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Is Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee Only Found in Japan? Discover the Origins of Blue Mountain Coffee Through Jamaica's Coffee History

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 public account: cafe_style). Blue Mountain refers to the origin! It must be Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. The other types are coffee preparation methods – they're truly not in the same category! If you've had the privilege to taste Blue Mountain Coffee, congratulations! You've experienced one of the world's finest coffees! Only at altitudes above 1,800 meters...
Blue Mountain Coffee

The Origin of Blue Mountain Coffee

Blue Mountain refers to a region of origin! It must be Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, while the others are coffee preparation methods - they're truly not in the same category!

If you're fortunate enough to taste Blue Mountain Coffee, congratulations! You're experiencing one of the world's finest coffees!

Only coffee grown in the Jamaica Blue Mountain region above 1,800 meters in altitude;

Tested against the rigorous standards of the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board;

And certified with official documentation;

Only then can it be called Blue Mountain Coffee!

All others can only be called "Jamaica High Mountain Coffee." Even the same varieties grown in other regions cannot produce the same flavor profile. This is what makes Blue Mountain Coffee so rare and precious.

Jamaica's annual coffee production is extremely limited, only about 40,000 bags. Compared to Brazil's annual production of 30 million bags, it's truly a case of quality over quantity!

Arabica Typica Variety

The Arabica Typica variety is one of the closest to the original coffee species. The beans are slightly elongated, with clean citrus acidity, sweet aftertaste, and elegant flavor. However, the plants are relatively weak, with low resistance to leaf rust disease, making cultivation conditions challenging and resulting in low yields. Excellent estate coffees like Jamaica Blue Mountain, Sumatra Mandheling, and Hawaii Kona all belong to the Typica variety.

History of Jamaican Coffee

The history of Jamaican coffee beans is long and rich. In 1728, the then-British Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes imported coffee from the French island of Martinique to Jamaica. Due to the local climate being exceptionally suitable for coffee cultivation, Jamaica exported 83,000 pounds of quality coffee just nine years after its introduction. Jamaica's terrain is 4/5 mountainous, with the Blue Mountain coffee region located in eastern Jamaica. Only coffee grown at elevations between 3,000-5,500 feet within this region can be considered authentic [Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee]. Coffee grown at elevations between 1,500-3,000 feet can only be called [Jamaica High Mountain Coffee], while coffee grown below 1,500 feet is classified as [Jamaica Supreme] or [Jamaica Low Mountain]. Areas above 5,500 feet are designated as conservation forests where coffee cultivation is prohibited.

In June 1950, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board was established, officially taking responsibility for improving and maintaining the quality of exported coffee beans. Currently, there are five government-certified processing plants for 100% Blue Mountain Coffee: Wallenford, Mavis Bank, Old Tavern, Silver Hill, and Moy Hall.

How to Brew Blue Mountain Coffee

Prepare 15g of coffee grounds, water temperature at 88°C, grind size BG 5R (Chinese standard 20-mesh sieve, 60% pass rate), water-to-coffee ratio close to 1:15

Brewing method: First, bloom with 30g of water for 30 seconds. Pour close to the coffee bed surface. First pour to 120g, then stop pouring. When the water level drops by 1/3-1/2, perform the second pour, stopping at 225g. Control the total brewing time to approximately 2 minutes and 5 seconds.

Flavor Profile

Blue Mountain Coffee has a very clean and mild flavor with chocolate sweetness and strong body. The taste is rich and aromatic, with a perfect balance of coffee's sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. It has absolutely no bitter notes, only moderate and perfect acidity, with a persistent fruit finish. When brewed with Kono, Kalita wave, or cake drippers, the concentration increases, resulting in a solid, heavy mouthfeel and intense flavor. When brewed with a V60 dripper, it delivers a refreshing sweetness with sugarcane-like sweetness, followed by nutty and high-concentration dark chocolate aftertaste and lingering pleasantness.

FrontStreet Coffee

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

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

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Tel:020 38364473

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