How to Identify Authentic vs Fake Blue Mountain Coffee: Flavor Profile, Taste Characteristics and Introduction

Does FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Help with Weight Loss?

Opinions vary regarding the weight loss effects of coffee. Some claim that drinking five cups of coffee daily can lead to losing several pounds in a week, while others argue that coffee itself is high in calories and will only cause weight gain. In reality, whether coffee can help with weight loss depends on how you drink it and which type of coffee you choose. If you drink several cups of instant coffee daily or coffee with lots of milk and sugar, you will naturally gain weight. The weight loss effect of coffee mainly comes from caffeine. Caffeine can boost metabolism and help burn fat. The coffee we often refer to as "weight loss coffee" is black coffee with high caffeine content.

Purchasing and Authenticating FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

In earlier years, there were no official import channels in China, and Blue Mountain coffee, already quite rare, was even scarcer domestically. Being able to drink a cup of Blue Mountain coffee was considered exceptionally impressive. Consequently, claims like "Blue Mountain coffee in domestic cafés is fake" and "you can't buy Blue Mountain coffee in China" have persisted to this day. However, even during the era without official channels, China's consumption of Blue Mountain coffee still accounted for 15% of the world's total consumption, much to the surprise of Jamaicans (likely upon learning about the market price of Blue Mountain coffee in China...). This led to increased attention to the Chinese market, and now purchasing authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee in China is no longer difficult, with Hangzhou Danshirui as an exclusive agent. Channels are not limited to this one; private channels or green/roasted beans imported via third countries are also available.

To authenticate Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, retail packaging can generally be identified through the CIB certification logo and Jamaica Blue Mountain® trademark. UCC's Blue Mountain is reliable even without the logo. For those with certification logos and trademarks, you can check the CIB website to verify if the company has CIB authorization. For bulk coffee, you can check the certificate of origin, as bulk coffee is typically sold from 70kg wooden barrels, each accompanied by a certificate of origin.

About CIB and CIB Certification

The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica (CIB) is the Jamaican government agency responsible for coffee affairs, overseeing and regulating the cultivation, processing, and trade of Jamaican coffee. It also owns the famous Wallenford estate and the Jamaica Blue Mountain trademark.

Similar to champagne, being called Blue Mountain coffee itself represents production from a designated region—areas above 2,200 feet (approximately 671 meters) in the Blue Mountains. Coffee produced within this designated region can display the round Blue Mountain coffee logo on its packaging (as shown below). If packaged in wooden barrels (including the 70kg barrels mentioned above), it generally comes with a certificate of origin. Coffee grown below 2,200 feet in the Blue Mountains is not permitted to use the logo below or the Jamaica Blue Mountain trademark. So, when buying Blue Mountain, look for this round logo (reminder again: UCC's Blue Mountain is an exception...).

Blue Mountain Coffee Certification Logo · CIB Logo

Here is the list of authorized exporters from the CIB website:

Country Traders Limited (the company with the 89 yuan Blue Mountain), UCC, Wallenford, and Golden Cup can all be found above, along with detailed authorization scopes.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Grading

Blue Mountain coffee is graded from highest to lowest as follows:

Blue Mountain No.1: The highest grade Blue Mountain coffee, screened with S-17/18 mesh, with less than 2% defective beans.

Blue Mountain No.2: Screened with S-16/17 mesh, slightly smaller beans than No.1, with less than 2% defective beans.

Blue Mountain No.3: Screened with S-15/16 mesh, smaller than No.2, with less than 2% defective beans.

Blue Mountain Peaberry (or Blue Mountain P.B): Over 96% round peaberries, with less than 2% defective beans. This is actually a specially selected grade, with many considering it above No.1, while others place it between No.1 and No.2.

Blue Mountain Triage (also translated as Blue Mountain Blend): A mix of the above four grades, with less than 4% defective beans, essentially unscreened beans.

As for beans produced outside the Jamaica Blue Mountain designated region, they fall into these three categories:

High Mountain: S-17/18 mesh screened, with less than 2% defective beans.

Jamaica Prime: S-16/18 mesh screened, with less than 2% defective beans.

Jamaica Select: S-15/18 mesh screened, with less than 4% defective beans.

PS: Regarding mesh screens, a No.17 screen means the mesh hole size is 17/64 inches, or 6.75mm (put away your ruler and roasted beans—this refers to green bean size, as beans expand after roasting). Higher numbered screens produce larger beans with more complex and varied flavors.

