The Development of Jamaican Coffee, Blue Mountain Coffee, and Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee

Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea, the third largest island in the Caribbean. Jamaica's coastal areas are plains, while the central and western regions consist of hills and limestone plateaus, with the eastern part being mountainous, where the Blue Mountains are located. Jamaica has a tropical rainforest climate, with rainy seasons from May to June and September to November, and an average annual temperature of 27°C. Due to the Blue Mountains' elevation ranging from 1,000 to 1,700 meters, volcanic soil, and year-round rain and fog, this climate and environment has made coffee produced in Jamaica's Blue Mountain region world-renowned, creating one of the world's most expensive coffees.

Jamaican Coffee History

In 1728, during the British colonial period, Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes received a gift of a coffee seedling from the governor of Martinique (now part of France), marking the beginning of coffee's history on the island. Initially, coffee was cultivated in the Saint Andrew Parish in southeastern Jamaica, but production was very limited. By the late 18th century, coffee cultivation had spread from Saint Andrew to the Blue Mountains. By 1800, there were 686 coffee plantations on the island.

However, by 1838, with the actual abolition of slavery, plantations faced labor shortages. Coupled with poor management and the loss of British trade privileges for the colony, the coffee industry began to decline, leaving only 180 coffee plantations by the 19th century. However, the quality of cultivation was poor at that time, so in 1891, the government passed legislation to teach producers coffee cultivation knowledge and improve basic equipment to enhance quality. Later, in 1944, the Central Coffee Clearing House was established, and all coffee exported for sale had to be approved by this institution. Additionally, in 1950, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board was established, which in 2018 merged with other Jamaican commercial organizations to form the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). Upon its establishment, the "Coffee Industry Supervision Law" was also enacted, designating the "Blue Mountain Coffee Growing Area," so now every barrel of Blue Mountain coffee beans must undergo quality supervision by JACRA.

Definition of Blue Mountain Coffee

According to the enacted "Coffee Industry Supervision Law," the Blue Mountain growing area is distributed across four parishes: Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas, Portland, and Saint Mary. Only Typica variety coffee grown at an altitude between 915-1700 meters within this region can be named Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Typica was introduced to the Blue Mountains for cultivation in the 18th century and is one of the oldest coffee varieties, but due to its weak constitution and poor disease resistance, it is no longer widely cultivated. However, the Typica in the Blue Mountains has adapted well to the local climate and soil, evolving better disease resistance, characteristics that cannot be separated from Jamaica's national persistence and careful cultivation of the Typica variety.

Moreover, Blue Mountain Coffee is the world's only coffee packaged and exported in wooden barrels. Only Jamaica Blue Mountain (Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, PB) and Jamaica High Mountain (High Mountain Supreme, High Mountain PB) can use this packaging, with specifications of 70kg, 30kg, and 15kg. Among these, the highest grade Blue Mountain Number 1 coffee must meet specifications of 17 mesh or larger, with defective beans not exceeding 2%, and moisture content around 10-12.5%. Other grades of Jamaican coffee are exported in 60kg jute bags.

FrontStreet Coffee Clifton Estate Blue Mountain Number 1 Coffee Beans

Origin: Blue Mountain Region
Estate: Clifton Estate
Altitude: 1310 meters
Variety: Blue Mountain Typica
Processing: Washed
Flavor: Light citrus acidity, nut and chocolate flavors, silky texture, overall balance

FrontStreet Coffee selects Blue Mountain Number 1 coffee produced by Clifton Farm. Clifton Hill is the oldest coffee-producing area in Jamaica that is still in normal operation today. As early as the mid-18th century, Clifton Farm began planting and producing coffee. The selected Blue Mountain coffee uses washed processing, which allows Blue Mountain Number 1 coffee to have clearer flavor, higher cleanliness, while maintaining stable quality. FrontStreet Coffee uses medium-dark roasting, allowing Blue Mountain Number 1 coffee to present a rich body while retaining light fruit acidity. FrontStreet Coffee uses a KONO dripper with a 1:15 ratio for brewing, revealing light floral aroma. Upon tasting, you'll feel light citrus acidity, with nut and cocoa flavors, silky texture, and overall balance.

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