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Tabi

A Colombian rust-resistant release bred for cup quality. Its name means “good” in Guambiano, and it largely lives up to it.

Tabi was released by Cenicafé in 2002, crossing Typica and Bourbon with the Timor hybrid. The name means “good” in the Guambiano language.

What it was for

Rust resistance without the cup penalty that Catimor carried. Colombia needed a resistant variety that specialty buyers would accept.

The cup

Sweet and complex with good acidity and body — noticeably better than Catimor and competitive with Caturra. It has performed well in Cup of Excellence.

Why Castillo is more common

Tabi is tall, which makes harvesting slower and dense planting impossible. Castillo, released three years later, is compact and yields better.

So Tabi is planted by quality-focused producers and Castillo by everyone else — a familiar pattern.

Where it grows

Colombia, in relatively small quantities.

Brewing it

Filter or espresso at medium-light roast.

What you need to make it

The equipment this actually requires — not a shopping list, the shortest route to doing it properly.

  • The reference pour-over Manual brewers

    Hario V60 02 Ceramic

    60° cone · spiral ribs · 1–4 cups

    The most transparent cup you can brew for twenty euros, and the least forgiving. Ceramic holds heat where plastic does not — and the open bottom means your pour, not the dripper, decides the coffee.

    Best for: Someone who wants to taste what a single-origin coffee is actually doing.

    8.2/10

    ≈ $25 / £20 / 22 €

  • Best filter grinder Grinders

    Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

    64 mm flat burr · filter only · single dose

    64 mm flat burrs, near-zero retention and a footprint the size of a mug, built for filter and honest about not doing espresso. For pour-over it is the clearest grind you can buy at this price.

    Best for: V60, Chemex, AeroPress and batch brewing, where clarity is the whole point.

    8.7/10

    ≈ $345 / £275 / 300 €

  • Best pour control Kettles

    Fellow Stagg EKG Pro

    0.9 L · ±1 °C hold · counterbalanced gooseneck

    The best-pouring kettle sold, and the hold function matters more than the thermometer. Expensive for boiling water — but if you brew pour-over daily, it is the accessory that most improves the cup.

    Best for: Daily pour-over, where flow rate is the variable you are trying to control.

    8.6/10

    ≈ $195 / £165 / 180 €