Yellow Bourbon Coffee - Dallmayr GRAND CRU CAFÉ

Grand Cru YELLOW BOURBON - Premium coffee from Brazil

PROFILE

Origin: Brazil
Type: 100% Coffea Arabica
Quality: Authentic premium quality, unwashed Coffea Arabica, Variety Yellow Bourbon, NY2 screen 17/18 fine cup, Cerrado region
Roasting: Long, gentle espresso roast
Body: Medium strength
Acidity: Pleasant, very subtle
Aroma: Velvety smooth with a fine hint of hazelnut
PREPARATION: Dallmayr GRAND CRU Yellow Bourbon is ideal for espresso, cappuccino and latte macchiato. In the cup, it develops a long-lasting, silky smooth crema.

The smooth sound of Brazil in a coffee cup

Dallmayr GRAND CRU Yellow Bourbon makes sure it is the sensorial centre of attention amongst coffee lovers. Hazelnut and almond aromas intertwine with fruity echoes of ripe Boskoop apples and orange peel, whilst a delicate chocolaty sweetness creeps to the forefront, providing a pleasant, long-lasting aftertaste on the palate and a resounding finish.

With its low and harmoniously balanced acidity, Yellow Bourbon is particularly delicious. This discrete acidity and a medium body are typical of pulped natural coffee, which will be explained in more detail later. The Bourbon beans are naturally mild, ensuring silky smooth, delicious coffee.

Cities and rail networks built upon coffee beans

Bossa nova with the Girl from Ipanema, football, 8,000 kilometres of coastline, the endless Amazon, samba and carnival ... Brazil is all of this, and much more: the largest country in South America is also the leading coffee producer.

In the first half of the 18th century, coffee arrived in Brazil from French Guiana, and has been widely grown ever since. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Brazilian coffee business experienced such a boom that it became the driving force behind industrialisation in the country, as well as being responsible for the creation of its large cities and the expansion of the railroad network. Today, numerous historical train stations still reveal just how strong an influence the coffee business had on the development of the rail network.

With approximately six million coffee trees, Brazil is the world’s undisputed leader in coffee production. The country covers almost 35 per cent of global demand. More than five million Brazilians work in the coffee industry. Some of them are also amongst the most renowned coffee experts in the world. After all, the Brazilians are not only first-class footballers – they are also number one in coffee cultivation. Approximately six million coffee trees grow in Brazil. Authentic Bourbon beans are considered a rare and exclusive delicacy.

On the trail of a secret speciality in the land of the coffee giants

For many decades, the country focused on maximising the export volume of certain commercial types. Even as the 1990s dawned, Brazil was still producing large quantities of significantly lower-quality coffee. With the introduction of coffee bean awards, however, this situation began to change. Suddenly, traditional experiences, coffee expertise gathered over generations and the flair of accentuating the finest nuances of exquisite highland beans were embraced once more. Varieties which had all but slipped into oblivion enjoyed a comeback. And a small sensation was caused by Yellow Bourbon. Our coffee experts discovered this secret Brazilian speciality for Dallmayr.

A fine Brazilian selection for the Miss Brazil of the coffee beans

Yellow Bourbon is grown in the Cerrado coffee region in south-east Brazil. Earlier, this huge area, which is about as large as Alaska, was erroneously considered as unsuitable for cultivating coffee. However, the many prizes awarded to Yellow Bourbon in the Brazil Cup of Excellence reflect a different scene altogether.

The coffee grows at 900 to 1,200 metres on a high plateau which almost offers complete shelter from frost. Cerrado has a semi-arid climate with two clearly defined seasons and an average annual temperature of 20ºC to 36ºC, therefore providing the optimal conditions for growing coffee. The wet season stretches over the summer months from October to April, when most of the annual rainfall occurs: approx. 1,110 to 2,000 mm. For the remaining five months of the year, which is winter, the climate is generally dry. The coffee harvest takes place during this season, from April to September.

The unique flair of ripe, yellow coffee cherries

What is so special about Yellow Bourbon? This traditional variety only began to be grown again a few years ago. It is rare, exquisite and extremely sensitive: its thin leaves make the plant more susceptible to heat and diseases.

Ripe coffee cherries, the fruit of coffee plants, are normally deep red in colour. Only the Arabica Yellow Bourbon – as the name suggests – turns bright yellow as soon as it is ready to be picked. Its cultivation requires more labour, and less harvest is yielded. High on the Cerrado mountainsides, no machinery can be used. Ripe Yellow Bourbon cherries are either picked by hand or shaken from the tree. The cherries are collected in cloths to prevent them from touching the ground or possibly fermenting.

After being harvested, the cherries are taken to sorting plants, where they are cleaned and separated according to their quality. A device known as a pulper removes part of the cherries’ flesh. Next, the treated beans are laid on expansive terraces to dry naturally. The special method used here is called ‘pulped natural’. This means that the remaining flesh on the beans is involved in the drying process. As they dry, the flesh transfers sugar to the beans. Even at this early stage of the process, additional sweet aromas develop.