Pink Bourbon is a trendy coffee variety that is knownf or its pink cherries and was believed to be a Bourbon. However, a recent article published by Cafe Imports has revealed that Pink Bourbon is, in fact, an Ethiopian landrace variety.
According to the article, the history of Pink Bourbon is more of a folklore tale than a scientific discovery. In 2014, a Senior Green Coffee Buyer with Cafe Imports named Lucho discovered a coffee plant with pink cherries while searching for Colombian cryptids. Later, Lucho found more Pink Bourbon trees growing among traditional Bourbon and believed it to be a spontaneous cross of Red and Yellow Bourbon due to their similar appearances.
However, genetic testing in 2017 by Cafe Imports found that Pink Bourbon shared high similarity percentages with plants possessing Ethiopian coffee genetics. Recently, genetic testing by RD2 Vision confirmed that all five samples sent were Pink Bourbon, with two mixed with Bourbon, two with Catimor, and one "pure" Pink Bourbon.
The post suggests that Pink Bourbon may have been brought over to be a parent of another hybrid or could have been a mistake in bringing over another Ethiopian landrace variety.
In conclusion, Pink Bourbon's fascinating history shows that even the most popular coffee varieties can have unexpected origins. The discovery of Pink Bourbon's true genetic roots provides valuable insights into the origins and evolution of coffee, and highlights the importance of genetic testing in the coffee industry.
