Blue Mountain Coffee: Origin History, Classification, Authenticity Guide, and Flavor Characteristics

When it comes to coffee, none is more famous than Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Whether you're a coffee drinker or not, you've likely heard of Blue Mountain Coffee. Yesterday, we discussed Hawaii, the home of KONA—the "Queen of Coffee." Today, let's explore Jamaica, the homeland of Blue Mountain—the "King of Coffee."

Cultivation History

In 1717, King Louis XV of France ordered coffee cultivation in Jamaica. In the mid-1720s, Sir Nicholas Lawes, the Governor of Jamaica, imported Arabica seeds from Martinique and began promoting cultivation in the St. Andrew area. To this day, St. Andrew remains one of Jamaica's three major Blue Mountain coffee producing regions, with the other two being Portland and St. Thomas.

Within eight years, Jamaica exported over 375 tons of pure coffee.

In 1932, coffee production reached its peak, with harvests exceeding 15,000 tons.

In 1950, the Jamaican government established the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board. This board sets quality standards for Jamaican coffee and oversees their implementation to ensure the quality of Jamaican coffee. The board grants special official seals to exported raw and roasted Jamaican coffee, making it the highest-level national coffee institution in the world.

Currently, there are six trademarks that can represent the origin of Blue Mountain Coffee: Mavis Bank Central Factory (MBCE), Mavis Bank Hill Coffee Factory (MHCCT), Portland Blue Mountain Coffee Factory (PXXSH), Coffee Industry Association (Wallenford), Coffee Industry Association (St. John's Peak), and JAS (Blue Mountain).

By 1969, the situation had improved as Japanese loans were used to enhance production quality, thereby securing the market. Today, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee has reached a status of fervent admiration.

By 1981, Jamaica had opened approximately 1,500 hectares of land for coffee cultivation, followed by investment in another 6,000 hectares of coffee land. In fact, today's Blue Mountain region is a small area with only 6,000 hectares of cultivation, making it impossible for all coffee labeled "Blue Mountain" to be grown there.

Jamaica is also the last country to use wooden barrels for packaging and transporting coffee. Only after meeting a series of stringent standards set by the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board (C.I.B) can coffee receive government-issued certificates and be officially designated as "Blue Mountain."

Geographical Conditions

Jamaica is an island located in the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica's Blue Mountains are the highest mountains in the western Caribbean (2,256 meters high). The unique flavor of FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is related to the exceptionally advantageous geographical location and climate conditions of the Blue Mountains.

The Blue Mountains are located in the coffee belt at 25 degrees north latitude, featuring fertile new volcanic soil, fresh and pollution-free air, year-round rainfall, high humidity, and significant temperature differences between day and night. The soil here is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, making it very suitable for coffee growth. Fertile volcanic soil, regular rainfall, and the island's misty clouds that shield it from harsh sunlight—all these factors combine to create the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

The harvest period for Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is from June to November each year, typically done by hand-picking. Since all coffee trees grow on rugged mountain slopes, the picking process is extremely difficult, and only local skilled female workers can handle it. Selecting properly ripe coffee beans during picking is crucial—underripe or overripe beans will affect the coffee quality.

Coffee Grading

Coffee from the Jamaican Blue Mountain region has three grades: Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaica High Mountain Supreme Coffee Beans, and Jamaica Prime Coffee Beans. Both Blue Mountain Coffee and High Mountain Supreme Coffee are further divided into two grades each. In terms of quality, from highest to lowest: Blue Mountain No. 1, Blue Mountain No. 2, High Mountain No. 1, High Mountain No. 2, and Jamaica Prime Coffee.

The basic standards for Blue Mountain No. 1 green beans include beans larger than 17 screen, defect rate below 3%, moisture content around 13%, etc.

Typically, only coffee grown between altitudes of 457 to 1,524 meters can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Coffee grown between altitudes of 274 to 457 meters is usually called Jamaica Coffee. In terms of price, Blue Mountain Coffee is several times more expensive than High Mountain Coffee. It is mainly distributed across five peaks: John Crow, St. John's Peak, Mossman's Peak, High Peak, and Blue Mountain Peak.

Processing Method

To date, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee only uses the washed processing method.

