Arabica · Coffee Variety
Caturra
Caturra is a single-gene dwarf mutation of Bourbon found in Brazil in the 1930s. The compact stature changed coffee economics: trees could be planted densely and picked quickly, raising per-hectare yields without machinery. It became the workhorse of Colombia and Central America for half a century.
The cup keeps most of Bourbon's sweetness with brighter acidity and a lighter body. Its Achilles heel is leaf rust — the 2012 rust crisis devastated Caturra across Central America and drove the wave of replanting toward resistant Castillo, Marsellesa, and Parainema.
Caturra at a glance
| Species | Arabica |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Natural dwarf mutation of Bourbon, discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil (1930s) |
| Plant stature | Dwarf/compact, high planting density |
| Yield potential | High (with fertilization) |
| Disease resistance | Highly susceptible to leaf rust |
| Optimal altitude | 1,200–1,900 m |
| Bean size | Medium |
| Cup profile | Bright citric acidity, sugar-cane sweetness, lighter body than Bourbon |
Where Caturra is grown
Caturra — frequently asked questions
Why did Caturra dominate Colombia for decades?
Density and quality together: compact trees allowed up to 5,000+ trees per hectare with a cup close to Bourbon. Until rust pressure escalated, it was the best economics-quality compromise available.
Is Caturra still worth buying after the rust crisis?
Absolutely — surviving high-altitude Caturra lots remain reference-quality, and many producers keep small Caturra plots for premium micro-lots while planting resistant varieties for volume.
How is Caturra related to Catimor and Catuai?
Caturra is a parent of both: crossed with Timor Hybrid it produced the Catimor family, and crossed with Mundo Novo it produced Catuai.
Sourcing Caturra? Volcana Coffee grows and exports high-altitude Catimor, Typica, and washed Fine Robusta from the Bolaven Plateau, Laos — with SGS-inspected quality and full export documentation.
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