Pink Bourbon Coffee: Origin, Taste, and Brewing Guide
Updated - Team Colipse
Pink Bourbon is a rare Arabica coffee variety from Colombia. Pink Bourbon coffee beans have a salmon-pink hue when ripe, distinguishing them from typical red or yellow varieties. The coffee grows mainly in southwestern Colombia, especially in Huila’s San Adolfo region and parts of Cauca. Pink Bourbon coffee tastes sweet, floral, and citrusy with notes of honey, white flowers, and tropical fruit. The best way to enjoy Pink Bourbon coffee is by brewing it with high-quality whole beans, ground fresh before use, using a pour-over method. The best places to buy Pink Bourbon coffee are specialty roasters. Pink Bourbon is one of many Colombian coffee varieties, including Castillo, Caturra, Typica, Tabi, and Geisha.
What is Pink Bourbon Coffee?
Pink Bourbon coffee is a rare Arabica variety with pinkish-orange cherries and Ethiopian genetic origins. The name "Pink Bourbon" comes from the peachy-pink color of its ripe coffee cherries. Pink Bourbon coffee cherries get their salmon-pink color from modified anthocyanin pigment expression. Unlike Red Bourbon varieties, which show full anthocyanin, Pink Bourbon expresses it partially, resulting in a pink hue.
Pink Bourbon green coffee beans are medium-sized, with a screen size ranging from 15 to 18. The coffee variety is hard to harvest because ripe cherries turn pink or salmon-orange instead of red. This makes it difficult for pickers to visually distinguish ripe cherries from unripe ones. The beans ripen slowly, yield low harvests, and requires selective hand-picking.
Pink Bourbon coffee was pioneered by several Colombian producers who discovered and developed it as a specialty crop. Colombian Pink Bourbon is highly popular among specialty coffee enthusiasts and award circuits. It has won multiple international awards, including placements at Copa De Oro and the Mystery Coffee League. This microlot variety uses washed or double-fermentation processing as its primary method.
Where Does Pink Bourbon Coffee Come From?
Pink Bourbon coffee was discovered in Colombia’s southern Huila region between 2010 and 2014. Rodrigo Sanchez Valencia and his team identified the variety on Finca Monteblanco. The variety gained attention for its pink cherries and potential disease resistance. Pink Bourbon varietal was originally believed to be a hybrid of Red and Yellow Bourbon due to its pink cherry color.
However, the 2017 test by DNA Analytica showed that Pink Bourbon leaves shared genetic similarity with Ethiopian wild coffees, and lesser similarity with Tanzanian Arabica, Bourbon, and Catimor. The 2023 test by RD2 Vision, led by Christophe Montagnon, confirmed Pink Bourbon as an Ethiopian landrace, not related to Bourbon.
Pink Bourbon is a vernacular name, not a true Bourbon variety, according to Christophe Montagnon. While naming inconsistencies are common in agriculture, including in coffee, Pink Bourbon still consistently produces exceptional cups. The name may mislead, but the cup quality does not. Pink Bourbon may have been introduced to Colombia to enrich genetic resources or by mistake as Gesha seed.
Where is Pink Bourbon Coffee Grown?
Pink Bourbon coffee is grown in southwestern Colombia, especially Huila’s San Adolfo region in the Acevedo municipality and parts of Cauca. The coffee varietal thrives at high altitudes between 1,750–2,000 meters above sea level. High altitude, volcanic soil, and cool microclimates provide ideal growing conditions for Pink Bourbon coffee.
Finca Granja La Esperanza, Finca Bruselas, and Finca El Paraiso rank among the most famous farms growing Pink Bourbon in Huila region. The most famous coffee farms that grow Pink Bourbon in Cauca region include Finca Inmaculada, Finca Los Capachos, and Granja Paraíso 92. Wilton Benitez is the owner of Granja El Paraiso-92. Wilton Benitez pioneered Pink Bourbon coffee using advanced thermal shock processing in Colombia.
The following table shows leading Colombian farms known for Pink Bourbon production.
| Farm Name | Producer | Region | Notable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finca Monteblanco | Rodrigo Sanchez Valencia (Aromas del Sur) | Huila (San Adolfo) | Rediscovered Pink Bourbon in 2013; high yields; rust resistance; cup scores 88+ |
| Finca La Inmaculada | Holguín-Ramos Family | Valle del Cauca (Pichindé) | Exotic varietals specialist; biodynamic farming; used in World Barista Championships |
| Finca El Paraiso | Wilton Benitez | Cauca | Top-ranked in Coffee Review (98 points); innovative processing; multiple Top 30 lots |
| Finca Bella Vista | Lucy Galindez | Cauca | Sourced for US Barista Champion; complex floral and fruity profiles; high competition scores |
| Finca Las Nubes | Claudia Samboni & Partners (Aromas del Sur) | Huila (Pitalito) | Partnership for quality focus; rare varietals like Pink Bourbon and Gesha; sustainable practices |
| Finca Los Cedros | Those Coffee People Producers | Cauca | Youth empowerment; innovative fermentation; silky body and complex cups |
| Finca La Esperanza | Carlos Ramón Díaz | Huila (Pitalito) | Third-generation; consistent high-quality Pink Bourbon; 18,000 trees |
| Finca El Mirador | Segundo Aurelio Lasso | Huila (La Argentina) | Community support; Gesha and Pink Bourbon; quality-focused smallholder |
| Finca La Fuente | Yobani Ramos & Yaved Guarnizo | Huila (Tarqui) | Scenic high altitude (up to 2000m); elegant fruity notes; family-run excellence |
| Finca Bruselas | Gaviria-Botero Family | Huila | 70-year legacy; three generations; winey and complex fruit profiles |
Is Pink Bourbon Coffee Good?