The Story of Quotas

In 1969, Jamaica suffered severe hurricane damage, with plantations suffering heavy losses. Japan's UCC company provided substantial assistance that helped revive Jamaica's coffee industry. As gratitude, Jamaica signed an agreement with Japan in 1972, allocating 90% of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee quotas to Japan, with 5% each to Europe and the United States. Thus, the claim that Japanese buyers purchase the vast majority of authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee persists to this day. However, even though Japanese buyers purchase most of it, Japanese coffee merchants don't sell all their procured Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee domestically. Since they almost monopolize the Blue Mountain coffee market, the prices for selling to other regions can be significantly higher! This also explains why UCC doesn't print the CIB certification logo on its packaging—the entire Blue Mountain coffee market is almost entirely UCC's, so it's completely unnecessary! Why would mighty UCC's Blue Mountain need your CIB certification?!

FrontStreet Coffee · Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Variety — Typica Coffee Beans

Typica: Oval in shape, appearing thin and flat from the side. Even when grown at different altitudes, the thickness difference of green beans from the side won't vary significantly.

The Typica variety was first brought by Yemenis from Ethiopia to Malabar, India, then by the Dutch to Indonesia. Later, it was introduced from the West Indies to the French colony of Martinique.

Subsequently, it grew in other cultivation areas, giving rise to numerous variants: Criollo (South America), Arabigo (Central America), Kona (Hawaii), Pluma Hidalgo (Mexico), Garundang (Sumatra), Blue Mountain (Jamaica, Papua New Guinea), San Bernado & San Ramon (Brazil), Kents & Chickumalgu (India).

All of these belong to the Typica variety.

Brewing a Cup of FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

Brewing FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee is quite a test of skill—the difference in technique can transform the taste from delicious to herbal medicine... I used an AeroPress to brew 89 yuan Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, making 6 cups (personally, I feel only the second brew was barely acceptable, and I'll elaborate on the operation later), and now I've only grasped the basics.

The universally recognized best brewing method for Jamaica Blue Mountain is using a siphon brewer, with medium or medium-fine grind. However, considering that siphon brewers require considerable skill regardless of the coffee being brewed, ordinary folks might want to steer clear.

Next are French press and drip brewing. French press requires coarse grind, but its incomplete filtering issue can affect mouthfeel, so it's not recommended. Drip brewing can use medium grind, with operational details referencing general drip brewing methods. Regardless of brewing method, water temperature should be controlled between 80-85°C. Too low, and you won't fully extract Blue Mountain's delicious flavors; too high, and you'll over-extract. Among my 6 cups, the worst one was due to water temperature being too high and steeping time slightly too long.

Here is my personal experience using AeroPress, for reference only:

Water temperature control is somewhat troublesome. My KENWOOD AP250 thermos can only set temperatures at 98/90/70/60°C or natural cooling, so I first set the temperature to 90°C, then rinse a cup once and pour out the water, refill with about 150ml of hot water and set aside. Push the AeroPress plunger into the chamber about one centimeter, add medium-fine ground coffee, place a filter paper in the filter and wet it, pour the hot water from the cup into the AeroPress, stir for about 15 seconds, then let it sit for 30 seconds. Attach the filter, place the AeroPress on the cup, and slowly press the plunger down, controlling the pressing time to about 20 seconds. To summarize, I'm basically using the AeroPress like a French press.

I use more water than AeroPress recommends. I've also brewed using their recommended water amount, but feel it's not as good as using more water. First rinsing the cup with hot water serves both hygiene and preheating purposes. The second time pouring water into the cup serves both to warm the cup and to cool the water to around 80-85°C. This timing needs adjustment based on cup size and material.

Steam espresso machines or pump espresso machines are not recommended. Steam machines have too high temperature, and pump machines easily over-extract. FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is also not suitable for making espresso.

Roast Level: Medium-Dark Roast

Dry Aroma: Roasted peanuts, hazelnuts, melon, chocolate-like

Wet Aroma: Oolong tea, caramel, honey, dark chocolate, almond skins, silky mouthfeel, brightness

Taste: Sweet and rich, light bitterness, well-balanced full body, rich layers, with obvious black chocolate, honey, and cane sugar notes in the aftertaste, with a viscous sensation. When completely cooled, there's a strong oolong tea aroma, and touching it with fingers reveals a sticky caramel syrup feel.

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-Over

Grind Size: 4 (Japanese Fuji R440)

Water Temperature: 88°C

Other Drip Brewing Recommendations:

French Press: Recommended grind size 3.5-4, water temperature 90°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind size 2.5, water temperature 88°C

Siphon Brewer: Grind size 3.5

Taobao Link: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.5-c.w4002-15673140460.16.7381cc34wfswjY&id=541007639512

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473