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Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee: Annual Production of 40,000 Bags - How Much Does a Cup of "Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee" Cost?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Blue Mountain Coffee refers to coffee brewed from coffee beans grown in Jamaica's Blue Mountains. It is categorized by grade into Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Jamaican High Mountain Coffee. The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of Jamaica Island. Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea,

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Introduction to Blue Mountain Coffee

Blue Mountain Coffee refers to coffee brewed from coffee beans grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. It is categorized by grade into Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and Jamaica High Mountain Coffee. The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of Jamaica. When the weather is clear, the mountains reflect the brilliant blue light from the surrounding Caribbean Sea, hence their name. The highest peak of the Blue Mountains reaches an altitude of 2,256 meters, making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region. This area lies within the coffee belt, featuring fertile volcanic soil, fresh air free from pollution, and a humid climate with year-round fog and rainfall (average precipitation of 1,980 mm and temperature around 27°C). Such climate conditions have created the world-renowned Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, as well as the world's second most expensive coffee.

Quality and Production Philosophy

Blue Mountain Coffee's ability to maintain its premium status today is inseparable from local business policies. In 1932, Jamaica implemented policies to encourage coffee production, reducing the island's dependence on sugar exports. Unlike most coffee-producing countries that increased output by mass-producing high-yield, lower-quality coffee, the local government prioritized quality over quantity, willing to sacrifice production volume to ensure excellence. Therefore, Jamaica is one of the countries with the smallest coffee production volume in the world. Brazil, the world's largest coffee exporter, produces 30 million bags of coffee annually, while Blue Mountain Coffee produces only about 40,000 bags per year.

Flavor Profile

Rich and mellow in taste, Blue Mountain Coffee features a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. It has no bitter taste whatsoever, with only moderate and perfect acidity and a persistent fruity flavor.

The "Secret" Behind Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Beans' Pure Taste

Their coffee trees all grow on rugged mountain slopes, making the harvesting process extremely difficult. Only skilled local female workers can handle this challenging task. Selecting perfectly ripe coffee beans during harvest is crucial, as underripe or overripe beans can affect coffee quality. After harvesting, coffee beans must be hulled the same day, then fermented for 12-18 hours. Subsequently, the coffee beans undergo washing and screening. The next step is drying, which must be conducted on concrete floors or thick blankets until the coffee beans' moisture content drops to 12%-14%. They are then stored in special warehouses. When needed, the beans are taken out for roasting and then ground into powder. These procedures must be strictly controlled; otherwise, the coffee quality will be affected.

Authenticity and Market Reality

China's imported coffee bean trading network says Blue Mountain is good, and indeed it is. But can you be sure you're drinking authentic Blue Mountain? The editor dares to say that among those who boast about drinking Blue Mountain, over 90% are actually drinking fake Blue Mountain. Genuine products do exist in the domestic market, but finding authentic Blue Mountain among thousands of fake products is extremely difficult. Blue Mountain is a region in Jamaica, with Wallenford being the most famous estate producing premium Blue Mountain coffee. Premium Blue Mountain is very expensive. Even though cheaper Blue Mountain from other estates is produced in Jamaica, their growing areas don't reach the required altitude. While their quality is quite good among specialty beans, they ultimately cannot compare to premium Blue Mountain.

Production and Distribution

The export volume of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee beans is extremely limited. In 1717, French King Louis XV ordered coffee cultivation in Jamaica. In the mid-1720s, Jamaica's Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes imported Arabica seeds from Martinique and began promoting cultivation in the St. Andrew area.

Today, the St. Andrew area remains one of Jamaica's three major Blue Mountain coffee-producing regions, with the other two being Portland and St. Thomas. Within 8 years, Jamaica exported over 375 tons of pure coffee. In 1932, coffee production reached its peak, with over 15,000 tons harvested. Currently, the world's recognized Jamaica Blue Mountain growing area covers only 6,000 hectares, with annual Blue Mountain Coffee production of only about 40,000 bags. In 1969, Jamaica was affected by a hurricane that put production in crisis. Japan's UCC company provided assistance, and in gratitude, Jamaica signed a contract with Japan in 1972, providing 90% of its production to the Japanese market, with the remaining 10% (about 3,500 barrels of 70kg oak barrels) sold on the open market (it's also the only coffee that still maintains oak barrel packaging).

According to Jamaica CIB export statistics as of 2013, of the limited Blue Mountain No. 1 quota, 85% is allocated to Japan, 5% to the United States, 5% to Europe, and 5% to other countries.

Understanding True Blue Mountain Coffee

Therefore, conscientious merchants in both domestic and international markets will tell customers that they're selling Blue Mountain blends, Blue Mountain-style coffee, or Blue Mountain-flavored coffee beans, not genuine Blue Mountain Coffee. True Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain flavor are two different concepts. Generally, other coffee varieties are roasted to imitate the taste profile similar to Blue Mountain Coffee. People who can truly drink Blue Mountain No. 1 and premium Blue Mountain will never find them in supermarkets or stores, unless in Japan or from reputable roasters with sufficient capability and integrity. They are as precious as gems.

Recommended Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee beans offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they offer extremely high value for money. A half-pound (100g) package costs only about 158 RMB. Calculating at 15g of coffee per cup, one package can make 6 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 25 RMB. Compared to cafes that often charge over 100 RMB per cup, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.