What is Pink Bourbon Coffee? Taste, Origin & Brewing Guide

Last updated: 20 May 2026

What is Pink Bourbon Coffee?

Pink Bourbon is a variety that has, over the last few years, commanded a great deal of curiosity, acclaim, and confusion within the industry, catalysed by its debut at the 2023 World Barista Championship Finals.

Since then, Pink Bourbon has garnered a reputation as a high-quality variety and now has a noticeable presence at competition stages, coffee shops, and roasteries alike.

In a Nutshell

Named after the pink, salmonish hue of the cherries, very little is known about this variety. Until recently, it was believed to be a hybrid of Red and Yellow Bourbon. However, after genetic testing conducted in September 2023, it was discovered that it is unlikely to share lineage with the Bourbon variety and instead comes from Ethiopian heirloom varieties. 

Sometimes you’ll find Pink Bourbon being presented under a different name — Rosado — in order to reflect the industry’s updated understanding of the variety’s genetic lineage.

While the Pink Bourbon Boram Um used to win the 2023 World Barista Championship was grown at his farm in Brazil, it was originally discovered and is still primarily cultivated in the Huila region of Colombia. It first appeared in the 1980s and became a favoured crop due to being adaptable and resistant to leaf rust disease.

Pink Bourbon’s reputation as a high-scoring, complex, and expressive variety has made it a staple on the menu of top coffee shops and roasteries around the world.

What Does Pink Bourbon Taste Like?

Pink Bourbon shares many of the qualities that Ethiopian coffees are regarded for. We usually experience a “sparkling” citrus acidity and delicate florals, or potentially some tropical fruit sweetness depending on processing. Because of Colombia’s many different micro-climates, there can also be some regional variation in flavour profile too.

Washed Pink Bourbon

Washed-process lots tend to have a prominent acidity that “sparkles” in the cup, usually with a red berry or citric character — think pink lemonade — often complemented by a fruit-driven sweetness with possibly some stone fruit-like notes such as peach. We tend to find beautiful florals like jasmine, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and white tea, reminiscent of high-quality Gesha lots and Ethiopian heirlooms.

Natural Pink Bourbon

Natural-process Pink Bourbon tends to lean towards more sweetness and tropical fruits. You might find notes similar to mango and pineapple, a silky or even syrupy body, and potentially some wine-like notes. You may also find cherry, strawberry, or even red grape.

High-Intervention Processes

The high potential quality of Pink Bourbon has made it a desirable foundation for more extended and “high-intervention” processes, especially by notable Colombian farms such as Granja Paraiso, El Jaragual, and Quebraditas. Due to the wide variety of these processing methods and the influence they have over the taste experience, it can be really hard to give a definitive answer. We have found everything from rosehip syrup to passionfruit, and even bubblegum notes.

What is the Origin of Pink Bourbon?

Exactly where Pink Bourbon came from remains a mystery. While it is widely agreed to be related to an Ethiopian heirloom variety, it is unclear how and when it made its way to the Huila region and mutated its signature pink hue. It gained popularity with farmers in the 1980s as it was seen to resist Coffee Leaf Rust disease and adapt well to the environment.

Before more information about its genetic lineage came to light, it was believed to be a mutation between Red and Yellow Bourbon. While this was largely dispelled in a study published in September 2023 by Cafe Imports after conducting genetic testing with RD2 Vision, the Ethiopian Landrace origin story remains the most likely explanation rather than the absolute truth. It is also worth noting that “Pink Bourbon” is not a standardised variety, and there may be genetic inconsistencies between the Pink Bourbon grown on different farms.

Where is Pink Bourbon Grown?

Pink Bourbon is still primarily grown in Huila, Colombia — the very region where the variety was discovered — and is typically grown at altitudes of 1,500–2,200 metres above sea level. These high altitudes can contribute to the complexity usually associated with the flavour profile due to the slower maturation times of the coffee cherries.

Pink Bourbon has spread across Colombia and can now be found in other regions such as Quindio, Cauca, and Nariño, although not in the same abundance as its home region.

Pink Bourbon grown outside of Colombia is very rare, especially commercially. The most notable example would be the Pink Bourbon cultivated by Boram Um at his Brazilian farm for his 2023 World Barista Championship routine.

How is Pink Bourbon Grown and Harvested?

When the cherries are perfectly ripe, they take on a pink-orangish hue, which makes it more difficult to judge when they are ready for picking in comparison to the bright Ferrari-red colour that is most commonly used for determining ripeness. For this reason, Pink Bourbon plants might require multiple passes during the harvest season, requiring more labour.

Pink Bourbon grows best at higher elevations, which allow for longer maturation times due to cooler temperatures. This allows for greater and more complex sugars to build up, which is reflected in the sweetness and acidity structure of the final cup. This, however, requires pickers to wait longer before they can begin harvesting.

