How Does the Blue Mountain Coffee Grading System Work?

Jamaica sorts blue mountain coffee into three grades based on growing altitude and green bean size: Jamaican Blue Mountain, Jamaican High Mountain, and Jamaican Prime Washed. Specialty grade covers Blue Mountain No. 1 and Amber No. 1, and the two command very different prices. Within the high-spec Blue Mountain range, beans are further split by screen size into No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, which official cupping confirms taste identical and differ only in size.

The coffee grows in the Blue Mountain range in eastern Jamaica, rising over 2,100 meters with cool temperatures, mist, and steady rainfall. The name comes from the blue haze the peaks reflect off the Caribbean Sea on clear days. Under the coffee grading system, ordinary Jamaican Coffee from mid-to-low altitude areas falls into the Prime Washed series, while the higher-elevation No. 1 lots such as Clifton Farm remain the most sought after.

Blue Mountain coffee has long been renowned as one of the world's top coffees, but do you know how it is actually graded? Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is strictly divided into three categories based on cultivation altitude and green bean size: Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaican High Mountain Coffee, and Jamaican Prime Washed Coffee. Among them, Blue Mountain No. 1 beans and Amber No. 1 beans both belong to the specialty grade, yet their prices differ dramatically. High-spec Blue Mountain is further subdivided by screen size into No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, with the taste confirmed by official cupping to be identical, differing only in bean size. This article will guide you through a systematic understanding of the Blue Mountain coffee grading system, green bean export specifications, and the price reference for the roasted Blue Mountain No. 1 beans from Clifton Farm currently selected by Front Street Coffee.

Blue Mountain coffee beans, like other coffee categories on the market, also have grade distinctions. Today we will discuss in detail the grading standards for Blue Mountain coffee. When it comes to coffee, Blue Mountain is almost an unavoidable name, recognized as one of the most outstanding coffees in the world.

Blue Mountain flavor coffee beans 1 pound/bag QS certified, grinding service available. The Blue Mountain range is located in the eastern part of the island of Jamaica, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. On clear days, sunlight shines directly on the azure sea, and the peaks reflect the shimmering blue radiance of the water, which is how Blue Mountain got its name. This mountain range rises over 2,100 meters above sea level, with a cool climate, misty surroundings, and abundant rainfall. It is this fertile, moist land that nurtures the world-renowned Blue Mountain coffee.

Grading of Blue Mountain coffee: Jamaica classifies Blue Mountain coffee into three grades based on the altitude of the mountain range where the coffee is grown and the size of the green beans — Blue Mountain Jamaican, High Mountain Jamaican, and Prime Washed Jamaican. