Blue Mountain Coffee Beans Characteristics, Origin Introduction, and Blue Mountain Coffee History & Pricing

Recently, a customer was chatting with a FrontStreet Coffee barista and said: "My impression is that Blue Mountain coffee is very expensive and quite rare. However, I've noticed that many coffee shops have been selling Blue Mountain coffee in recent years. While it's not cheap, it's not as expensive as I imagined. As consumers, how can we determine if Blue Mountain coffee is authentic?"

What is Blue Mountain Coffee?

The definition of "Blue Mountain Coffee" is very strict. Just as wine is distinguished by estate or variety, only coffee produced in one specific region throughout all of Jamaica can be called by this name—the renowned Blue Mountain range.

The Blue Mountain range is located on the eastern side of Jamaica island and is the highest mountainous area in Jamaica, with the highest peak approximately 2,256 meters. However, coffee can only be cultivated in designated areas at altitudes between 1,000-1,700 meters, specifically in the Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas, Portland, and Saint Mary districts. Above 1,700 meters is Jamaica's ecological protection zone, where no cash crops may be planted.

Coffee grown between 460-910 meters can only be sold under the name "Jamaica High Mountain Coffee"; below 460 meters can only be sold as "Jamaica Prime Coffee."

Not All Coffee Grown in Designated Areas is Called Blue Mountain No. 1!

"Blue Mountain No. 1" is actually a grade of Blue Mountain coffee beans. Blue Mountain coffee beans have three grades: Blue Mountain No. 1, Blue Mountain No. 2, and Blue Mountain No. 3.

• Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans require 96% of coffee cherries to be size 17 screen or larger, with a defect rate not exceeding 2% after processing;
• Blue Mountain No. 2 coffee beans require 96% of coffee cherries to be size 16 screen or larger, with a defect rate not exceeding 2% after processing;
• Blue Mountain No. 3 coffee beans require 96% of coffee cherries to be size 15 screen or larger, with a defect rate not exceeding 2% after processing;
• Blue Mountain Peaberry requires 96% of coffee cherries to be size 10 screen or larger, with a defect rate not exceeding 2% after processing;

How to Distinguish Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee Beans?

Currently, Blue Mountain coffee imported to China is primarily Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans, all transported in wooden barrels. Jamaica is the only coffee-producing region that uses wooden barrels for packaging. When determining whether Blue Mountain coffee beans are authentic, the wooden barrel is an important indicator.

Additionally, the Jamaican government has strict requirements for the export of Blue Mountain coffee and has established export standards. For coffee beans that meet these requirements and standards, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board issues certification certificates for exported Blue Mountain coffee beans. You can see the relevant wooden barrels and certificates at FrontStreet Coffee's physical stores!

What Variety is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?

The coffee trees planted on Jamaica's mountains are all of the Typica variety. It is also one of the oldest coffee varieties in the Arabica lineage, characterized by clean and subtle coffee flavors. The coffee plantation that FrontStreet Coffee established in Lincang, Yunnan Province, also grows Typica. When processed using natural methods and medium roasting, the coffee exhibits a balanced taste, with notes of brown sugar, nuts, and dried apricot emerging upon entry.

The first coffee tree on the Blue Mountain range was transplanted from Martinique to Jamaica's Blue Mountains in the 1720s. After more than 200 years, Blue Mountain Typica has evolved to have better disease resistance, particularly against coffee berry disease, which is superior to typical Typica varieties. Combined with the mineral-rich volcanic soil of the Blue Mountain range and the year-round warm, rainy microclimate, high-altitude grown Blue Mountain coffee beans possess a uniquely sweet and subtle coffee flavor that cannot be replicated by other producing regions—balanced flavors of sweet, sour, and bitter, along with a mellow and balanced mouthfeel that has captivated many coffee connoisseurs.

Why is Blue Mountain Coffee So Expensive?

Is Blue Mountain No. 1 the Most Expensive Coffee Bean?

Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans don't have large production, with an annual output of only 600-1,000 tons. In 1969, the Blue Mountain region was devastated by a hurricane, causing the coffee industry to fall into hardship. Japanese companies provided financial loans to help Blue Mountain coffee recover to normal levels, thus securing the market. To express gratitude to Japan, in 1972, Jamaica signed an agreement with Japan, giving Japanese estates shares and priority purchasing rights, with 90% of Blue Mountain coffee being exported to Japan after ripening. Therefore, very little Blue Mountain coffee was available for purchase by other countries, and prices were extremely high. However, this situation has improved in recent years.

During that period, Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee rarely entered the Chinese market, and getting a taste of authentic Blue Mountain coffee was quite difficult. However, in 2012, the Jamaican government cancelled Japan's priority purchasing rights, giving other countries more opportunities to import Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee.

Although Blue Mountain coffee is still relatively expensive today, it is not the most expensive coffee bean. Currently, Geisha coffee beans from the Panama region can cost as much as over 40,000 yuan per pound, far exceeding the price of Blue Mountain coffee.

Where Can I Buy Authentic Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans?

Both FrontStreet Coffee's physical stores and Tmall flagship store can purchase authentic Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans. The Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee sold by FrontStreet Coffee comes from Clifton Estate, which is also the largest estate on the Blue Mountain range, cultivated at an altitude of 1,310 meters.

Clifton Estate is Jamaica's oldest coffee-producing area still in normal operation today, and among Jamaican estates, only Clifton Farm has Rainforest Alliance certification. This certification can only be obtained by meeting "Sustainable Agriculture System Standards," and their wooden barrels bear the Rainforest Alliance certification logo.

Before 2020, Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee was exclusively washed-processed Typica coffee beans. In 2020, Clifton Estate introduced natural-processed Blue Mountain coffee beans, so now Blue Mountain coffee beans come in both washed and natural versions. The washed-processed Blue Mountain coffee is overall cleaner, with more balanced sweet, sour, and bitter flavors. The natural-processed Blue Mountain coffee also performs excellently, but compared to the washed process, the natural process gives Blue Mountain coffee a berry juice-like fullness, with relatively more prominent acidity, and is not as balanced overall as washed Blue Mountain coffee.

However, the natural-processed Blue Mountain coffee was only introduced for one year. Due to mediocre reception, there was no news of natural-processed Blue Mountain coffee beans in 2022.

How to Roast Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans?

To preserve Blue Mountain coffee's balanced sweet, sour, and bitter flavors along with its mellow and solid mouthfeel, FrontStreet Coffee uses a medium-dark roast level. Since all shipped coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days, you don't need to rush to drink them upon receiving your Blue Mountain coffee beans. Seal the coffee beans in their original packaging and let them rest until 5-6 days after the roasting date before starting to brew—the coffee's flavors will perform even better!

How to Brew Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Beans?

To avoid over-extraction, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using lower water temperature for extraction, while also using the slower-flowing Kono dripper to ensure adequate coffee extraction even at lower water temperatures. Therefore, the following parameters are used for extraction: Kono dripper, 88°C water temperature, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, 15g coffee dose, and grind size (70-75% retention rate on No. 20 standard sieve).

The brewing technique is as follows: First, pour 30 grams of water for the bloom, with a bloom time of 30 seconds. Second, pour water to about 125 grams, then wait for the coffee liquid to drop. When it drops to about halfway, pour the final water to reach 225 grams. End the extraction after all coffee has finished dripping through. The total extraction time is typically around 2 minutes and 10 seconds.

FrontStreet Coffee's washed Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee flavor profile: rich dark chocolate and nut flavors, creamy smooth mouthfeel, with balanced sweet, sour, and bitter notes.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473