The washed and fermentation method is used to remove the pulp, fruit flesh, and mucilage. Farms using the washed method must build washing pools and have access to continuous flowing water. During processing, the pulp and fruit flesh are first removed, allowing fermentation for 12-18 hours. The completed fermented beans are then placed in pools 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 enclosed in the parchment with a moisture content of 50%. They must be 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 coffee quality will be affected.

Estate Introduction

WALLENFORD

WALLENFORD Estate is located on the slopes of Catherine Peak, the center of Jamaica's Blue Mountain range, at an altitude of approximately 1,524 meters. WALLENFORD Estate began growing Blue Mountain coffee in 1790. The perennially cold and foggy climate makes the coffee fruits sweet and full-bodied, producing extremely unique, high-quality Blue Mountain coffee beans.

Moreover, while the Jamaican government sold and privatized most estates, WALLENFORD ESTATE is the only one retained and directly managed and operated by the Jamaican government. Its quality control process is the most stringent, without excessive pursuit of commercial operations, but with the mission of maintaining the reputation of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

1. Official registered logo of the Jamaica Coffee Board, used for certification and inspection of exported Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

2. Official registered BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE® trademark of the Jamaica Coffee Board (CIB), identifying authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee packaging.

3. WALLENFORD COFFEE COMPANY registered trademark, identifying WALLENFORD Blue Mountain Coffee packaging.

Mavis Bank

The Munn family began operating Mavis Bank Company in 1885. The original location was at a slightly higher altitude than the current site, called Strawberry Hill. Mavis Bank processes coffee cherries at high altitude. They invested in brand-new equipment, and the trial-produced coffee beans showed significant improvement because they have a truly zero-defect processing process. This coffee has a very mild, smooth flavor with good body, sometimes reminiscent of high-altitude frozen oolong tea aroma.

R.S.W Blue Mountain

R.S.W Blue Mountain Estate is located in the mountainous area of southeastern Jamaica. R.S.W refers to 100% Blue Mountain Coffee produced by its Resource, Sherwood Forest, and Whitfield Hall estates. Coffee grown in these three regions is at altitudes of approximately 700 to 1,600 meters. The mountains are often shrouded in cool clouds and mist, which is very beneficial for coffee tree growth. Harvested fruits are all concentrated at the Sherwood Forest washing plant for processing.

Clifton Mount Estate

Clifton Mount is Jamaica's oldest coffee producing area still in normal operation, and Clifton Farm is the only one in Jamaica with the "Rainforest Alliance" certification.

As early as the mid-18th century (around 1750), Clifton Farm began cultivating and producing coffee. The coffee cultivation and processing areas here are located at an average altitude of 4,300 feet (1,310.64 meters). Sufficient altitude, gentle afternoon clouds and mist shading the mountains, ample sunlight, and mineral-rich planting soil provide excellent growing conditions for coffee trees and also extend the maturation of coffee cherries.

FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee Brewing Suggestions

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

Using KONO filter cup: Parameters: 15g coffee, water temperature 89°C, grind size similar to medium sugar, water-to-coffee ratio close to 1:15, total time around 2:00.

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

FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee has a very clean, complex, and extremely mild flavor with chocolate sweetness and very strong body. The taste is rich and mellow, with a perfect balance of coffee's sweet, sour, and bitter notes—completely without bitterness, only moderate and perfect acidity, with a persistent fruity finish.

How to Identify Authentic Blue Mountain?

1. Appearance: FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain green beans are blue-green in color, very uniform in appearance, medium to small in size, with slightly upturned ends. After roasting, they expand significantly in volume and become very full.

2. Grinding: Authentic FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans are grown at high altitude, and their cytoplasmic structure is relatively loose. When grinding by hand, they feel very crisp, smooth, and continuous, without any sense of resistance.

3. Aroma: The aroma of FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is very rich and dense; so-called "Blue Mountain blends" do not have this aroma.

4. Flavor: Authentic FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee has a balanced and rich taste, without any flavor being too prominent or lacking—this is also something no other coffee bean can achieve and is the most crucial identification point.

Real Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain-style are two different concepts. Generally, other bean varieties are roasted to imitate the taste of Blue Mountain Coffee. "Blue Mountain blends" contain mixed beans with significant shape differences, making them easier to identify. Also, don't believe in "premium Blue Mountain" costing dozens of yuan per pound or "Blue Mountain coffee" costing only a dozen yuan per cup.

Important Notice :

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Tel:020 38364473