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Where Are the Best Blue Mountain Coffee Beans in Jamaica Produced From_ The Ancient Clifton Coffee Estate in Jamaica

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style). ● | Jamaica Coffee Region Introduction The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of Jamaica Island. Because the mountain is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, on clear days when the sun shines directly on the azure sea surface, the peaks reflect the brilliant blue light of the seawater, hence the name.

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

Jamaica Coffee Growing Region Introduction

The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of Jamaica Island. When the weather is clear, the sun shines directly on the azure sea surface, and the mountain peaks reflect the brilliant blue light of the seawater, hence the name.

The highest peak of Blue Mountain reaches 2,256 meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region and a famous tourist destination. Located in the coffee belt, it has fertile volcanic soil, fresh and unpolluted air, humid climate with year-round fog and rain (average rainfall of 1,980 mm, temperature around 27°C). Such climate and ultra-high altitude have created the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

Clifton Farm Introduction

Clifton Mountain is the oldest coffee producing area in Jamaica that is still in normal operation today, and only Clifton Farm in Jamaica has the "Rainforest Alliance" certification.

It is recognized as a world-renowned high-quality Blue Mountain coffee producing area. Its elegant great house farm is located in the Newcastle area of the island, situated on the eastern slope of Catherine's Peak at an altitude of 4,300 feet.

History

As early as the mid-18th century (around 1750), Clifton Farm began planting and producing coffee.

According to a survey by the Jamaica Institute in 1810, Robert Hamilton was the owner of the farm at that time. Clifton Mountain was divided into two parts: 80 mu of coffee and 427 mu of pasture on the mountaintop; 111 mu of coffee and 264 mu of pasture at the foot of the mountain.

The Blue Mountain region is a small area with only 6,000 hectares of planting area, making it impossible for all coffee labeled "Blue Mountain" to be grown there. Today's Clifton Farm is the largest estate in this region, which is also considered small-scale by international standards. Many estate owners are small landholders whose families have worked on this land for two centuries.

The famous British painter and writer Ms. Marian North visited Jamaica and spent 5 months on Clifton Mountain. In her autobiography "Recollections of a Happy Life," she mentioned the Clifton Hotel where she stayed: "The Clifton Hotel belongs to a local gentleman who lost his wife. He was unwilling to live in the hotel anymore but instead rented it to different people each week, allowing more people to experience the cold air at 5,000 feet altitude and have the opportunity to wander through Jamaica's best and oldest coffee plantations."

Clifton Mountain Village

The coffee planting and processing area is located at an average altitude of 4,300 feet (1,310.64 meters). Sufficient altitude, gentle afternoon clouds and mist surrounding the forest for shade, abundant sunlight, and mineral-rich planting soil provide excellent growing conditions for coffee trees and extend the ripening of coffee cherries.

In 1953, the Jamaican government established the Coffee Industry Board (CIB) to regulate and guarantee the quality of Jamaican coffee. Jamaica was the first country in the world to designate a specific geographical location to a particular coffee brand, somewhat similar to how the French wine industry established AOC.

All coffee exported from Jamaica is certified by the CIB. And through rigorous testing by trained quality control experts, it is guaranteed that all exports are 100% authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

The Sharp family: Jason, Lawrence (father), and Richard

As early as the mid-18th century (around 1750), Clifton Farm began planting and producing coffee. According to a survey by the Jamaica Institute in 1810, Robert Hamilton was the owner of the farm at that time, and now the Sharp family manages the estate.

Clifton's high altitude and long history, coupled with its unique processing methods, give Clifton coffee not only the characteristic roundness and smoothness of Blue Mountain No. 1 but also rich flavors with subtle floral notes.

This is also why Clifton is loved by everyone and sold at high prices... a standard of over ten thousand per barrel.

Washed Processing Method

Blue Mountain only uses washed processing.

The washed and fermentation method is used to remove the skin, pulp, and mucilage. Farms using the washed method must build washing pools and be able to introduce a continuous supply of fresh water. During processing, the skin and pulp are first removed, allowing fermentation for 12-18 hours, then the completed fermented beans are placed in the pool and moved back and forth, using the friction of the beans and the power of flowing water to wash the coffee beans until they are smooth and clean.

After washing, the coffee beans are still wrapped in the parchment with a moisture content of 50%. They must be sun-dried to reduce the moisture content to 12-14%. Afterward, the coffee beans are screened and then stored in special warehouses. These procedures must be strictly controlled; otherwise, the quality of the coffee will be affected.

