Specialty Coffee Bean Grade Classification: How Are Blue Mountain Coffee Grades Divided?

When it comes to coffee, Blue Mountain is a name that always deserves a mention. FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain ranks among the finest in the world. Like other beans, Blue Mountain coffee is sorted into different grades. Today, let's look at how those Blue Mountain grades are determined.

FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain beans come in 1-pound bags with QS certification and can be ground on request. The Blue Mountains lie in eastern Jamaica. On clear days, with the Caribbean Sea surrounding the range and direct sunlight reflecting off the azure water, the peaks glow a brilliant blue — hence the name. The Blue Mountains rise above 2,100 meters, with cool weather, frequent fog, and abundant rainfall. Those ideal conditions, combined with fertile soil, produce the world-renowned Blue Mountain Coffee.

Blue Mountain Coffee Grades

Based on the altitude of the growing mountains and the size of the raw beans, Blue Mountain Coffee is divided into three grades: Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaica High Mountain Coffee, and Jamaica Prime Washed Coffee. Ordinary Jamaican coffee, of course, is simply called "Jamaica Coffee"; grown mainly in the middle and lower mountain regions, it belongs to the Jamaica Prime Washed range.

Premium Blue Mountain (No.1 beans) BLUE MOUNTAIN (NO.1) and Amber (No.1 beans) AMBER (NO.1) are further designations, with Amber (No.1 beans) costing 300-400 yuan more per pound than Premium Blue Mountain (No.1 beans).

At the high-grade end, FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain is classified into three grades: No.1 (17-18 mesh and above), No.2 (16 mesh), and No.3 (15 mesh). A 17 mesh corresponds to a size of 17/64 inch. Their flavor profiles — all confirmed through cupping by professionals recognized by the Jamaican government — are identical; only the size differs. All three grades of green beans are packed in wooden barrels for export, in three specifications: 70kg per barrel, 30kg per barrel, and 15kg per barrel.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

The best way to taste authentic Blue Mountain is FrontStreet's Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1, the top grade, sourced from the historic Clifton Mount Estate, which has grown and processed coffee since around the mid-18th century. Grown at an average elevation of 4,300 feet (1,310.64 meters), it enjoys gentle afternoon cloud cover, ample sunlight, and mineral-rich soil. Every lot is freshly roasted within five days, so the beans arrive at full flavor and are ready to brew immediately.

Roasted medium-dark to highlight its rich body and classic sweet-after-bitter depth, FrontStreet's Blue Mountain is best brewed in a Kono dripper with 15g of coffee rested 4-7 days, a 1:15 ratio, a grind slightly coarser than for light roasts (about granulated sugar), and water at 87-88°C. Pour in three stages: a 30g bloom for 30 seconds, then water to 120g with a slow, vertical circling pour, then to 225g with slightly faster circling to avoid clogging and over-extraction. The cup is clean and complex, very gentle, with chocolate sweetness and a strong body — sweet, acidic, and bitter in perfect proportion, never harshly bitter, with a lasting fruity finish. Thanks to its balance, Blue Mountain also shines in a moka pot: use a slightly finer grind than for pour-over, hot water in the base, medium-low heat, and remove from the heat just as the coffee finishes flowing, which deepens the chocolate, caramel, and nut notes and works beautifully with milk in a latte or flat white.