Which Country Produces Blue Mountain No.1 Coffee - Brewing Characteristics, Flavor Profile and Taste Description of Blue Mountain Coffee Beans

From the 1970s to the present, whenever there's a ranking of the world's top ten coffee beans, Blue Mountain Coffee always makes the list. Why is Blue Mountain Coffee so famous? Perhaps you'll find the answer after reading this article from FrontStreet Coffee.

This story begins in 1948. Blue Mountain coffee beans are produced in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, where coffee cultivation actually started as early as 1728. However, it wasn't until 1948 that the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board (CIB) was officially established. This government organization is responsible for setting Jamaica's coffee production standards, managing and supervising the quality of Blue Mountain coffee beans, and revitalizing the reputation of Blue Mountain Coffee.

Establishing Jamaica's Coffee Grading Standards

The CIB established standards defining what qualifies as authentic Blue Mountain coffee.

All Jamaican coffee is grown in the Blue Mountain region. The Blue Mountains reach a maximum elevation of 2,256 meters, with areas above 1,700 meters designated as natural ecological reserves where all commercial cultivation is prohibited.

The certified authentic Blue Mountain coffee growing region refers to four eastern administrative parishes: St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary, and Portland, which happen to be the foothill areas traversed by the Blue Mountains. The elevation ranges from 1,000-1,700 meters, covering approximately 6,100 hectares. Only coffee grown within this specific elevation range in these areas can be considered authentic Blue Mountain. Even if grown within these four parishes but at elevations between 500-1,000 meters, the coffee must be downgraded to Jamaica High Mountain coffee. Below 500 meters elevation, it becomes the even lower-grade Jamaica Prime Coffee. The other 1.21 hectares outside this region cannot be called Blue Mountain Coffee at all. Jamaica has strict regulations for Blue Mountain Coffee, with at most 25% of Jamaican coffee qualifying for Blue Mountain status.

Blue Mountain coffee beans are also divided into four grades: NO.1, NO.2, NO.3, and PB. NO.1, commonly known as Blue Mountain No.1, is characterized by large beans that must be 17 screen size or above to qualify. NO.2 requires beans of 16 screen size or above, while NO.3 requires beans of 15 screen size or above. PB is quite special - it consists of specially selected round beans from the coffee harvest, with PB being the abbreviation for Peaberry.

Thanks to these strict standards, Blue Mountain Coffee maintains exceptionally high quality. Soon, Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica quickly gained worldwide fame, earning the prestigious title "King of Coffee." Since Blue Mountain Coffee is so famous, many imitations have emerged. Therefore, distinguishing between genuine and fake Blue Mountain Coffee has become an essential skill for consumers.

FrontStreet Coffee would like to briefly explain that products labeled as "Blue Mountain flavor," "Blue Mountain blend," "Blue Mountain mixed coffee," "Blue Mountain taste," or "Blue Mountain premium blend" are not genuine Blue Mountain Coffee. These are merely coffees that imitate Blue Mountain's flavor or attempt to capitalize on its reputation.

Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee must be grown in Jamaica's Blue Mountains at elevations above 1,000 meters. All exported Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica is packed in wooden barrels. You can also ask sellers whether they have the original wooden barrels.

Importing Blue Mountain coffee beans through legitimate channels allows for the application of Blue Mountain Coffee certification. Currently, there are three ways to verify that merchants are selling genuine Blue Mountain Coffee:

(1) Quality certification issued by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board
(2) Authorized sales certificate issued by Blue Mountain Coffee manufacturers (Blue Mountain Coffee is distributed by 4 Jamaican government-licensed processing producers and exported by 16 licensed exporters)
(3) Certificate of origin for Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Quality certification documents indicate time and quantity. The Jamaica Coffee Industry Board randomly selects a package from submitted Blue Mountain Coffee for inspection. If it meets Blue Mountain Coffee criteria, the certificate is issued.

FrontStreet Coffee's certificate is of the first type - a quality certification issued by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board. Customers can purchase with confidence.

Brewing Blue Mountain Coffee

Many friends ask FrontStreet Coffee how to brew Blue Mountain Coffee to bring out its characteristic flavors. FrontStreet Coffee will share a simple brewing method here.

First, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using freshly roasted coffee beans for brewing to maximize the rich flavors of the coffee. The coffee beans shipped by FrontStreet Coffee are roasted within 5 days, because FrontStreet Coffee deeply understands that coffee bean freshness significantly impacts flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "freshly roasted good coffee," ensuring that every customer receives the freshest coffee possible. The coffee's degassing period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive their coffee, it's at its peak flavor.

For parameters, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using 15g of coffee grounds, water temperature of 86°C, and a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:15, with medium grind (75% pass-through rate on China standard #20 sieve).

Several filter cup options are available, including V60, Kalita wave, and Kono. FrontStreet Coffee primarily uses the Kono filter cup for demonstration. FrontStreet Coffee chose the Kono filter cup mainly because Blue Mountain Coffee uses a dark roast profile. High temperatures can easily lead to over-extraction, so FrontStreet Coffee selected a water temperature of 86°C. At this temperature, using a V60 or other faster-flowing filter cups would likely result in under-extraction. The Kono has fewer and shorter ribs, which creates a space between the filter paper and the cup, increasing water contact time and providing an immersion-like function. Based on comprehensive testing of all brewing parameters, FrontStreet Coffee ultimately chose the Kono filter cup.

For brewing technique, FrontStreet Coffee uses segmented extraction, specifically a three-pour method. Use 30g of water for blooming with a 30-second bloom time. For the first pour, use a small circular pour to reach 125g, then stop. When the liquid level drops to just before exposing the coffee bed, continue with the second pour, reaching 225g to complete extraction. The total extraction time (including blooming) is 2:00.

Brewed this way, Blue Mountain Coffee exhibits rich chocolate and nutty notes, with a captivating rich caramel aroma. When tasting, the coffee's acidity, sweetness, and bitterness achieve perfect balance, creating a very pleasant sensation.

Can Blue Mountain Coffee Be Cold Brewed?

The essence of cold brew is that under low-temperature conditions, small molecules that tend toward aroma and acidity are more easily released in cold water, resulting in lighter-bodied coffee with predominantly sour and sweet notes. However, for those who don't prefer acidic coffee, they often actively choose darker roasts. So when hearing this question, FrontStreet Coffee wasn't surprised and quickly replied that it's possible. As long as coffee beans aren't wasted and their good flavors are expressed, FrontStreet Coffee believes the brewing method is just a means to an end. That said, if you want to make good cold brew coffee, FrontStreet Coffee believes details are crucial. Specific parameters and operations are as follows:

Coffee beans: FrontStreet Coffee Blue Mountain No.1 Coffee
Coffee amount: 20 grams
Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:12
Grind size: Coarse grind (slightly coarser than normal pour-over grind to avoid over-extraction)
Steeping time: 8-10 hours

① First, grind the coffee beans and add them to a jar, then add 240ml of water.
② Place in the refrigerator to extract for 13 hours, allowing the coffee grounds to fully contact with the cold water.
③ Filter the coffee liquid using a filter cloth or filter paper.

While Blue Mountain cold brew coffee made this way may not be as complex as that made with light roast coffee, it still offers rich dark chocolate, nutty, and caramel notes, with a smooth texture and solid aroma, almost no bitterness.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473