Specialty Coffee Basics: An Introduction to Blue Mountain Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee (BlueMountainCoffee) comes from Jamaica and is renowned worldwide as one of the most superior coffees in the world. FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain Coffee has a pure taste, with moderate acidity, sweetness, and bitterness, emitting an alluring elegant aroma.

The Origin of Blue Mountain Coffee

The island of Jamaica is not large, with the Blue Mountain Range located northeast of the capital Kingston. The mountain gets its name because on clear days, when the sun shines directly on the azure Caribbean Sea, the peaks reflect the brilliant blue light of the seawater. The highest peak of Blue Mountain reaches 2,256 meters, making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region and a famous tourist destination. This area lies within the coffee belt, with fertile volcanic soil, fresh air free from pollution, and a humid climate with year-round fog and rainfall (average precipitation of 1,980 mm and temperature around 27°C). Such climate conditions have created the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, as well as the highest-priced coffee in the world.

Historical Development

In 1717, French King Louis XV ordered coffee cultivation in Jamaica. In the mid-1720s, Jamaica's Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes imported Arabica seeds from Martinique and began promoting cultivation in the St. Andrew area. To this day, St. Andrew remains one of the three major producing regions of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, with the other two being Portland and St. Thomas. Within 8 years, Jamaica exported over 375 tons of pure coffee.

In 1932, coffee production reached its peak, with harvests exceeding 15,000 tons. In 1950, the Jamaican government established the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board, which set quality standards for Jamaican coffee and supervised their implementation to ensure quality. The board grants special official seals to both raw and roasted coffee exported from Jamaica, making it one of the highest-level national coffee institutions in the world. Currently, there are six official marks that can represent Blue Mountain Coffee's origin: M.B.C.E (Mavis Bank Central Factory), M.H.C.C.T. (Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative), P.X.X.S.H. (Portland Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative), Coffee Industry Association (Wallenford), Coffee Industry Association (St. John's Peak), and J.A.S. (Jamaica Agricultural Society). By 1969, the situation had improved as Japanese loans were used to enhance production quality, thereby securing the market. Today, this coffee has reached a level of passionate admiration. By 1981, Jamaica had opened approximately 1,500 hectares of land for coffee cultivation, followed by an additional 6,000 hectares.

Modern Production

In fact, today's Blue Mountain region is a small area with only 6,000 hectares of planting area, making it impossible for all coffee labeled "Blue Mountain" to be grown there. Another 12,000 hectares of land are used to grow two other types of coffee: High Mountain Supreme Coffee and Jamaica Prime Washed Coffee.

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