Understanding Blue Mountain Coffee Characteristics and How to Blend Blue Mountain Coffee

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The Renowned Blue Mountain Coffee

The world-renowned "Blue Mountain Coffee" has won the hearts of coffee enthusiasts with its mellow taste and perfect balance of acidity, bitterness, aroma, richness, and sweetness. Due to the rarity and expense of FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee, it is generally consumed as a single-origin brew. Only siphon and pour-over brewing methods can best interpret the mellow aroma and long-lasting aftertaste of FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee.

Understanding Blue Mountain Coffee

Many "Blue Mountain Coffees" on the market are actually so-called "Blue Mountain Blends" or "Blue Mountain Flavor" coffees. With careful attention, you'll notice labels indicating "Blended" or "Flavor." By definition, "Blue Mountain Blend" contains no less than 30% Blue Mountain beans. Many people use such blended coffee beans to prepare milk-based coffees like lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas. If roasters adhere to the concept of seven-day fresh roasting, using absolutely high-quality coffee beans supplemented with fresh and perfectly appropriate roasting, every cup of coffee will leave a lasting fragrance in your mouth and an unforgettable aftertaste.

What is True FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee?

The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of Jamaica. The mountain gets its name because on clear days, when the sun shines directly on the blue sea surface surrounded by the Caribbean, the peak reflects the brilliant blue light of the seawater. The highest peak of Blue Mountain reaches 2,256 meters, making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region and a famous tourist destination. This area is located in the coffee belt, with fertile volcanic soil, fresh air without pollution, humid climate, and year-round fog and rain (average rainfall of 1,980 mm, temperature around 27°C). Such climate and extremely high altitude have created the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

Clifton Farm Introduction

Clifton Hill is Jamaica's oldest coffee-growing region that is still in normal operation today. Moreover, only Clifton Farm in Jamaica has the "Rainforest Alliance" certification.

It is recognized as a very high-quality, world-famous Blue Mountain coffee-growing region. 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 cultivating and producing coffee.

According to an 1810 survey by the Jamaica Institute, Robert Hamilton was the owner of the farm at that time. Clifton Hill was divided into two parts: 80 acres of coffee and 427 acres of pasture on the mountaintop; 111 acres of coffee and 264 acres 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 coffees labeled "Blue Mountain" to be grown there. Today's Clifton Farm is the largest estate in this region. By international standards, it's still considered small-scale cultivation, with many estate owners being small landholders whose families have worked this land for two centuries.

The famous British painter and writer Lady Marian Rose visited Jamaica and spent 5 months on Clifton Hill. In her autobiography "Reminiscences 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 no longer wished to live in the hotel but instead rented it weekly to different people, allowing more people to experience the cold air at 5,000 feet altitude and have the opportunity to stroll through Jamaica's best and oldest coffee plantation."

Clifton Hill Village

The coffee cultivation and processing areas are located at an average altitude of 4,300 feet (1,310.64 meters). The sufficient altitude, gentle afternoon clouds and mist surrounding the forest for shade, ample sunlight, and mineral-rich planting soil provide excellent growing conditions for coffee trees and also extend the ripening period of coffee cherries.

In 1953, the Jamaican government established the Jamaica 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 France's wine industry created the AOC system.

All coffee exported from Jamaica is certified by the CIB. And strict testing by trained quality control experts ensures that all exports are 100% authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

The Sharp Family

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

Sharp is now checking the red cherries.

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

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

Washed Processing Method

Blue Mountain only uses washed processing.

The method uses washing and fermentation to remove the fruit 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 fruit pulp is first removed, allowing fermentation for 12-18 hours, then the 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 encased in 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 coffee quality will be affected.

Certification: Rainforest Alliance certification. 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), Clifton Estate is the only coffee estate to receive (RFA) Rainforest Alliance certification.

Green Bean Analysis

Blue Mountain is further divided into four grades. From highest to lowest quality: NO.1, NO.2, NO.3, and PB (Peaberry). According to CIB standards, only coffee grown above 666 meters altitude can be called Jamaican High Mountain Coffee; coffee grown outside the Blue Mountain region is called Jamaican Coffee.

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

Variety: Typica

FrontStreet Coffee's 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 carries slight penetrating qualities, accompanied by floral, spicy, and citrusy notes. There's a hint of cocoa aftertaste upon entry.

The taste is very clean, complex, and very mild, with chocolate sweetness and very strong body. The flavor is rich and mellow, with a perfect balance of coffee's sweetness, acidity, and bitterness - completely without bitterness, only moderate and perfect acidity, with a persistent fruity finish.

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

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

Brewing Analysis

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

KONO parameters: 15g coffee, water temperature 89°C, grind size 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 size 3.5-4, water temperature 90°C

Siphon: Grind size 4, water temperature 89°C

AeroPress: Grind size 2.5, water temperature 88°C

How to Identify Authentic Blue Mountain?

1. Appearance: FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain green beans are blue-green in color, very uniform in appearance, medium to small in size, with slightly raised ends. They expand significantly in volume after roasting, becoming very full.

2. Grinding: True FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee beans grow at high altitude, giving them a relatively loose cytoplasmic structure. When hand-grinding, they feel very crisp, smooth, and continuous, without any sense of resistance.

3. Aroma: The aroma is very rich and dense; so-called Blue Mountain blends do not have this aroma.

4. Taste: True FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee has a balanced and rich taste, without any flavor being overly prominent or lacking - this is the most critical identification point that no other coffee bean can match. Blue Mountain peaberries have a more reserved aroma but relatively stronger taste.

True FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee and Blue Mountain flavor are two different concepts. Generally, the latter uses other coffee varieties roasted to imitate the taste of Blue Mountain coffee. "Blue Mountain Blend" beans are mixed, with relatively large differences in shape, making them easier to identify. Also don't believe in "premium Blue Mountain" that costs only dozens of yuan per pound or "Blue Mountain coffee" that costs only ten yuan per cup.

Not all coffees labeled "Blue Mountain" are authentic Blue Mountain. Hope this helps everyone distinguish —

Related recommendations: How are Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee green beans graded? What are the flavor characteristics of Blue Mountain coffee?

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473