Tabi: The Colombian Hybrid That Proves Breeding Can Be Beautiful
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Tabi: The Colombian Hybrid That Proves Breeding Can Be Beautiful
Tabi was developed by Cenicafé — Colombia's national coffee research centre — by crossing Typica, Bourbon, and Timor Hybrid. The result is a disease-resistant variety with an elegant, balanced cup that rivals the best traditional varietals.
At a Glance
What Is Tabi?
Tabi was developed by Cenicafé — Colombia's national coffee research centre — and released in 2002. The name comes from the Guambiano indigenous language of Colombia and means "good." It is a three-way cross of Typica, Bourbon, and Timor Hybrid (a naturally occurring cross between arabica and robusta that carries strong disease resistance). The goal was to produce a variety that combined the cup quality of Typica and Bourbon — two of arabica's most classical and beloved cultivars — with the practical durability of rust and coffee berry disease resistance.
Tabi achieved this goal. Its large, elongated cherries (similar to Typica in size) mature slowly at high altitudes, building complex sugars and organic acids that produce an elegant, balanced cup with the sweet, caramel-chocolate notes of Bourbon and the clarity and structure of Typica. Unlike many disease-resistant hybrids developed at the cost of cup quality, Tabi has been embraced by specialty buyers as a genuinely excellent variety in its own right.
Roasters Carrying Tabi
Tasting Profile
Brew Guide
Filter
1:15–1:16
93–96°C · Caramel and apple lead
Espresso
1:2.5–1:3
Sweet, balanced daily espresso
Rest
7–18 days
Washed — opens cleanly within a week
Shop Tabi at BrewFusion
Cenicafé's elegant Colombian hybrid — Typica, Bourbon, and disease resistance in one beautiful cup. Shipped fresh worldwide.
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