Certification: Rainforest Alliance Certified - Coffee with certification marks on coffee bags or barrels is certified product coffee. Farms must comply with "Sustainable Agriculture System Standards" to obtain certification. (Rainforest Alliance Certified Frog), Clifton Estate is the only coffee estate that has obtained (RFA) Rainforest Alliance certification.

Jamaica Clifton Mount Estate

Estate Owner: The Sharp family
Certification: Rainforest Alliance Certified
Location: Newcastle area
Total Area: 250 acres
Coffee Planting Area: 180 acres
Average Altitude: 4,300 feet (1,310.64 meters)
Processing Method: Washed
Variety: 100% Arabica Typica
Flavor: Perfect balance of acidity, body, and aroma

Green Bean Analysis

Blue Mountain is further divided into four grades. From top to bottom in terms of quality: NO.1, NO.2, NO.3, and PB, where PB refers to peaberries. According to CIB standards, coffee grown above 666 meters altitude is called Jamaican High Mountain coffee; coffee grown outside the Blue Mountain region is called Jamaican coffee.

Among them, the basic standards for NO.1 Blue Mountain green beans are beans above 17 screen size, defect rate below 3%, moisture content around 13%, etc.

Variety: Typica

Roasting Analysis

How to roast to best express the flavor of Jamaican Blue Mountain?

Simply put, roast the Blue Mountain beans thoroughly "inside and out," and based on being fully roasted, use better roasting techniques to express the flavor of these beans.

Caramelization is the most significant step affecting coffee flavor. After 6-7 minutes of roasting, green beans absorb a large amount of heat energy, initiating pyrolysis reactions and producing the first cracking sound. Some sugars convert to carbon dioxide, moisture continues to evaporate, new aromatic components gradually develop, forming so-called coffee oils, which combine with hundreds of aromatic substances such as nicotinic acid, citric acid, quinic acid, malic acid, acetic acid, caffeine, etc.

Roasting curve: Preheat roaster to 170°C, add beans with heat damper at 3. After 1 minute, adjust heat to 140°C, damper unchanged. Roast to 5'10", temperature 153°C, bean surface turns yellow, grassy smell completely disappears, dehydration complete, adjust heat to 115°C, damper to 4;

At 8'00" minute, ugly wrinkles and black spots appear on the bean surface, toast aroma clearly turns to coffee aroma, which can be defined as the prelude to first crack. At this time, listen carefully for the sound of first crack. At 8'12" first crack begins, adjust heat to 90°C, damper fully open (adjust heat very carefully, not too small to stop cracking sounds), unload at 201.3°C.

Blue Mountain Coffee Cupping:

Cupping characteristics: A perfect and subtle balance of acidity, body, and aroma. Its acidity is bright and delicate. Its body is as smooth as velvet. Its aroma has a slight penetrating quality, accompanied by floral, spicy, and citric tones. There is a hint of cocoa aftertaste in the mouth.

The taste is very clean, complex, very mild, with chocolate sweetness and very strong body. The flavor is rich and mellow, with a perfect combination of coffee's sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. It has no bitterness at all, only moderate and perfect acidity, with a persistent fruity finish.

Dry aroma: Roasted peanut, hazelnut, melon, chocolate-like

Wet aroma: Oolong tea, caramel, honey, black chocolate, almond skins, silky mouthfeel, brightness

Jamaica Coffee Brewing Analysis

Daily brewing filter cup selection: V60, Kalita wave, and KONO are all suitable

KONO parameters: 15g coffee, water temperature 89°C, grind setting 4, water-to-coffee ratio close to 1:15, total time around 2:00

Technique: 25-30g water for bloom, bloom time 30s, first pour to 120g then stop; vertical water flow, small water flow with slow circular motion; second pour to 225g, water flow and circular motion slightly faster to reduce fine particles clogging the filter, causing over-extraction.

Other Extraction Suggestions:

French Press: Grind setting 3.5-4, water temperature 90°C
Siphon: Grind setting 4, water temperature 89°C
AeroPress: Grind setting 2.5, water temperature 88°C

Jamaica Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Jamaican coffee - [Blue Mountain NO.1 Coffee Beans] - offers full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, it offers extremely high cost performance. A half-pound 100-gram package costs only about 158 yuan. Calculating at 15g per cup, one package can make 6 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 25 yuan. Compared to coffee shops selling at over a hundred yuan per cup, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. Online shop services are also available. https://shop104210103.taobao.com