What's the difference between bourbon and Arabica coffee beans? Introduction to the original varieties of Arabiya coffee beans.

What's the difference between bourbon beans and arabica beans? Coffee is divided into three main species: Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. Today, coffee beans worldwide mainly belong to Arabica and Robusta, while Arabica is more sought after than Robusta because of its lower chlorogenic acid content and more refined flavor. Robusta coffee is more resistant to disease and insects, and its yield is much higher than Arabica, but the disadvantage is that it tastes bitter and lacks refined taste, so it is generally used for commercial coffee that does not over-pursue flavor.

In the world of fine coffee, varieties refer not only to Arabica, because Arabica and Robusta refer to Species, but also to varieties under species. At this time, we often talk about varieties, such as iron pickup, bourbon, rose summer, etc.

Although it belongs to Arabica species, different varieties lead to different tastes and yields, such as high yield of Kadura, delicate taste of rose summer.... When it comes to varieties, there must be two earliest varieties, one is iron pickup, the other is the bourbon variety to be shared today.

Origin of Bourbon Varieties

The French introduced round coffee beans from Yemen to Reunion Island in the 18th century, when Reunion Island was still named Bourbon Island, hence its name Bourbon. The Bourbon variety then took root in Reunion Island and gradually adapted to the local cultivation environment, although it was introduced very early, but it did not spread until the mid-19th century. In 1860, the bourbon variety was introduced to Brazil and quickly spread to countries in Central and South America, where bourbon beans are still grown and produced.

Color of Bourbon Varieties

Speaking of bourbon varieties, many people hear about the color of bourbon, such as red bourbon, yellow bourbon and pink bourbon.

Red bourbon is also the most common type, as coffee fruit ripens slowly from green to slightly yellow to orange, and when it is best picked, the fruit appears red and finally overripe dark purple.

Trained pickers will know when to pick coffee fruit-by observing the color of the coffee fruit to pick the best coffee of the day, immature coffee fruit, that is, coffee beans have not accumulated enough nutrients to naturally develop refined flavor, and overripe coffee fruit is also prone to excessive fermentation. One of Qianjie Coffee's Ye Jia Xue Fei comes from the Red Cherry Project, which aims to increase the income of coffee farmers and the quality of coffee beans by purchasing coffee fruits harvested from all red fruits at a higher price, so as to achieve a win-win situation. Anyway, red bourbon because the fruit is red. The same goes for yellow bourbon and pink bourbon. Yellow Bourbon is generally considered to be a cross between red bourbon species and other varieties. Yellow Bourbon will appear yellow when it ripens. It was originally discovered in Brazil. At present, Brazil is also the main producer of yellow Bourbon. In addition to yellow fruit, yellow Bourbon has a relatively low yield and is not resistant to wind and rain. Therefore, it is not widely cultivated.

Pink bourbon is even rarer; it is a cross between red bourbon and yellow bourbon, and the rarity is due to the fact that the pink shape of the fruit is determined by recessive genes, which are very susceptible to interference, so it is difficult to maintain the pink appearance of the fruit.

How does bourbon taste?

To find the taste of bourbon coffee, Front Street Coffee thinks it should start from Brazil. Although bourbon has spread to many coffee-producing countries in Central and South America, the shortcomings of bourbon are doomed to be replaced. Bourbon and iron pickup, the two oldest Arabica varieties, have very low disease resistance and low yield. The only desirable thing may be their excellent taste in the cup. Therefore, many Central and South American countries will plant more natural varieties of bourbon-Cadura. And other, more resistant, more productive varieties. Brazilian yellow bourbon coffee is produced in the Queen's Estate in the Morgiana region. With sun treatment, we can drink obvious nutty tonality, cream and so on. In addition to Queen Manor's yellow bourbon, Front Street Coffee also has a red bourbon bean from South Minas, semi-sun processed, which will have nutty and chocolate tones with a caramel aftertaste. Comparing two Brazilian bourbon coffees, it is not difficult to find that the tone of the bourbon variety is mainly nuts, and the obvious sweetness is also very pleasant.