Peaberry, Bourbon, Caturra: A Field Guide to Common Coffee Varietals

Varietal is one of the most overlooked variables in green coffee purchasing, yet it shapes flavor potential as much as processing or altitude. Here’s a practical breakdown of the varietals you’ll most often see on a specialty green coffee spec sheet.

Bourbon

One of the oldest cultivated Arabica varieties, Bourbon is prized for its sweetness and balanced body, though it produces lower yields than modern hybrids. Our El Salvador San Agustin lot is a Bourbon varietal, and its syrupy body and red grape notes are characteristic of well-grown Bourbon at altitude.

Pink Bourbon

A rare, naturally occurring Bourbon mutation identified in Colombia, named for the pink-hued cherries it produces. It has developed a reputation among cuppers for vivid, almost candy-like sweetness and bright, sparkling acidity — exactly the caramel and tropical fruit profile found in our Colombia Huila Pink Bourbon lot (Q 89).

Yellow Bourbon

A yellow-fruited Bourbon mutation associated with lower acidity and a heavier, more chocolate-forward cup — the profile behind our Brazil Cerrado lot, which was selected specifically for its clean, consistent commercial character.

Caturra and Purple Caturra

A natural dwarf mutation of Bourbon, Caturra produces higher yields on a more compact plant, making it popular across Central and South America. Purple Caturra, grown in parts of Indonesia, tends toward heavier body and, when paired with extended or wet-hulled processing, produces the tropical, wine-like complexity seen in our Indonesia Extended Fermented lot.

Peaberry

Not a varietal but a natural mutation that occurs across any varietal, where the cherry develops a single round bean instead of the usual two flat-sided beans. Peaberries are often hand-sorted separately because their density and shape roast differently from flat beans, and many cuppers report a more concentrated, intensified flavor. Our Yemen Haraz lot is a Peaberry selection, contributing to its distinctive, full-bodied, spice-driven cup.

Why Varietal Should Be on Your Checklist

Next time you request samples, ask your supplier for varietal alongside altitude and process. The combination of all three — not any single factor — is what predicts how a coffee will actually taste in your cup.