While having a medium-tall stature that isn’t too unmanageable, Pink Bourbon trees have wide branch node spacing, giving them a “scraggly” appearance that contributes to lower cherry yields when compared to other commercial varieties. That being said, Pink Bourbon has relatively decent resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Disease — a desirable trait, as disease can drastically impact a farm’s yield and quality.

Typical Maturation Timeline

Pink Bourbon plants behave in a similar way to Ethiopian Heirloom varieties:

• Year 0: Seedling germination and planting in a nursery.
• Year 1: Vegetative growth — establishing a root system and branch structure. No meaningful cherry growth yet.
• Year 2: First signs of flowering. The plant starts to show small yields of cherries. The quality will not yet be particularly good.
• Years 3–5: The plant develops and matures. Cherry quality improves year-on-year.
• Year 5+: Full maturity is reached. Yields are more consistent and quality is very high. The plant will continue to produce cherries for 15+ years.
• Information adapted from World Coffee Research, who have conducted research  for years on typical maturation timelines.

(Above: Brayan Smith harvesting Pink Bourbon)

Where Can I Buy Pink Bourbon?

We frequently feature Pink Bourbon here at Harmony. It always blows us away in terms of flavour profile, especially at the price point we typically find it at. Our most recent Wild and Complex release is a Pink Bourbon grown in Huila by Brayan Smith.

What Does Pink Bourbon Look Like?

The most obvious indicator of a Pink Bourbon plant is the iconic pink-orangish hue of the fully ripened cherries, which are medium-sized, dense, and slightly elongated. The plant itself is of a medium-tall stature with not very dense, “scraggly” branches. The leaves have a distinct narrow, elongated shape, with younger leaves showing a bronze colouration.

Pink Bourbon vs. Sidra - What’s the Difference?

Both Pink Bourbon and Sidra share similarities in terms of growing regions, flavour profile, and rarity.

• Both delineate from Ethiopian Heirloom varieties.
• Both share flavour qualities that are adjacent to Ethiopian Heirlooms: big, bright acidity, fruit-driven sweetness, and complex floral aroma.
• Both varieties’ fame can be attributed to success at the World Barista Championship: Sidra in 2019 and Pink Bourbon in 2023.
• Both have been positioned as “Gesha Killers” — a more price-friendly alternative for those seeking complex, floral, elegant coffees.
• Both plants are more forgiving to grow than Gesha, and they are both suitable for high-altitude climates in equatorial America.

But they aren’t without their differences:

• Both varieties are grown primarily in separate countries: Sidra in Ecuador, Pink Bourbon in Colombia.
• Pink Bourbon is more resistant to Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Disease than Sidra.
• While they are adjacent in flavour, Pink Bourbon often has a brighter, “sparkling” acidity. Sidra may typically be more sweetness-forward with a more silky, almost creamy body, whereas we usually experience Pink Bourbon as having a lighter, tea-like tactile experience.
• Sidra yields bright red cherries with longer, pointy, dense beans that ripen evenly. Pink Bourbon yields cherries with a pink hue and smaller, dense beans. The pink hue makes it harder to judge cherry ripeness.

The Rarity of Pink Bourbon

Despite being primarily produced in one country, Pink Bourbon is reasonably accessible considering it is a high-scoring, exotic variety. Due to its desirable characteristics and price point, many roasters and coffee shops strive to feature it on their menus, usually as a premium retail or pour-over offering.

Despite being a lower-yielding variety in comparison to others, Pink Bourbon benefits from Colombia having two harvest seasons: a main larger harvest, followed by a smaller “fly” crop. This makes Colombian coffee, and by extension Pink Bourbon, available to purchase virtually year-round.

Is Pink Bourbon Expensive?

Despite the fact that Pink Bourbon is quite rare and positioned as a “premium” offering on most menus, in terms of flavour it usually punches way beyond its price point. For that reason, we’d say it is largely very good value. Similar to Sidra, we deem Pink Bourbon “surprisingly affordable”, especially when compared with Gesha.

How to Brew Pink Bourbon

Getting good brews with a Pink Bourbon lies in balancing the acidity and maintaining the tea-like structure that the variety leans toward. Percolation drippers such as V60, Orea, and Origami are all great options for brewing Pink Bourbon, as they typically favour clarity and brightness.

I typically brew washed lots of this variety with a longer ratio, around 1:17, and hotter water, 94°C+, to ensure the punchier acidity is balanced within the cup.

