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Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Grading Standards: How to Evaluate Jamaican Coffee Beyond the Legally Designated Blue Mountain Region

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange for more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee - the world's finest Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans are cultivated within legally designated growing areas in Jamaica, with production processes under strict supervision by the Jamaican Coffee Board

Professional coffee knowledge exchange - For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

FrontStreet Coffee · Authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee_The World's Finest Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans are premium beans cultivated within the legally designated growing regions of Jamaica, with production strictly supervised by the Jamaica Coffee Board. High-quality FrontStreet Coffee Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans are renowned for their balanced, smooth flavor, captivating aroma, and non-bitter taste. Through decades of effort, Blue Mountain beans have established an unshakable reputation and become the world's most expensive and sought-after beans. Beyond brewing coffee, Blue Mountain beans are also an essential ingredient in Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

Blue Mountain is located in the eastern part of Jamaica, approximately between the capital Kingston and Port Maria, with an altitude of up to 7,500 feet, making it one of the highest mountains in the Caribbean region. The cool, foggy climate and fertile soil are considered the most suitable conditions for growing coffee beans. However, only beans grown in the 3,000-5,500 feet altitude range can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain (the FrontStreet Coffee Jamaican Blue Mountain Mavis Bank introduced this time is grown at 3,900-5,250 feet). Some might ask: what about above 5,500 feet? Because areas above 5,500 feet in Jamaica are forest protection zones, coffee trees cannot be cultivated there. Beans below 3,000 feet are commonly found in the market as Jamaica High Mountain, Jamaica Prime, or even Jamaica Low Mountain, typically produced from "Jamaican coffee beans outside the legal Blue Mountain region."

This batch is processed by the Mavis Bank washing plant, which is also a certified green bean processing plant approved by the Jamaican government.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Bean Grading

Required condition: Produced from the legal Blue Mountain growing area, altitude 3,000-5,500 feet

Grade Bean Size Appearance Defective Bean Ratio
Blue Mountain No.1 Above 96% 17/18 screen, no elephant beans Bluish-green, consistent color Below 2%, no non-coffee objects, no black or fermented beans
Blue Mountain No.2 Above 96% 16/17 screen, no elephant beans
Blue Mountain No.3 Above 96% 15/16/17 screen, no elephant beans
Blue Mountain Peaberry Above 96% 10 screen, no elephant beans
Blue Mountain Triage Combination of No.1, No.2, No.3 Bluish-green, light green Below 4%, no non-coffee objects, no black or fermented beans

Jamaican Coffee Bean Grading

Grown outside the legal Blue Mountain growing area, or within the legal Blue Mountain growing area but below the required altitude

Grade Bean Size Appearance Defective Bean Ratio
High Mountain Supreme Above 96% 17/18 screen, no elephant beans Bluish-green, emerald green, light green Below 2%, no non-coffee objects, no black or fermented beans
Jamaica Prime Above 96% 16/17/18 screen, no elephant beans Emerald green, light green Below 2%, no non-coffee objects, no black or fermented beans
Jamaica Select Above 96% 15/16/17/18 screen, no elephant beans Light green Below 4%, no elephant beans

*The above defective beans do not include "one or two slight holes in the bean," "slightly cracked or bruised beans," or "slightly whitish" beans.

*Blue Mountain Blend: Contains only a very low proportion of pure Blue Mountain beans.

Blue Mountain Flavor: Simulates Blue Mountain using other beans, but not genuine Blue Mountain - contains no Blue Mountain beans in the blend.

National Treasure Blue Mountain: Same as Blue Mountain Flavor.

Why is FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee So Expensive - Are We Drinking Real Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?

Important Notice :

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