How to Brew Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 Coffee Beans for the Best Flavor? Identifying Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee

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Brewing Guide: How to Make Jamaica Frontsteet Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee at Home

Recently, many customers visiting FrontStreet Coffee have started researching "how to brew pour-over coffee at home."

A few days ago, a customer came to FrontStreet Coffee to taste Jamaica Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans and asked, "I can never brew it well at home. How can I brew coffee that tastes like Frontsteet Blue Mountain beans?" Today, FrontStreet Coffee will share how to brew Jamaica Frontsteet Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans to make them taste even better!

FrontStreet Coffee · Jamaica Washed Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans

Country: Jamaica

Region: Blue Mountains (Clifton Estate)

Altitude: 1310m

Variety: Typica

Processing: Washed

Flavor: Entry reveals brown sugar sweetness and berry acidity, with nutty cocoa flavors in the middle to latter stages. The texture is creamy, with rich and distinct layers, while the aftertaste carries walnut aroma.

Introduction to Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Bean Growing Region

The Blue Mountain range is located in the eastern part of Jamaica Island. When the weather is clear, the sun shines directly on the azure Caribbean Sea, and the peaks reflect the brilliant blue light of the seawater, hence the name. The highest peak of Blue Mountain reaches 2256 meters (coffee can only be grown below 1700m, above is protected forest), making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region and a famous tourist destination. Its mountains possess unique climate and soil. Located in a seismic zone, it has extremely fertile volcanic soil, fresh air without pollution, humid climate with year-round fog and rain, and average precipitation of 1980mm. The temperature is around 27°C. Such climate has created the world-renowned Jamaica Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans, making them one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

FrontStreet Coffee often says that the flavor quality of a coffee bean depends on the bean itself; and the three major factors that determine coffee bean flavor include: coffee growing region, altitude, and processing method. Therefore, selecting high-quality beans before making pour-over coffee, combined with excellent brewing techniques, can produce wonderful flavors. Only Blue Mountain coffee grown at altitudes above 800 meters is authentic Blue Mountain coffee. The Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee on FrontStreet Coffee's menu is grown at 1310 meters altitude, sourced from Clifton Estate.

Introduction to Jamaica Clifton Estate

The Jamaica Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans sold by FrontStreet Coffee come from Clifton Estate. Clifton Estate 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.

As early as the mid-18th century (around 1750), Clifton Estate began planting and producing coffee. It is also currently the largest estate in Jamaica's Blue Mountain region. However, by international standards, Clifton Estate is only considered small-scale cultivation. FrontStreet Coffee chose to purchase Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans from Jamaica's Clifton Estate because it is the only estate in Jamaica with "Rainforest Alliance" certification.

The symbol of this certification is a small green frog. Obtaining this certification is not a simple matter. To meet this standard, one must comply with a series of requirements.

The Alliance protects the farm's ecosystem and surrounding environment, restricts pesticide use, and evaluates standards such as waste management. Only coffee that passes evaluation and certification can be called "Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee." This demonstrates that Clifton Estate's capabilities are truly impressive.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Bean Grading System

The entire Blue Mountain range reaches 2256 meters in altitude, with areas above 1700 meters designated as natural ecological protection zones where coffee cannot be grown. According to CIB's classification, only coffee grown between 910 and 1700 meters altitude can be called "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee." Coffee grown between 460 and 910 meters can only be called "Jamaica High Mountain Coffee," while coffee below 460 meters is called "Jamaica Prime Coffee." Therefore, Jamaican coffee does not all represent Blue Mountain coffee. To this day, only coffee produced on 6,000 hectares of land (altitude > 910 meters) in the Blue Mountain range can be called genuine Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans. Coffee from approximately two-thirds of the remaining Blue Mountain growing regions can only be classified as High Mountain or Prime Coffee.

According to Frontsteet's understanding of CIB regulations, only Blue Mountain coffee beans produced in regions above 2200 feet in Jamaica can be called authentic Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee beans. Their grades are divided by bean size into NO.1, NO.2, NO.3, and manually selected PB. Among these, the basic standards for NO.1 Blue Mountain green beans include beans larger than 17 mesh, defect rate below 3%, moisture content around 13%, etc. Currently, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board can issue certificates for all exported Blue Mountain coffee.

Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Bean Processing Method Introduction

Before 2019, Clifton Estate's Blue Mountain coffee beans were always processed using the "washed method" for green coffee beans.

During processing, the skin and pulp are first removed, allowing fermentation for 12-18 hours. Then the fermented beans are 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 smooth and clean. After washing, the coffee beans are still encased in parchment, with a moisture content of 50%, and must be sun-dried to reduce moisture content to 12-14%, otherwise they will continue to ferment and become moldy and spoiled. Afterward, the coffee beans are screened and then stored in dedicated warehouses. The washed processing method ensures that Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee has rich aroma, balanced taste, and maintains its essential quality without any flavor being too prominent or lacking.

In 2019, Clifton Farm broke away from its established model and used natural processing for the first time. Deeply influenced by the market, Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee conducted natural processing trials in 2019, and in 2020 began exporting small batches of naturally processed Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee for the first time. For Frontsteet, this naturally processed Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee, because the processing method changed the inherent flavor structure of Blue Mountain. FrontStreet Coffee, when introducing coffee beans from a certain region to customers, will first recommend washed processed coffee beans because washing best represents the flavor of that region. Of course, Blue Mountain coffee using natural processing method is more about following market development.