Our Favourite Recipe for Washed Pink Bourbon

• Coffee: 14g, medium grind (25–27 clicks on Comandante C40)
• Water: 240g, 94°C+, 60–80ppm
• Dripper: Origami with Cafec ABACA cone paper

• 00:00 - Spiral pour 45g water
• 00:30 - Spiral pour to 120g
• 01:10 - Centre pour to 180g
• 01:40 - Centre pour to 240g
• 02:30 - Approximate drawdown time

Our Favourite Recipe for Natural Pink Bourbon

• Coffee: 14g, medium grind (23–25 clicks on Comandante C40)
• Water: 225g, 91°C, 60–80ppm
• Dripper: Orea 01 with Wave-style paper

• 00:00 - Spiral pour 35g water
• 00:35 - Spiral pour to 130g
• 01:20 - Centre pour to 225g
• 02:10 - Approximate drawdown time

While these brews feel fast, our temperature and ratio are helping ensure we extract enough to have a sweet and balanced brew. The approach for washed coffee involves a wider ratio and hotter temperature than the natural. This is to ensure the acidity of the washed coffee is balanced and the body is kept nice and light, whereas the aim of the natural process recipe is to lean towards that sweeter, silkier experience while retaining some acidity to give the cup some “lift” and avoid heaviness.

Dripper choice is certainly a matter of preference and is interchangeable, although I do personally think conical brewers tend to bring out the best in delicate, bright, floral coffees.

(Above: Brewing Pink Bourbon on an Orea)

Final Thoughts on Pink Bourbon

While Pink Bourbon has only been in the modern specialty coffee zeitgeist for a short amount of time, its impact has been undeniably enormous. It is a shining example of how success on the World Competition stage can shape and influence what coffee we serve and sell. What’s more, the elusive and mysterious origins of this Barbie-coded variety have created the opportunity to engage more coffee enthusiasts with the complex topic of coffee genealogy.

With impressive cup quality, adaptability, and rising demand in the cafe, it is easy to speculate that we’ll continue to see more and more Pink Bourbon in the coming years, possibly from a greater range of farms, origins, and processes to boot.

From high-intervention fruit bombs to complex and delicate tea-like cups, Pink Bourbon is an almost perfect reflection of the preferences of the modern specialty coffee drinker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pink Bourbon Coffee?

Pink Bourbon coffee is a variety usually grown in Colombia, known for its acidity-forward “sparkling” profile, which is favoured by roasters and coffee shops globally. It quickly rose in popularity due to success on the world competition stage.

What Does Pink Bourbon Taste Like?

Flavour descriptors vary due to processes and farm micro-climates, but Pink Bourbon is typically known for a distinct structured acidity, usually a citrus character similar to pink lemonade. Often, you’ll find some berry or stone fruit sweetness and an elegant florality of jasmine and honeysuckle that resembles Ethiopian landrace varieties. Pink Bourbon’s expressive taste is what has propelled it to its beloved status in specialty coffee.

Is Pink Bourbon Floral?

Pink Bourbon, especially washed, tends to be very floral. These florals might be expressed as jasmine, honeysuckle, orange blossom, or even white tea. Natural-process Pink Bourbon is typically sweeter, with a more wine-like complexity. It is one of the many reasons it is so fawned over.

What is the Origin of Pink Bourbon?

While we are pretty sure it descends from Ethiopian Heirloom varieties, no one is quite sure how it made its way to Colombia and when it mutated to develop its signature pink cherry colour. Until the variety became popular, it was believed to be a hybrid of Red and Yellow Bourbon, hence Pink Bourbon’s name. With the modern understanding of its lineage, some of us in the industry have taken to calling it “Rosado”.

Where is Pink Bourbon Grown?

Most commercially available Pink Bourbon is grown in the Huila region of Colombia. Local farmers began to grow it when they noticed the variety’s resistance to disease in the 1980s. While it has started to spread to other regions of Colombia, it isn’t yet common to find it outside of its home origin.

Why is Pink Bourbon so Highly Regarded?

Pink Bourbon first got specialty coffee’s attention when it was used by Boram Um in the 2023 World Barista Championship. From there, it began to be favoured by modern roasters due to its expressive cup profile, which complements modern roasting and brewing conventions.

Is Pink Bourbon Rare?

Relatively speaking, yes. However, market demand as well as the natural abundance of Colombian coffee in the specialty market means you can get hold of it nearly year-round. Many specialty coffee shops look to frequently offer it on their menu.

Is Pink Bourbon Expensive?

Considering the quality of flavour you can get, Pink Bourbon can be a really good value coffee if you’re looking for something special. Compared to Gesha, which is usually on the pricier side, Pink Bourbon is a much more affordable exotic variety.

How Should I Brew Pink Bourbon?

I don’t think it is a tremendously difficult coffee to get right. I am usually looking to ensure the bright, acidity-forward character is balanced and synergised within the cup. This usually means brewing it with a slightly elongated ratio and brewing temperatures over 92°C. For washed coffees, I aim for a light tea-like cup with plenty of clarity. For natural Pink Bourbons, you might want to lean into a more syrupy cup, with sweet tropical fruits.

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