Jamaican Coffee | Clifton Estate Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee Blue Mountain: The Pinnacle of Coffee Excellence

When discussing the most renowned coffees, FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain stands as the undisputed pinnacle, celebrated as the supreme treasure among coffee varieties. During the golden era of Blue Mountain coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain became a coveted prize among coffee enthusiasts, cherished for its rarity, exceptional quality, and distinctive flavor profile. The success of FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain is inseparable from the Jamaican government's dedicated support for coffee cultivation.

Jamaican Coffee Terroir

Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea, faces Haiti across the Jamaica Strait to the east and ranks as the third-largest island in the Caribbean. The coastal regions of Jamaica feature plains, while the eastern terrain rises to mountains, and the central and western areas consist of hills and limestone plateaus. The country enjoys a tropical rainforest climate, with rainy seasons from May to June and September to November, while December to March brings the dry season. The northern regions receive abundant rainfall, with temperatures typically ranging between 22-32°C and an average annual temperature of 27°C. Located in a seismic zone with fertile volcanic soil, fresh air, humid climate, and consistent fog and rainfall throughout the year, these conditions have created the world-renowned FrontStreet Coffee Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.

The Blue Mountain Growing Region

The Blue Mountain range, situated in eastern Jamaica, reaches elevations of 1,000-1,700 meters. When weather conditions are clear, direct sunlight strikes the Caribbean Sea surrounding the mountains, reflecting a blue mountain glow from the peaks, hence the name. The coffee growing zone in the Blue Mountains boasts fertile volcanic soil, fresh air, humid climate, and year-round fog and rainfall—conditions that have created the world-famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Furthermore, this region cultivates the Blue Mountain Typica variety, which has evolved over 200 years to develop superior disease resistance compared to standard Typica varieties.

Regulatory Excellence and Quality Control

To revitalize the coffee industry, the government passed legislation in 1891 aimed at educating producers about coffee cultivation to improve quality, while also enhancing infrastructure to enable centralized processing and grading. In 1944, the Central Coffee Clearing House was established, requiring all coffee to undergo certification by this institution before export. Additionally, in 1950, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board (CIB) was formed, though this organization merged with other Jamaican commodity agencies in 2018 to establish JACRA (Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority). Today, every barrel of Blue Mountain coffee beans must undergo quality supervision by JACRA. The founding also enacted the Coffee Industry Regulation Law, delineating the world-famous "Blue Mountain Coffee Growing Area." According to the Coffee Industry Supervision Law, Blue Mountain growing regions are distributed across four parishes: St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, and St. Mary. Only Typica variety coffee grown at elevations between 915-1,700 meters within this region can be named Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.

Clifton Mountain Estate

Clifton Mountain represents Jamaica's oldest continuously operating coffee producing region. As early as the mid-18th century, Clifton Farm began cultivating and producing coffee. Both the coffee plantation and processing plant are situated at 1,300 meters elevation, providing ideal growing conditions with sufficient altitude, abundant sunshine and rainfall, and mineral-rich volcanic soil.

Unique Packaging and Premium Standards

Blue Mountain coffee is the world's only coffee exported packaged in wooden barrels. Only Jamaican Blue Mountain (Grades 1, 2, 3, and PB) and Jamaican High Mountain (High Mountain Supreme, High Mountain PB) can utilize this packaging, available in 70kg, 30kg, and 15kg specifications. The highest grade, FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Grade 1, must meet specifications of 17 screen size or larger, with defective bean content not exceeding 2% and moisture content around 10-12.5%. The barrel lids bear the trademark of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, while other grades of Jamaican coffee are exported in 60kg burlap sacks.

The Typica Legacy

Typica originated in southwestern Ethiopia and was brought to Yemen between the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1696, it was sent to Java Island, Indonesia, then in 1706 to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and subsequently to Dutch Guiana (now Suriname). From there, it spread to French Guiana and Brazil, reaching Martinique by 1723.

After passing through multiple countries, in 1730, the British introduced Typica from Martinique to Jamaica's Blue Mountains for cultivation. Typica represents one of the oldest coffee varieties, but due to its relatively weak constitution and poor disease resistance, it is no longer widely cultivated. However, the Typica in the Blue Mountains has adapted exceptionally well to local climate and soil conditions, evolving enhanced disease resistance—characteristics that stem from Jamaica's national commitment to meticulous cultivation of the Typica variety.

FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Clifton Estate Blue Mountain Grade 1

Region: Blue Mountain growing area
Estate: Clifton Estate
Altitude: 1,310 meters
Variety: Blue Mountain Typica
Processing: Washed method
Flavor profile: Subtle citrus acidity, with nut and chocolate notes, silky smooth mouthfeel, and exceptional overall balance

The FrontStreet Coffee Blue Mountain Grade 1 coffee beans featured on FrontStreet Coffee's menu undergo washed processing and medium-dark roasting, allowing FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Grade 1 to present a rich body while preserving gentle fruit acidity. FrontStreet Coffee recommends brewing using a KONO dripper with a 1:15 ratio and 90°C water. This brewing method reveals delicate floral aromas, with subtle citrus acidity upon entry, followed by nut and cocoa flavors, a silky smooth mouthfeel, and excellent overall balance—perfect for coffee enthusiasts who appreciate a rich, full-bodied experience.

Important Notice :

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