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Why is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee so expensive? What are the characteristics of Blue Mountain Coffee?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For a long time, Blue Mountain Coffee has enjoyed an excellent reputation, often associated with premium descriptors such as the best, most expensive, and most rare. It has even earned the title of 'King of Coffee.' Blue Mountain Coffee actually comes from coffee produced in the Blue Mountain region of eastern Jamaica. Jamaica is an island nation in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, where

The Legendary Blue Mountain Coffee

Blue Mountain Coffee has long enjoyed an exceptional reputation, frequently associated with premium adjectives such as "best," "most expensive," and "rarest." It has earned the prestigious title "Coffee Emperor." FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee actually originates from the Blue Mountain region in eastern Jamaica.

The Origin of Blue Mountains

Jamaica is an island nation in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. The eastern part of the country is home to the famous Blue Mountains. The main peak, Blue Mountain Peak, reaches an elevation of 2,256 meters, making it the highest mountain in the Caribbean region. The range contains numerous peaks exceeding 1,500 meters in elevation.

The Blue Mountains are situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, benefiting from fertile volcanic soil. The climate is humid and rainy, with the mountains frequently shrouded in mist and temperatures maintained around 27°C. These climatic and natural conditions have created the world-renowned FrontStreet Coffee Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.

The name "Blue Mountains" originated many years ago when a British soldier arrived in Jamaica and observed the mountain peaks enveloped in a blue glow, appearing like a massive blue mountain. This phenomenon occurs because the Blue Mountains are surrounded by sea on all sides. On clear days, sunlight reflects off the sea surface, and the refracted light illuminates the mountain ranges, creating the distinctive blue appearance.

Coffee Cultivation History

Coffee first arrived in Jamaica in the 18th century when a Jamaican governor introduced Arabica coffee seeds from Martinique, planting them in the eastern St. Andrew region. Coffee cultivation later spread from St. Andrew throughout the entire Blue Mountain area. At that time, Jamaica had over 600 coffee plantations, and thanks to the local geography and climate, the coffee quality was exceptional, beloved by coffee consumers worldwide.

In the late 1960s, Jamaica suffered devastating hurricane damage. Both coffee and other crops were severely affected by the hurricanes, causing significant losses and leading to the decline of the coffee industry. During this period, Japan's economy was thriving, and Japanese consumers had developed a strong appreciation for Blue Mountain Coffee. Consequently, several Japanese trading companies provided loans to renowned Blue Mountain estates in exchange for shares and priority purchasing rights.

To express gratitude for Japanese corporate assistance, the Jamaican government signed a 30-year supply agreement with Japan in 1972. Under this contract, 90% of Jamaica's annual coffee production would be supplied to Japan, with the remainder allocated to other countries, resulting in extremely limited export quantities. The Japanese subsequently launched promotional campaigns that sparked a "Blue Mountain fever." The combination of scarce supply and successful marketing caused Blue Mountain Coffee prices to skyrocket, earning it the "Coffee Emperor" title during this period. Currently, the contract between Jamaica and Japan has expired, and Blue Mountain Coffee is now available to other countries.

Quality Standards and Regulations

The Jamaican government places great importance on the coffee industry and has established JACRA (Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority). Today, every barrel of Blue Mountain Coffee beans must undergo quality supervision through JACRA. The authority also enacted the Coffee Industry Regulation Law, which defined the world-famous "Blue Mountain Coffee Growing Region."

According to the Coffee Industry Regulation Law, the Blue Mountain growing area is 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 designated region can be named Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.

Blue Mountain Coffee is currently the only coffee exported in wooden barrels. Only Jamaica Blue Mountain (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, PB, and Jamaica High Mountain (High Mountain Supreme, High Mountain PB)) can use this packaging method, available in 70kg, 30kg, and 15kg specifications. The highest grade, Blue Mountain No. 1, must meet specifications of 17 screen size or larger, with defective beans not exceeding 2% and moisture content around 10-12.5%. The barrel lids are printed with the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee trademark, while other grades of Jamaican coffee are exported in 60kg burlap bags.

Blue Mountain Coffee wooden barrel packaging

Coffee Varieties and Cultivation

In Jamaica's Blue Mountains, the primary variety cultivated is Typica, which, along with the Bourbon variety, belongs to the oldest existing coffee varieties, originating from Ethiopia. Typica is well-suited to high-altitude cultivation, producing superior quality coffee at higher elevations, though with lower yields and high susceptibility to leaf rust, nematodes, and berry diseases. Over the years, Jamaica has persisted in carefully cultivating Typica varieties. The Typica grown in the Blue Mountains has adapted well to local climate and soil conditions, evolving improved disease resistance.

Prestigious Coffee Estates

Currently, Blue Mountain boasts numerous renowned coffee estates that produce Blue Mountain Coffee, such as Clifton Mount Estate, which has a long cultivation history. This estate began coffee cultivation and production as early as the mid-18th century and has become Jamaica's only estate certified with "Rainforest Alliance" certification (meeting sustainable agriculture system standards).

Clifton Mount Estate is located in St. Andrew Parish, cultivating coffee at an elevation of 1,642 meters. Initially established as a British government experimental coffee cultivation site, it was later purchased and operated by Mr. Clair. Following government reforms, the entire estate underwent transformation, establishing Jamaica's most advanced cultivation and roasting facilities, enabling the production of highly consistent and exceptional quality Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. FrontStreet Coffee's FrontStreet Coffee Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee comes from Clifton Mount Estate, offering subtle citrus acidity with nut and cocoa flavors, a silky texture, and overall balance.