Bourbon coffee

Bourbon Coffee at Terres de Café

Bourbon coffee belongs to one of the historic lineages of Arabica coffee and has played an important role in the development of many varieties cultivated today. Different coffees associated with the Bourbon family or name – including Red Bourbon, Pink Bourbon and Bourbon Pointu (Laurina) – can produce remarkably different flavour profiles depending on their genetics, terroir, altitude and processing method.

At Terres de Café, our Bourbon coffees receive the same careful selection and artisanal roasting carried out in the Paris region as the rest of our range, with detailed traceability by country, region and, whenever possible, individual farm or producer.

How to Choose a Bourbon Coffee

Choosing the right Bourbon coffee depends primarily on the flavour profile you enjoy and the story behind each lot.

• Bourbon Santander Organic: a Pink Bourbon coffee from Altos Del Bijao Estate in Santander, Colombia, produced by Oscar Daza as part of our Bourbon Project. Certified organic and processed using an anaerobic natural method, it offers notes of rose, lemon and sugar cane.
• Granja La Esperanza – Bourbon Pointu: a Bourbon Pointu, also known as Laurina, grown at the pioneering Granja La Esperanza farm in Colombia by Rigoberto and Luis Herrera. This distinctive coffee offers notes of rose, cocoa, blackberry and cherry.
• La Margarita – Washed Bourbon: a Bourbon coffee from Ocobamba in Cuzco, Peru, grown in an agroforestry system without herbicides by the Solórzano family and processed using the washed method. Expect notes of Earl Grey tea, chamomile and lychee.
• Alto del Bijao – Red Bourbon Semi-Washed Organic: an organic Red Bourbon from Colombia, grown by Oscar Daza on the same farm as Bourbon Santander but processed using a semi-washed method. It offers notes of yellow fruit, dark chocolate and hazelnut.

These four coffees demonstrate the remarkable range of sensory profiles found within our Bourbon coffee selection. Two even come from the same Colombian farm, yet differences in variety and processing contribute to distinctly different cups.

What Creates the Diversity of Bourbon Coffee?

The sensory diversity of Bourbon coffee results from several interacting factors, including genetics, terroir, altitude, growing conditions and the way the coffee cherries are processed after harvesting.

Processing methods can have a particularly noticeable influence on the final cup. Washed, natural, semi-washed and anaerobic processes can highlight different aspects of the same coffee, from clarity and floral notes to greater fruit intensity, sweetness or body.

This helps explain why a Pink Bourbon from Colombia processed using an anaerobic natural method can taste dramatically different from a washed Bourbon grown in Peru.

Bourbon Coffee and Other Flavour Profiles: How Do They Compare?

There is no single Bourbon coffee flavour profile. Depending on the terroir, genetics and processing method, these coffees can express fruity, floral, chocolatey or more indulgent characteristics.

If you prefer a rounder and more indulgent cup, explore our chocolatey coffees. For greater delicacy and aromatic finesse, discover our floral coffees. If you enjoy brighter acidity and fruit-forward flavours, explore our fruity coffees.

How to Store Bourbon Coffee

To preserve the aromatic qualities of your Bourbon coffee, keep it away from light, heat, moisture and significant temperature fluctuations.

Store your coffee in its original resealable bag or a suitable airtight container at a stable room temperature. For everyday storage, a cool, dry cupboard is generally preferable to the refrigerator, where repeated exposure to moisture and temperature changes can affect the coffee.

If you buy whole bean coffee, grind only the amount you need immediately before brewing to help preserve the distinctive aromas of each lot.

FAQ About Bourbon Coffee

What Is the Bourbon Coffee Variety?

Bourbon is one of the historically important Arabica coffee lineages and has contributed to the development of numerous coffee varieties cultivated around the world today. Bourbon coffees are particularly valued in specialty coffee for the diversity of sensory profiles they can express depending on their genetics, terroir and processing method.

What Is the Difference Between Red Bourbon, Pink Bourbon and Bourbon Pointu?

Red Bourbon is a traditional Bourbon type associated with red coffee cherries at maturity. Pink Bourbon is recognised as a distinctive coffee type with its own genetic characteristics, rather than simply a colour variation of Red Bourbon.

Bourbon Pointu, also known as Laurina, is a distinctive Arabica variety historically associated with Réunion Island and characterised by particular genetic and botanical traits.

Is Bourbon Coffee Always Fruity?

No. There is no single flavour profile associated with Bourbon coffee. Depending on the terroir, processing method and roast profile, Bourbon coffees can express fruity, floral, chocolatey, nutty or sweeter characteristics.

Are Bourbon Coffees Available as Whole Bean and Ground Coffee?

Yes. Our Bourbon coffees are available across our whole bean and ground coffee selections, with different grind options available for ground coffee depending on your chosen brewing method.