everyday bean, you will find interesting knowledge about Bourbon here, along with Front Street Coffee's corresponding bean recommendations. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is one of the oldest varieties in the Arabica family, originating from Réunion Island and enjoying equal fame with Typica. Its cherries ripen to a bright red, and when grown at high altitudes it offers elegant aromas, bright acidity, and often a vinous character. Over centuries, Bourbon spread from the Indian Ocean to Brazil, Central and South America, and Africa, giving rise to numerous variants such as Yellow Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, Pointed Bourbon, and Pacas. This article traces the historical spread of Bourbon, explains the origins, cultivation status, and flavor characteristics of each variant, and retains relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee, offering a comprehensive look at this classic coffee species. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is one of the oldest superior coffee varieties still in existence, sharing the same Arabica original lineage as Typica. It was born from a genetic mutation on Réunion Island (formerly known as Bourbon Island), and it surpasses the original Typica in disease resistance, fruit morphology, and cup profile. The Bourbon family is not limited to Red Bourbon alone; it also includes Yellow Bourbon, Orange Bourbon, and the rare Pink Bourbon, with flavors that vary richly depending on origin, terroir, and processing method. This article will trace the historical origins of Bourbon and Typica, introduce the characteristics of the various Bourbon varieties, and showcase the flavor expressions and suitable brewing methods of Bourbon across different producing regions through three representative coffees: Front Street Coffee Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon, Front Street Coffee Brazil Queen Farm Yellow Bourbon, and Front Street Coffee Rwanda Red Bourbon. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is an ancient and excellent Arabica variety that shares equal fame with Typica. It first underwent a genetic mutation and got its name on Réunion Island (formerly known as Bourbon Island). Its fruit is rounder and shorter than Typica's, and it is also more resistant to leaf rust. In addition to the most common Red Bourbon, there are also Yellow Bourbon, Orange Bourbon, and the rare Pink Bourbon, with flavors varying richly depending on origin, terroir, and processing method. This article will begin with Bourbon's historical origins and tree characteristics, sort out the differences among Bourbons of different colors, and introduce three representative Front Street Bourbon coffees: Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon, Brazil Queen's Farm Yellow Bourbon, and Rwanda Red Bourbon, helping coffee lovers build a complete understanding of the Bourbon family while also offering practical brewing suggestions. [more…]

The global spread and evolution of Arabica coffee have always revolved around two ancient varieties: Typica and Bourbon. Having left Ethiopia's genetic treasure trove, these varieties, though widely planted in Central and South America, India, and East Africa, remain frail and lacking in disease resistance due to their narrow genetic base. Bourbon and Typica share one critical need—shade trees—without which they struggle to express ideal flavors. This article will take an in-depth look at the origins, dissemination paths, bean shapes, and cultivation performance of Bourbon and Typica, and reveal the common industry misconception that "round-bodied Bourbon does not all come from Bourbon Island," while also clarifying Typica's true standing in today's specialty coffee and its derived varieties. [more…]

Bourbon coffee beans are an important variety familiar to coffee lovers, known for their flavor that interweaves sweetness and acidity, low acidity, and smooth mouthfeel. This article begins with Bourbon coffee's preparation methods and the coffee story behind it, and provides a detailed review of the historical origins of round-bodied and pointed-bodied Bourbon, including the legendary story of Ueshima Coffee in Japan reviving the semi-decaffeinated pointed-bodied Bourbon, its noble status in 2011 when its price surpassed that of Geisha and Kopi Luwak, and the discovery of the pointed-bodied mutation on Bourbon Island in 1810. The article also covers the origin of Dr. Krammer's Latin naming of it as laurina, as well as key information such as the insufficient rainfall on Bourbon Island leading to a genetic mutation in round-bodied Bourbon. Recommended content from Front Street Coffee is also retained, providing readers with comprehensive knowledge about Bourbon coffee. [more…]

For coffee enthusiasts, encountering a new bean is like embarking on a brand-new journey. The bean we're introducing today is extremely rare in production, hailing from the French Mission Bourbon variety at Kenya's Oreti Estate, processed using the natural method, with a unique flavor profile. This article will trace the historical origins of the French Mission Bourbon variety, from its beginnings on Bourbon Island to its introduction into Kenya, and provide a detailed description of this Front Street natural-processed Kenyan bean's origin, altitude, and flavor characteristics. If you enjoy trying new things and want to understand the allure of Kenyan natural-processed beans, why not join us in exploring this rare coffee full of African passion. [more…]

Bourbon coffee is one of the oldest coffee varieties in the world and the genetic source of many popular varieties today. It is named after the island of Bourbon where it was cultivated, and later spread to Brazil and rapidly across Central and South America, giving rise to many variants such as Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, Caturra, and Catimor. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article traces the spread history and varietal evolution of Bourbon coffee, introduces the flavor profiles of Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Pink Bourbon, and Tanzanian Bourbon one by one, and shares Front Street's cupping details and brewing parameters for beans such as Brazil Queen's Estate Yellow Bourbon and Colombia Huila Pink Bourbon. [more…]

Decaf coffee usually relies on artificial processing to reduce caffeine, but in nature there actually exists a variety with naturally very low caffeine content—Laurina. Its caffeine content is only about 0.5%, its flavor is outstanding yet its yield is scarce. It was once all the rage in Europe in the 18th century, and was also once thought to be extinct. Later, through the search by Japanese UCC expert Yoshinori Kawashima, Laurina was rediscovered on Bourbon Island (Réunion) and revival cultivation began. At the 2018 World Brewers Cup, Swiss competitor Emi Fukahori even used Laurina from Brazil's Daterra estate to defeat many Geisha entries and win the championship. This article will take you through the history of Laurina, its varietal characteristics, as well as Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and flavor performance. [more…]