What is the Bourbon coffee varietal?

Bourbon is one of the two foundational cultivars of Coffea arabica - the other being Typica. It takes its name from the island of Bourbon (now Réunion) in the Indian Ocean, where French colonists cultivated a distinct population of Arabica trees introduced from Yemen in the early 18th century.

Bourbon is a tall, productive plant relative to Typica and spread widely across Latin America from the 19th century onwards. In the cup it's associated with well-balanced acidity, pronounced sweetness, and a clean, rounded profile - qualities that have made it the genetic foundation for many of specialty coffee's most celebrated cultivars. Caturra, Catuai, SL28, SL34, Pink Bourbon, Villa Sarchi, and Tekisic all carry Bourbon genetics.

The variety exists in red, yellow, and orange colour variants - red being the most widespread. Bourbon is susceptible to leaf rust and produces modest yields compared to modern commercial cultivars. Despite this, it's still planted widely in specialty-focused regions where its cup quality justifies the investment, and it remains one of the most important names to know in the varietal landscape.