Variety encyclopedia

Yellow Bourbon

Yellow Bourbon is the name used for yellow-ripening Bourbon selections, especially in Brazil. It retains Bourbon's broad genetic identity while distinguishing the fruit color used by producers and buyers. Partners Coffee identifies its Fazenda Santa Lúcia lot as 100% Yellow Bourbon.

Where did it come from?

Bourbon reached Brazil in the nineteenth century and diversified into multiple locally selected forms. The exact source for this lot identifies Yellow Bourbon as a farm variety; World Coffee Research documents the underlying Bourbon lineage.

What does it tend to taste like?

Lot-dependent. Partners Coffee's natural Santa Lúcia release emphasizes peanut butter, date, milk chocolate and other soft, sweet notes.

Plant characteristics

Bourbon-type plant with yellow-ripening cherries. Fruit color alone should not be used to infer a novel hybrid pedigree.

Why producers grow it

Selected for Bourbon quality potential and a distinct yellow-ripening farm identity.

Sources & further reading
  • · https://www.partnerscoffee.com/products/brazil-santa-lucia
  • · https://www.partnerscoffee.com/blogs/education/brazil-santa-lucia-2024
  • · https://varieties.worldcoffeeresearch.org/varieties/bourbon
Coffees in our database

Yellow Bourbon we've cataloged.