A genuine Blue Mountain coffee can easily cost three figures per cup, but not all beans labeled "Blue Mountain" can brew the flavor they should. The preciousness of Blue Mountain coffee stems from the perfect combination of the beans and processing techniques. This article comprehensively analyzes the true face of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee from the perspectives of market status, price differences, origin certification, and tasting standards, and introduces Front Street Coffee's understanding and recommendations for Blue Mountain flavor.
A genuine Blue Mountain coffee often sells for three figures per cup. However, as an advertisement once said, not all milk can bear a certain brand's name; likewise, not all coffee beans labeled "Blue Mountain" can present the flavor that Blue Mountain coffee should have. The authentic flavor of Blue Mountain coffee is the result of the coffee beans themselves combined with processing techniques, and it is by no means something that can be replicated simply by importing Blue Mountain green beans.
Market
Same Blue Mountain, green beans and roasted beans differ tenfold
China accounts for 15% of total consumption
Blue Mountain coffee has long been regarded in China as a god-tier beverage, and almost every café claims to have Blue Mountain coffee. But in reality, not many actually use Blue Mountain coffee beans. According to export statistics from the Jamaica Coffee Board up to 2004, among the limited quota of Blue Mountain coffee beans, 85% were sold to Japan, 5% were exported to the United States, 5% went to Europe, and the remaining 5% flowed to other countries. However, data from the International Coffee Association shows that in the global consumption distribution of authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, China actually accounts for 15%. This is because part of the Blue Mountain coffee share from Japan, Australia, and Europe is exported to China through directly operated branch channels.
Blue Mountain beans are larger than ordinary coffee beans
Green beans are difficult to supervise
However, among the Blue Mountain coffee beans entering the Chinese market, some are green beans, that is, unprocessed coffee beans; another portion consists of roasted beans processed by the four legally designated processing plants in Jamaica's Blue Mountain region. Mr. Liang, president of the Guangzhou Coffee Association, pointed out that the price difference between Blue Mountain green beans and roasted beans is nearly tenfold. This is because Blue Mountain coffee beans not only emphasize origin pedigree, but also place great importance on processing methods. If green beans are imported, first, one cannot enjoy the perfect Blue Mountain coffee flavor; second, they are easily blended with other coffee beans by import traders, and the intermediate links are difficult to supervise.
Analysis
All in Blue Mountain
Not high enough, cannot be called "Blue Mountain"
Blue Mountain coffee must be certified
In Jamaica, exported Blue Mountain coffee beans must pass inspection by the Coffee Board and obtain a certificate of origin before they are allowed to be exported. At the same time, they must use the Blue Mountain coffee trademark registered by the Coffee Board in more than 20 countries around the world before they can truly be called authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans. The Jamaica Coffee Board stipulates that Blue Mountain coffee must be grown in the legally designated Blue Mountain coffee area to be named Blue Mountain and be authorized to use the Coffee Board's registered trademark: Blue Mountain Coffee.
Brewed Blue Mountain coffee finished product
Below 3,000 feet is "High Mountain Coffee"
The legendary Blue Mountain is located on the eastern side of Jamaica, with a total elevation of 7,402 feet. Only at an altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 feet can Blue Mountain coffee with a perfect combination of balance and slight acidity be grown, and only coffee produced in the Blue Mountain area within this elevation range is considered 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Coffee grown below 3,000 feet is called High Mountain Coffee and is authorized to use the High Mountain Coffee trademark. The total production of High Mountain Coffee is five times that of Blue Mountain coffee. Most private estates grow High Mountain Coffee for export and for sale domestically as a tourism specialty. As for the Blue Mountain area above 5,000 feet, it is densely forested and unsuitable for growing any crops.
Brewing has certain requirements for water temperature
Tasting
Blue Mountain also emphasizes pedigree
Just as red wine emphasizes famous châteaux, Blue Mountain coffee also emphasizes the estate of origin. The processing level of famous estates far exceeds that of other processing plants, and they are called legally designated estates.
What is a legally designated estate? According to Jamaica's Coffee Industry Regulation, the Jamaica Coffee Board authorizes several large estates to have the power to centrally process coffee cherries, export Blue Mountain coffee beans, and use the Blue Mountain coffee trademark, in order to maintain the reputation and quality of Blue Mountain coffee.
According to Jamaican coffee regulations, high-quality coffee cherries must be able to have their skin removed under finger pressure, and no more than 2% green or unripe coffee cherries may be selected and stored; coffee cherries must not be stored in metal or plastic containers, such as plastic film, fertilizer bags, or sealed containers, because this will accelerate fermentation of the coffee cherries; avoid soaking coffee cherries in water, because water will accelerate the splitting of coffee cherries; coffee cherries should undergo the floatation procedure at the estate, and before being stored in the warehouse they should be retested to see whether they meet the floatation requirements, ensuring that this process is completed within the estate; when conducting the floatation test, follow the principle of random sampling, taking samples from a bag or box of coffee cherries; qualified coffee cherries need to be stored for 24 hours; during pulping and washing, every 1.5 cubic feet of coffee cherries requires 50 gallons of water. As for roasting, it is even more particular, using medium roasting, but the roasting technique is confidential.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