Yes, Pink Bourbon coffee is considered both good and famous due to its rare genetic profile, sweet citrus and floral flavor, and success in specialty coffee competitions. Pink Bourbon has demonstrated exceptional quality by placing multiple lots among the top-ranked coffees at Cup of Excellence Colombia 2022. The coffee has gained recognition at the highest levels of competition through baristas selecting it for their routines at the World Barista Championship 2023.
Peñas Blancas and other respected Colombian mills offer Pink Bourbon as competition-grade coffee. Professional buyers consider Pink Bourbon a premium coffee. Documented results from formal competitions confirm Pink Bourbon meets rigorous specialty-coffee evaluation standards. Competition judges and championship-level baristas establish Pink Bourbon as a genuinely high-end coffee variety.
What Does Pink Bourbon Coffee Taste Like?
Pink Bourbon coffee tastes sweet and rich with hints of citrus, honey, and white flowers. Depending on the processing method, it may also feature flavors like blackberry jam, rose petals, pink grapefruit, or passion fruit. Washed Pink Bourbon coffee tastes more bright and flowery, with citrus tartness, honey-like sweetness, and a smooth feel. Honey processed Pink Bourbon coffee tastes like a rich mix of tropical fruit, jasmine, and strong sweetness. In espresso, Pink Bourbon coffee tastes like tropical fruit, flowery notes, and bright tartness.
How to Brew Pink Bourbon Coffee?
To brew Pink Bourbon coffee with optimal flavor, start with high-quality beans to preserve its delicate floral and fruit notes. Inferior beans mask the variety’s unique characteristics and compromise clarity, acidity, and sweetness essential to the Pink Bourbon profile. The following list shows how to brew Pink Bourbon coffee like a pro.
- Weigh 22g of Pink Bourbon coffee beans.
- Grind the beans using a medium setting like 5 on the Fellow Ode with SSP burrs.
- Heat 350g of water to 205°F or 92–96°C.
- Place a paper filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water to remove paper taste.
- Add the ground coffee to the rinsed filter in the dripper on the server.
- Pour 50g of hot water over the grounds in a circular motion to fully saturate them for blooming.
- Wait 40 seconds for the bloom to release gases and enhance flavor.
- Pour water to reach 150g, then swirl the dripper 5 times when the water is 0.5 inches above the bed.
- Pour in stages to 250g, wait for halfway drainage, then pour to 350g aiming for a 3:30–4:00 brew time.
- Pour the brewed coffee into a mug and enjoy notes of passionfruit, tropical fruits, and citrus.
Where to Buy Pink Bourbon Coffee?
You can buy Pink Bourbon coffee beans from specialty roasters like Intelligentsia, Parlor Coffee, and JBC Coffee Roasters. These retailers offer fresh, single-origin beans online and in-store. Prices typically range from $20 to $30 per 12oz bag, depending on origin, roast, and processing method. Amazon and Del Valle also offer affordable options under $22. While Colipse Coffee doesn't sell Colombian Pink Bourbon coffee specifically, we offer specialty-grade single origin Colombian specialty coffee for sale online from Tolima region, roasted fresh and shipped directly to you. For the best flavor, buy whole beans and grind them just before brewing.
How Does Pink Bourbon Compare to Other Coffees?
Pink Bourbon coffee stands out for its complex flavor profile, combining floral notes, tropical fruit, and bright acidity. Compared to traditional Arabica coffee plant varieties, it offers a more refined cup with higher sweetness and clarity. It also requires ideal growing conditions, making it rarer and more expensive than common varieties.
What is the Difference between Pink Bourbon and Red Bourbon?
The main difference between pink bourbon and red bourbon is the color mutation and flavor profile. Pink bourbon is a rare hybrid of red and yellow bourbon, producing floral, tea-like notes with higher sweetness. In contrast, Red Bourbon coffee is more common and offers chocolatey, nutty flavors with fuller body and lower acidity.
What is the Difference between Pink Bourbon and Geisha?
The main difference between Pink Bourbon and Geisha coffee is in flavor and origin. Pink Bourbon offers floral, fruity notes with higher sweetness and mild acidity, often grown in Colombia. On the other hand, Geisha coffee varietal, originally from Ethiopia but popular in Panama, delivers jasmine, bergamot, and complex acidity, often winning international awards for cup quality.