New Caledonia’s KOUANDJI Estate Grows Rare Bourbon Pointu Coffee

New Caledonia—far off in the South Pacific, closer to Australia than Hawaii—is one of the world’s most remote coffee-growing regions. Its coffee is nearly extinct, grown by only a handful of producers, and rarely exported. But among coffee insiders, there’s one estate producing what might be the rarest, most expensive single-origin coffee you’ve never heard of.

KOUANDJI Estate, nestled at the foot of Kouandji Mountain just 25km southeast of Nouméa, produces the ultra-rare Bourbon Pointu variety—also known as ‘Réloy’ or ‘President’s Coffee.’ This coffee is so scarce that even French President Jacques Chirac received only limited supplies. Annual exports? Just 1,000kg.

What Is Bourbon Pointu, Really?

Bourbon Pointu, locally called Réloy, is not your average Arabica. Found almost exclusively in New Caledonia, it’s believed to be either a natural mutation from Bourbon brought from Réunion Island around 1860 or a spontaneous hybrid of local Melanesian beans and Typica. What sets it apart? Everything.

This variety grows into small trees with narrow leaves, survives drought better than most—but is highly prone to disease and yields very little fruit. The beans themselves are visibly unique: they’re sharply pointed at both ends, hence the nickname ‘Bourbon Pointu’ (Pointed Bourbon).

• Caffeine content is only 0.6%, half that of regular Arabica (which averages ~1.2%)
• It loses just 16–17% of its weight during roasting, compared to the typical 20%
• Its tree is naturally more drought-resistant
• Its extremely low yield makes commercial production nearly impossible

The History of Coffee in New Caledonia

Coffee came to New Caledonia in 1860, when Marist missionaries brought the first seeds to Nouméa. In 1880, settlers from Réunion Island introduced three varieties: Arabica, Liberica, and Laurina. Arabica and Laurina were chosen for commercial planting. By 1910, to fight leaf rust, Robusta (Coffea canephora) was imported from Java—but Arabica, especially rare local mutations like Réloy, remained the prestige crop.

For much of the 20th century, coffee played an important role in the local agricultural economy. But as other industries grew more profitable and labour costs rose, most coffee farms were abandoned. Over time, production dwindled to near zero—until a few years ago, when one producer decided to revive it.

KOUANDJI Estate: Reviving a Lost Coffee

KOUANDJI Estate is a homegrown New Caledonian coffee venture aiming to bring this forgotten origin back to life. The name ‘Kouandji’ comes from the local Melanesian language and translates to “where the sun rises” in French. The estate lies on six hectares of land, where owner Pierre Kochard began experimenting with coffee cultivation just a few years ago.

His efforts paid off: the Réloy coffee he grows under the Réloy or ‘Bourbon Pointu’ designation recently won a prestigious French quality award. The variety, almost impossible to find outside New Caledonia, has been served to elite circles—including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, French President Jacques Chirac, and author Honoré de Balzac, according to lore.

The plantation is shaded by fruit trees, sits at an elevation of 200–300 metres (one of the southernmost coffee farms in the world, comparable in climate to farms at 900–1000m near the equator), and receives about 1000mm of rainfall annually. Coffee flowers from August to October, with harvesting done from May to August. Processing is done via washed method and sun-dried—a traditional approach aligned with its historic roots.

Why Is It So Expensive and Rare?

Bourbon Pointu isn’t just rare because of its limited growing area—it’s expensive due to tiny yields, fragile trees, labour-intensive farming, and high production costs. As a French territory, New Caledonia has higher labour expenses than most coffee-growing nations. Add in the tiny harvest per tree, the difficulty of cultivation, and the meticulous processing—and you’ve got one of the most exclusive coffees in the world.

With just 1,000kg exported per year, most coffee professionals will go their entire careers without tasting it. Yet for those who do, it’s an unforgettable experience: a living piece of coffee history surviving on a remote Pacific island.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bourbon Pointu coffee?

Bourbon Pointu, also called Réloy or ‘Pointed Bourbon,’ is a rare coffee variety primarily grown in New Caledonia. It features sharply pointed beans, low caffeine content (0.6%), and is known for its delicate cup profile. It’s believed to be a natural mutation or hybrid originating from Bourbon stock brought in the 19th century.

Where is New Caledonia?

New Caledonia is a French territory in the South Pacific, located east of Australia and considered part of Melanesia. It lies close to the Tropic of Capricorn and is one of the southernmost places in the world where coffee is commercially grown.

Why is Réloy coffee so rare?

Réloy is rare because it has extremely low yields, is prone to disease, and is grown on just a few hectares in New Caledonia. Annual global exports are limited to around 1,000kg. The variety is difficult to cultivate and has mostly disappeared from commercial production worldwide.

Who drinks Bourbon Pointu coffee?

Bourbon Pointu has historically been served to elite figures including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, French President Jacques Chirac, and writer Honoré de Balzac. Today, it’s sought after by specialty coffee collectors and those interested in rare coffee varieties.

How is KOUANDJI Estate coffee processed?

KOUANDJI Estate processes its coffee using the washed method followed by sun drying. The farm sits at 200–300m altitude, uses fruit-tree shade, and harvests from May to August after flowering between August and October.

What does Bourbon Pointu taste like?

The article doesn’t detail specific flavour notes, but given its genetic background and low caffeine, it’s often described by experts as delicate, potentially sweet, and distinct from mainstream Arabica profiles. Further cupping notes may emerge as more of this rare coffee is evaluated.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Rare Variety Hunters

If you’re drawn to rare and historic coffee varieties like Bourbon Pointu, try FrontStreet’s Lintong Mandheling for its full body and spicy complexity, or their 2013 Yunnan Typica offering for balance with chocolate and nut notes. Both showcase classic single-origin profiles from Asia’s respected regions. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.