2021 Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 Coffee Beans Expected to Decrease Production by Over 50% Compared to Same Period

Natural Disasters Impacting Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee Production

From late October last year until now, Jamaica has been battered by wave after wave of natural disasters, leaving devastation behind them. Houses, roads, farmland, and plants have all been affected to varying degrees. The Blue Mountain range — home to the renowned Blue Mountain coffee growing region — has seen multiple landslides and road damage, and a series of torrential downpours have knocked coffee cherries to the ground. The famous Wallenford Estate, which cultivates Blue Mountain coffee, has indicated that the reduction in Blue Mountain coffee bean production for 2021 may exceed 50%.

What Natural Disasters Has Jamaica Endured Since Late October Last Year?

Late October 2020 - Tropical Storm Zeta

Tropical Storm Zeta struck Jamaica in late October 2020. The heavy rains it brought triggered flash floods in the St. Andrew parish, home to the famous Blue Mountain coffee region. Severe landslides caused extensive road damage.

Early November 2020 - Hurricane Eta

As if one disaster weren't enough, Hurricane Eta began striking Central America and Jamaica felt the effects again. Although the hurricane did not hit Jamaica directly, the heavy rains it brought caused widespread dropping of the red cherries that should have been harvested in November. Combined with road collapses from flash floods, farmers could not enter the growing areas for large-scale harvesting, and could only salvage what mature fruit remained on the trees. Wallenford Estate had previously stated that these two storms would lead to a 15-20% reduction in Blue Mountain coffee production.

Early November 2020 - 3.4 Magnitude Earthquake in St. Thomas

One wave had barely subsided when another rose. Amid the continuous heavy rains, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake struck St. Thomas, Jamaica, affecting an area within 7 kilometers. For the already damaged mountains and roads, it was essentially adding fuel to the fire.

April 2021 - Volcanic Eruption on St. Vincent Island

As Jamaica was still recovering from a series of natural disasters, a Caribbean earthquake caused La Soufrière, the highest peak on St. Vincent Island, to begin erupting. Volcanic ash spread to parts of Jamaica and South America. While the ash did not cause significant damage within Jamaica, it could affect human respiratory tracts. As a result, road restoration work was delayed after the eruption, and the roads leading to the Blue Mountain coffee region had not yet returned to complete normalcy.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

With Blue Mountain supply under pressure, these FrontStreet Jamaican selections keep the classic profile within reach:

FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1

Blue Mountain No. 1 is among the highest grades of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, held to strict standards for bean size, defect rate, and overall quality. FrontStreet's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 comes with complete origin certification and its original shipping barrels, so the source can be traced clearly. It is given a medium-dark roast that brings out Blue Mountain's classic balance, unfolding into nuts, dark chocolate, cream caramel, and a soft sweetness, with acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and aroma in harmony. As a daily specialty coffee or a premium gift, it delivers the enduring appeal this legendary coffee has held for decades.

FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain

Genuine FrontStreet Blue Mountain comes from the Blue Mountain Range in Jamaica and carries a certificate issued by the Jamaican government along with origin documentation. It is packed in original wooden barrels printed with detailed batch information, and the green beans themselves are uniform and plump, slightly curled at both ends and green in color. In the cup it is intensely aromatic, dense, clean, and clear, with no off-flavors at all — a depth of aroma that counterfeit Blue Mountain simply cannot match.