How Bourbon Coffee Spread from France to Latin America

The story of how Bourbon coffee spread across Latin America begins not in Brazil or Colombia, but on a small volcanic island off the coast of Africa — and it’s a tale of colonial ambition, failed crops, and a fateful botanical decision. Most coffee drinkers know Typica as the original arabica planted in the New World, but few realize it nearly became the only variety grown there. What changed? The French turned to another variety that would reshape global coffee genetics forever.

Bourbon coffee replaced Typica as the dominant variety in Latin America not because it was planted first, but because it was introduced later — from Réunion Island in 1715 — and offered better yields and cup quality than the bitter, poorly adapted Typica that had been brought over earlier from Yemen via Java and the Dutch.

The First Arabica in the Americas: Typica’s Dutch-French Voyage

The first arabica coffee to reach the Americas wasn’t Bourbon — it was Typica. In the early 1700s, under joint Dutch and French efforts, Typica was brought from Java (via the Netherlands) and planted in Latin America. But planting a single coffee variety in a new environment posed genetic risks: limited diversity made crops vulnerable and stagnant. That’s where France’s next move proved pivotal.

Where Is Réunion Island — and Why Did Coffee Thrive There?

Réunion Island (historically called Bourbon Island) lies about 700 kilometers east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, covering 2,512 square kilometers. It became a French territory in 1646 and was named Bourbon to honor France’s ruling dynasty. After the French Revolution in 1792, it was renamed Réunion (though we’re concerned with its coffee history under the name Bourbon).

In 1711, French botanist Louis Boivin found wild coffee trees growing above 600 meters elevation near Saint-Paul on the island. These trees produced unusual brownish (not red) fruit — the so-called “brown-fruited coffee.” French botanist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck later classified it as a new variety: Coffea mauritiana. Though native to the island (the second known wild arabica population after Ethiopia), the coffee had a harsh, bitter flavor that didn’t appeal to French palates.

From Yemen to Réunion: The Arrival of Green-Tipped Bourbon

In 1715, the French replaced the unpopular local coffee with 60 seedlings of Yemeni Typica — specifically, the “green-tipped” or “short-round” variety that contrasted with the Dutch “long-bean Typica.” To distinguish it from the Dutch Typica, the French called this new coffee Bourbon rond — “Bourbon round bean,” also known as “Green-Tipped Bourbon” or simply “Bourbon.”

These plants flourished in Réunion’s volcanic, high-elevation soil. The island’s isolation helped preserve the variety’s unique traits. By 1724, France exported 1,700 kilograms of Bourbon coffee. Production surged to 448,000 kilograms by 1734, and peaked at 24,440,000 kilograms in 1827 — making Réunion a major early coffee supplier.

But the island’s distance from Europe eventually made its coffee less competitive compared to easier-to-ship beans from closer Latin American farms. That geographic disadvantage, more than any flaw in the coffee itself, led to its decline as a leading exporter — even though the variety it introduced would go on to conquer the continent.

Why ‘Bourbon Round Bean’ Became the Genetic Foundation of Latin American Coffee

Though production on Réunion faded, the Bourbon variety spread across the Atlantic. French colonists and traders carried Bourbon seeds from Réunion to new coffee-growing regions in Latin America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Unlike the bitter and less productive Typica that had preceded it, Bourbon offered:

• Higher yields per plant
• Sweeter, more complex cup profiles
• A more compact, rounded bean shape
• Better adaptation to high-altitude growing

Over time, Bourbon became one of the two foundational arabica varieties — alongside Typica — in Latin American coffee agriculture. Its genetic legacy is still seen today in popular cultivated strains like Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon.

What’s the Difference Between Typica and Bourbon?

Both Typica and Bourbon originated from the same original Ethiopian coffee population, but they diverged in cultivation and form. Typica has long, narrow beans and a taller plant structure, while Bourbon features rounder beans and a slightly more productive growth habit. Bourbon generally produces a cup with brighter acidity and more pronounced sweetness compared to the cleaner but more muted profile of Typica.

The “round bean” descriptor refers to the more rounded shape of the Bourbon seed compared to the slender Typica bean. This physical difference is subtle but observable and was one of the early ways French growers distinguished the two varieties on Réunion Island.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Bourbon coffee really the first coffee planted in Latin America?

No — Typica was the first arabica coffee variety planted in Latin America, brought over by the Dutch and French in the early 1700s from Yemen via Java. Bourbon arrived later, in 1715, when the French introduced it from Réunion Island to address Typica’s shortcomings in flavor and adaptability.

Where is Réunion Island and why is it important in coffee history?

Réunion Island (formerly called Bourbon Island) is located in the Indian Ocean, about 700 km east of Madagascar. It became a French colony in 1646. In 1715, French settlers planted Yemeni coffee seedlings there, leading to the development of the Bourbon variety — a key genetic ancestor of many modern Latin American coffees.

What’s the difference between ‘Bourbon round bean’ and Typica?

Bourbon round bean (Bourbon rond) refers to the rounded seed shape and compact plant habit of the Bourbon variety, which the French distinguished from the taller, narrower Typica beans they had previously planted. Bourbon typically offers better yields, rounder beans, and a sweeter, more complex cup profile than Typica.

Why did Bourbon eventually replace Typica in Latin America?

Bourbon replaced Typica because it produced higher yields, had better cup quality, and was more adaptable to the conditions in Latin American highlands. Though Typica was planted first, its bitter flavor and lower productivity made it less desirable compared to the more flavorful and robust Bourbon variety introduced from Réunion.

Is Réunion Island’s coffee still famous today?

Not as a major producer — Réunion’s coffee industry declined due to its remote location and competition from Latin America. However, its historical role in cultivating and distributing the Bourbon variety to the Americas makes it a crucial chapter in coffee’s genetic history.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans with Bourbon Heritage

Explore the Bourbon lineage with FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazilian Red Bourbon from the Cerrado Mineiro region, offering sweet red fruit and chocolate in a medium roast. For a different expression, try the Yellow Bourbon from Brazil’s Queen Manor at 1400m, featuring a balanced cup with caramel and almond notes, best as espresso. Rwanda’s Red Bourbon, grown between 1700–2000m, highlights vibrant acidity and citrus tones in a bright, medium-light roast. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.