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Why Is Blue Mountain Coffee So Expensive?

There are two reasons.

1. Perfect Growing Conditions

Blue Mountain sits in the coffee belt, with fertile volcanic soil, fresh, pollution-free air, a humid climate, and year-round fog and rain. These conditions created the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

2. Historical Background and Japanese Investment

In 1717, French King Louis XV ordered coffee cultivation in Jamaica, giving the island a long coffee history. However, plantations of various sizes lacked funds and couldn't achieve proper cultivation and management. In 1969, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee was hit by hurricanes, causing production difficulties. Japan's UCC company provided assistance and introduced ecological cultivation methods.

To express gratitude for the Japanese company's assistance, Jamaica signed a contract with Japan in 1972, providing 90% of its annual production to the Japanese market.

Scarcity makes things valuable.

One has to admire the foresight of the island nation's people.

The Turning Point

The key turning point came in 2005, when Jamaica's Minister of Agriculture clearly announced that Blue Mountain coffee should be roasted more within Jamaica, distributed directly through quotas, and preferably shipped directly from Jamaica to consumer countries. Today, China also has its own Blue Mountain coffee beans imported from Jamaica.

In today's coffee market, though, finding a cup of genuine Blue Mountain unless you're an enthusiast or an industry insider is, I feel, purely a matter of luck.

"Hello, you can try the Blue Mountain coffee in our shop; this is the best coffee in the world!"

"Is it Blue Mountain flavored coffee? Or genuine high-altitude Jamaican Blue Mountain?"

"..."

What's worth being proud of is that the famous, high-quality Blue Mountain estate, Amber Estate, is owned by Chinese descendants. The owner's surname is Lyn (Lin), with ancestral roots in Guangdong, China.

FrontStreet Coffee is a roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but a diverse bean selection, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, along with online shop services.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you want to taste what all the fuss is about, FrontStreet's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 is the real thing. It comes from the historic Clifton Estate, where coffee has been grown since around 1750, at an average elevation of 4,300 feet (1310.64 meters); Blue Mountain No. 1 is one of the estate's highest grades, with strict standards for bean size, defect count, and overall quality.

FrontStreet roasts it medium-dark so the classic balance comes through: layers of nuts, dark chocolate, and creamy caramel with a soft sweetness, the acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and aroma all in harmony. Smooth and rounded on entry, sweet through the middle, with a clean, lingering finish, it is equally at home as a pour-over, in a moka pot, or as espresso, and it makes an excellent gift for friends and family.