Pink Bourbon
Sources: Tim Wendelboe (website)
Pink Bourbon is a specialty coffee variety characterized by pink-to-salmon colored cherries at full ripeness — distinct from both red and yellow Bourbon phenotypes. It is highly prized in the specialty coffee market for its complex, sweet, and fruit-forward cup profile.
Origin — Disputed
The origin of Pink Bourbon is contested within the specialty coffee industry:
- Long-held view: A natural mutation of Bourbon, discovered in Colombia. Some farms in Huila and Nariño have cultivated it for decades, and it is commonly associated with Colombian specialty production.
- Tim Wendelboe / Los Pirineos description: Characterised as “most likely an Ethiopian cultivar” — suggesting DNA evidence or sourcing records at Los Pirineos indicate Ethiopian genetic origin, similar to how some varieties marketed as Bourbon mutations have been reclassified through genetic testing as Ethiopian heirloom types.
Note: The exact genetic status of Pink Bourbon remains under investigation in the specialty coffee world. Both claims (Colombian Bourbon mutation vs. Ethiopian origin) may be partially correct, as different “Pink Bourbon” populations in different countries may have distinct genetic backgrounds. (source: Tim Wendelboe (website))
At Finca Los Pirineos
Pink Bourbon is one of four cultivars that Diego Baraona has identified as focus varieties for Finca Los Pirineos going forward, alongside Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Bourbon Elite. (source: Tim Wendelboe (website))
Cup Profile
Pink Bourbon is generally described in specialty coffee circles as producing a sweet, fruit-forward, and complex cup — often with notes of tropical fruit, strawberry, watermelon, and florals. The profile is considered distinctive from classic Bourbon in its intensity and aromatic expression. Specific cup notes from Los Pirineos are not documented in current wiki sources.
Market Relevance
Pink Bourbon commands premium pricing in European specialty markets. Its association with both Colombian and Ethiopian origins gives it marketing appeal at a tier between classic Central American varieties and pure Ethiopian heirlooms.