Tipo: Pure

History: Typica owes its name to the fact that it was the first variety to leave Ethiopia more than 400 years ago. Passing through Yemen to Indonesia, the Typica plant arrived in the Americas via European colonizers, who spread it from the island of Martinique throughout Central and South America. Typica can be thought of as the origin of the majority of Arabica varieties in Latin America. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it dominated coffee production in Colombia. Today it can be difficult to come by. Due to its high susceptibility to coffee rust, the once-dominant Typica variety has been replaced by more resistant varieties. In Antioquia and the coffee region, it is called Pajarito, while in the south of the country, the variety is called Común (Common).

Phenotype: Characterized by long internodes and a tall stature, the tree’s fruits are always red and susceptible to rust, and its branches grow at an open angle (67o). Its beans are elongated and larger than other varieties.

Type: Pure. Spontaneous mutation of Typica..

History: Borbón comes from a natural mutation of Typica, which developed in the Borbón Islands (now called the Reunion Islands) off the east coast of Africa. Nowadays, it is quite common in Guatemala, El Salvador and Brazil. Despite enjoying some popularity in Colombia around the mid-20th century, today it is quite difficult to find. Like Typica, it is highly susceptible to coffee rust.

Phenotype: With branches angled at 58o, narrower than the Typica, it has green buds, red or yellow fruits, and small beans. A highly productive variety, Borbón has replaced Typica as one of the most common varieties cultivated throughout Central America, the Caribbean, and Brazil. And for good reason — it’s famous for its high quality cups.

Type: Pure.

Historia: Originally from the region of Gesha in Ethiopia, this variety was collected and studied by scientists, who brought it to a research center in Costa Rica in the mid-20th century. Finding it to produce quality cups with very particular sensorial characteristics, coffee farmers brought it to Panama for commercial cultivation.

Phenotype: Gesha is a medium-sized tree, with average productivity and a special requirement for shade. It produces a cup with very intense and particular aromatic qualities, reminiscent of flowers and citrus fruits. Many people find it to be more aromatic than tea. Coffees of this variety are among the most exclusive and expensive in the world.

Tipo: Pure. Borbón mutation.

History: The Caturra variety originated from a spontaneous mutation of the Borbón tree, observed for the first time in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Known for its short trees, Caturra first arrived in Colombia in 1952, and began to spread more widely throughout the country in the 1970s. Today, it is quite hard to come across, but can be found in southern Colombia. Unfortunately, it is also highly susceptible to rust.

Phenotype: A short, compact, and highly-productive tree, the Caturra variety has light green leaves, green buds, red or yellow fruit, and medium-sized beans. It thrives in colder climates.

Type: Hybrid (Cross between Borbón, Caturra, Typica and Hybrid of Timor).

History: On September 27, 1983, coffee rust was identified for the first time in Colombia in the municipality of Chinchiná, Caldas. In attempt to produce a tree that was resistant to the pest, while retaining the desirable attributes of Arabica, the Cenicafé Coffee Research Center began crossing different varieties and species. Landing upon a cross of Hybrid of Timor with Borbón, Caturra, and Typica, researchers launched the Colombia variety in 1984. It spread rapidly throughout the country thanks to government recovery programs underway at the time.

Phenotype: The Colombia variety is a short tree, similar in appearance to Caturra, but with greater resistance to coffee rust.

Tipo: Hybrid. Cross between Borbón, Caturra, Typica and Hybrid of Timor. The difference between the Colombia variety and Castillo is that the latter has greater genetic variability and more of Hybrid of Timor’s resistance to rust.

History: The Castillo variety was created by Cenicafé in 2005, and has been promoted by the National Coffee Growers Federation, given its productivity and resistance to coffee rust. However, its cup quality is the subject of heated debate, since many believe it will never produce as high-quality beans as a pure variety.

Phentype: Similar to the Colombia variety – a smaller tree, with green buds and short internodes.