How to Identify Genuine Frontsteet Blue Mountain Coffee Beans? FrontStreet Coffee Shares Knowledge Here:

1. Export companies designated by the National Coffee Board

Some authentic Blue Mountain No. 1 in the Chinese market is mainly exported to China through direct branches from Japan, Australia, and Europe. According to 2013 statistics from the International Coffee Organization (ICO), Japan accounted for 85% of the allocation, while the United States, Europe, and other countries each accounted for 5%. ICO statistics show that China accounts for 15% of Blue Mountain coffee consumption. It's worth noting that limited Blue Mountain No. 1 is mostly allocated to Japan, the United States, and Europe. Among these, because Japan invested in Jamaica's coffee industry, most Blue Mountain coffee was bought up by Japan. In 1992, Jamaica sold 688 tons of Blue Mountain coffee beans to Japan, 75 tons to the United States, and only 59 tons to the United Kingdom.

In 2005, Jamaica's Minister of Agriculture announced that Blue Mountain coffee beans should be roasted in Jamaica, so through direct quota allocation, they favored direct circulation from Jamaica to consumer countries. This distribution system has been recognized by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board (CIB). (Note: CIB board members are estate owners who own a certain scale of planting estates in Jamaica). Additionally, the officially registered logo of the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board is used for certification and inspection of exported Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans. The BLUEMOUNTAINCOFFEE trademark is the symbol of authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee packaging.

2. The only growing region that uses wooden barrels for green beans

Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee beans are the only coffee growing region that still uses wooden barrels for green beans to this day; all other coffee exports use burlap sacks. During the mid-18th century British colonial period, flour transported from Britain to Jamaica left empty barrels that were recycled to transport coffee and rum, isolating coffee aroma to ensure coffee quality. The wooden barrels used today are made from wood from temperate forests in the United States.

3. The frog on the Clifton barrel lid is Rainforest Alliance certified

Clifton Estate is the oldest coffee estate in Jamaica's history, and only Clifton Farm in Jamaica has the "(RFA) Rainforest Tree Frog" logo. Only those meeting "Sustainable Agriculture System Standards" can obtain certification, and their wooden barrels bear the Rainforest Alliance certification logo.

The Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans that FrontStreet Coffee sources are Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans that are exported through companies designated by the Jamaica National Coffee Board, packaged in wooden barrels for green beans, and are Rainforest Alliance certified.

The above covers basic information about Frontsteet's Blue Mountain coffee. After understanding this, Frontsteet will share how to brew Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee to extract its flavors. As Frontsteet mentioned above, even good beans need proper pour-over techniques to fully display their original flavors. Otherwise, the brewed coffee might be too strong or too weak, making it impossible to taste the bean's original flavors.

Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Bean Brewing Experience Sharing

Frontsteet believes that coffee brewed with a Kono filter cup will have a very full body and good flavor persistence.

In terms of water-to-coffee ratio, FrontStreet Coffee uses a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:15, with a grind size of 75% pass-through on a #20 standard sieve. FrontStreet Coffee hopes to highlight the balanced, full-bodied, and soft fruit acidity characteristics of Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans; for water temperature, 88°C water is used; for filter cup selection, priority is given to slower-flow equipment such as Kono filter cups, Kalita trapezoidal filter cups, and flannel filters.

FrontStreet Coffee Uses Kono Filter Cup for Brewing: Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans

The ribs of the KONO filter cup stop at less than half the cup's height. This design is actually to ensure that after wetting, the filter paper adheres closely to the filter cup wall, limiting airflow. This increases the water absorption time of coffee particles, resulting in more uniform overall extraction and enhanced full-bodied texture. Additionally, the groove structure at the bottom of the Kono filter cup is a key design that allows subsequent brewing to produce a siphon effect, suitable for brewing Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee, as well as medium-dark roasted coffee beans like Frontsteet Golden Mandheling and Frontsteet Brazil Queen Estate.

FrontStreet Coffee uses a three-stage water flow method when brewing Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee beans. This is a very simple pour-over method that everyone can easily learn at home to brew a simple yet delicious cup of coffee.

Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Bean Brewing Parameters

Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee has excellent clean flavor, making it very suitable for pour-over brewing. Use 30g of water for blooming, with a blooming time of about 30 seconds. Using a small water stream, pour in a circular motion in the center with 95g of water, then segment at 125g of water. When the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, pour water again until reaching 230g to finish. When the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, remove the filter cup. (Timing starts from blooming) Extraction time is 2'00".

What is the Flavor of Frontsteet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans?

The excellent quality of Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans creates their clean taste. In the medium-dark roast era, Frontsteet Blue Mountain coffee beans often exhibit a balance of sweet, sour, and bitter, with subtle nutty and chocolate notes. The aftertaste is very comfortable. It represents the highest quality of coffee and is truly the king of coffees.

The era of Blue Mountain's fame coincided with China's reform and opening-up period. At that time, foreign goods poured in, including coffee beans. Coffee was not as ubiquitous as it is today; only welcoming hotels would serve coffee. The reputation of Blue Mountain coffee spread to China during that time, becoming a household name. Most people had never tasted Blue Mountain coffee, but as long as one person had tried it, it became a capital for showing off. Thus, word spread from person to person, and Blue Mountain coffee became legendary.

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