The Bourbon Pointu Coffee Bean: What Makes It Special?

Ever wondered why some coffees are famed not just for their taste—but for how little they keep you up? The Bourbon Pointu coffee bean, a nearly forgotten relic of 19th-century French colonies, offers both elegance and a unique benefit: it’s naturally low in caffeine. This rare variety, once beloved by poets and politicians, delivers a bright, fruity cup without the usual sleepless aftermath. But what exactly is it, and why has it almost vanished?

Bourbon Pointu—also called Pointu or Laviscious Bourbon—is a natural mutation of the Bourbon coffee variety, discovered in 1810 on Bourbon Island (now Réunion). Its defining trait is an elegant, elongated, pointed bean shape, and it’s one of the few naturally occurring semi-low caffeine Arabica coffees, typically containing around 50% less caffeine than standard Arabica.

What Is Bourbon Pointu Coffee?

Bourbon Pointu is a spontaneous mutation of the classic Bourbon coffee variety. First found on Bourbon Island in 1810, it earned its name from its distinctively pointed, tapered bean shape. Like other Bourbon types, it originated in Ethiopia but was cultivated widely after being introduced to Réunion. Though visually different, its genetic roots trace back to the same Bourbon lineage that gave rise to many modern Arabica varieties.

Flavor Profile and Caffeine Content

Bourbon Pointu is prized for its delicate and complex cup profile. It typically expresses pronounced fruit acidity, often with notes of citrus, berries, and floral tones. The cup is elegant and refined, with a brightness uncommon in many older arabica lines. Most notably, it is a naturally occurring semi-low caffeine coffee, containing roughly half the caffeine of regular Arabica beans. This makes it unusually smooth and easy on the nervous system—historically noted as a coffee you could drink in quantity without losing sleep.

Why It Became Rare

Despite its unique qualities, Bourbon Pointu nearly disappeared due to its extremely low yield and high susceptibility to disease. The plant is fragile, slow-growing, and produces fewer cherries per tree compared to more common commercial varieties. Coupled with its vulnerability to pests and climate stress, these traits made large-scale farming impractical. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it had largely vanished from commercial cultivation, surviving only in isolated historical accounts and a few private collections.

Where You Can Still Find It Today

Today, Bourbon Pointu is extremely rare and largely unavailable outside of specialty auctions or historical recreations. For a time, Japanese coffee company UCC was the only commercial roaster offering it, selling 100g for over 8,000 yen (roughly 5–6 times the price of Blue Mountain coffee at the time). While no longer broadly produced, some niche farms and researchers continue small-scale cultivation and study of this historic variety.

Bourbon Pointu vs Other Bourbons

It’s important to distinguish Bourbon Pointu from other Bourbon-type coffees like Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, or Pink Bourbon. While all originate from the original Bourbon variety, these other types are defined by cherry color and slight variations in cup profile—not by the pointed bean shape or low caffeine trait. Bourbon Pointu is not simply a color variant but a true morphological and chemical mutation, with its pointed shape and reduced caffeine content as defining factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bourbon Pointu coffee taste like?

Bourbon Pointu is known for a bright, elegant cup with pronounced fruit acidity—often featuring citrus, berry, and floral notes. It’s refined and complex, differing from earthier or chocolate-forward Bourbons.

Is Bourbon Pointu really lower in caffeine?

Yes, Bourbon Pointu is a naturally occurring semi-low caffeine coffee, with roughly 50% less caffeine than standard Arabica beans. This contributes to its reputation as a coffee that can be enjoyed in larger quantities without disrupting sleep.

Why is Bourbon Pointu so rare?

Bourbon Pointu is rare due to its low yield, fragile plant structure, and high susceptibility to disease. These factors made it unsuitable for mass production, leading to its near disappearance by the 20th century.

Where was Bourbon Pointu first discovered?

Bourbon Pointu was discovered in 1810 on Bourbon Island (now Réunion) in the Indian Ocean by French colonists. It was found as a natural mutation of the Bourbon coffee plant.

Can I buy Bourbon Pointu coffee today?

Bourbon Pointu is extremely difficult to find commercially. For a period, Japanese company UCC offered it, but it is not widely available today. It may occasionally appear in specialty coffee auctions or research contexts.

How is Bourbon Pointu different from regular Bourbon coffee?

Bourbon Pointu is a distinct mutation of the Bourbon variety, characterized by its pointed bean shape and naturally lower caffeine content. Other Bourbons (like Red or Yellow Bourbon) vary in cherry color and flavor but do not share these traits.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans Related to Bourbon

While Bourbon Pointu itself is extremely rare, you can explore related Bourbon-type flavors through FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazilian and Rwandan offerings. The FrontStreet Brazil Queen Manor coffee is a Yellow Bourbon grown at 1400 meters altitude, offering a bright, clean cup with notes of cream, peanut brittle, and almond. For red fruit brightness, try the FrontStreet Rwanda Red Bourbon, highlighting citrus and floral tones with a juicy acidity. Both are medium-roasted to highlight their fruity and sweet profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.