Introduction:Delve into the rare Pink Bourbon micro-lot coffee from La Pelota Estate in San Agustín, Huila, Colombia. Explore everything from its unique genetic background and challenging growing conditions to its distinctive processing method and captivating flavor profile — uncovering step by step what makes this specialty coffee bean so special, and helping you better appreciate and choose it.
In Huila Province in southwestern Colombia lies the town of San Agustín, known as the cradle of human civilization. Home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed national archaeological park, it is also the birthplace of an extremely rare coffee variety — Pink Bourbon. This micro-lot, washed-process specialty coffee hails from La Pelota Farm at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level. Renowned for its sweet orange and sugarcane-like sweetness along with a rich, juicy mouthfeel, it is a dream coffee for many enthusiasts.
Pink Bourbon is not the result of deliberate breeding but rather a natural cross between Yellow Bourbon and Red Bourbon. Notably, the romantic pink hue of its coffee cherries is due to the expression of a recessive gene. Typically, the color of coffee cherries is primarily determined by genetic factors in the pollen, and because of this recessive trait, Pink Bourbon is exceptionally rare in nature and relatively unstable.
In terms of yield, the challenges are even more apparent. It is understood that around 1,800 coffee trees are planted at La Pelota Estate. Each tree yields only about 1.8 kilograms of fresh fruit per season. After undergoing washed processing to remove the pulp and mucilage, only about 0.36 kilograms of green coffee beans are ultimately obtained. This translates to a total seasonal output of less than 650 kilograms — truly a genuine micro-lot specialty coffee.
This low yield is due not only to the reproductive challenges posed by the recessive gene but also to Pink Bourbon’s high sensitivity to pollination environments. As coffee is a self-pollinating crop — meaning flowers on the same plant can pollinate each other — nearby coffee trees with dominant traits can easily interfere with Pink Bourbon’s genetic expression through their pollen, thereby affecting cherry color and overall flavor consistency. Therefore, planting Pink Bourbon requires a relatively isolated and rigorously managed environment to ensure stable expression of the recessive gene.
The history of Pink Bourbon can be traced back to Colombia’s Huila region, especially around Palestine, and it is still primarily cultivated there today. The micro-lot Pink Bourbon introduced here was carefully selected by a professional green coffee sourcing team who visited La Pelota Estate in the San Agustín area. Every step — from cultivation and harvesting to processing — was executed with the utmost care.
In terms of processing, La Pelota Estate employs the traditional Washed Process, using precise removal of the pulp and fermentation to preserve the coffee beans’ purest flavor characteristics. The coffee is roasted to a light degree (Light Roast), which helps highlight its bright acidity and complex layers of fruitiness. It is reported that the harvest and processing of this batch of coffee beans took place around 2017, yet it still demonstrates remarkable quality and flavor consistency to this day.
When brewing this Pink Bourbon coffee, consider using the pour over method to carefully experience its multi-layered flavors that evolve with temperature. Upon the first sip, sweet orange and fresh sugarcane-like sweetness subtly emerge, followed by a lively mouthfeel reminiscent of fresh juice. As the temperature slightly drops, you may notice a unique fruity note akin to small tomatoes, along with delicate floral undertones. This evolving taste journey with temperature is precisely the charm of Pink Bourbon.
In summary, Pink Bourbon is more than just a coffee variety. It represents a marvelous combination of natural genetics, the grower’s commitment to quality, and the countless details and challenges behind micro-lot specialty coffee. For enthusiasts eager to deeply explore the world of specialty coffee, Pink Bourbon is definitely a bean worth savoring and collecting.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
