On this Episode of Coffee On The Brain, we travel to Brazil to explore the Mundo Novo and Catuai coffee varietals. These South American coffees create a tasty blend that you have to try! After a short history lesson, we’ll brew up some of 49th Parallel’s Honduras Finca Bonanza coffee blend.
The Mundo Novo coffee varietal thrived in Brazil and is a natural hybrid of Typica and Bourbon plant. It’s a favorite amongst farmers for its resistances to disease and its higher fruit yield than a Bourbon varietal. It didn't, however, inherit the desired flavor profile that people love from a Bourbon. That doesn’t mean you can’t find quality Mundo Novo beans! When you are lucky enough to come across some, the flavor is described as heavy and sweet with lower acidity.
What do you do then when beans are missing desired traits? You make new ones, of course! The Catuai is a high-yield Arabica cultivar from the Mundo Novo and Caturra coffee varietals. It was bred in the 1950s by the Instituto Agronomico do Campinas in Brazil likely as an attempt to create a high-yielding, pest resistant plant with delicious cherries.
The Catuai is a high-yielding cultivar with a sweet, Bourbon-desired flavor, but, unfortunately, it is susceptible to diseases—we call this a success in the coffee world! Two out of three desired traits isn't too bad. While the dream for a bean with all three traits wasn’t fully realized in this varietal, the Catuai coffee produces some espresso blends that we’ve come to love.
Want to get your hands on some Catuai coffee?
Amber brewed up a seasonal, the 49th Parallel’s Honduras Finca Bonanza, and detected notes of sweet, caramel balanced with tropical fruit undertone—like a mini-vacation in a cup! What coffee are you drinking today? Share it in the comments below!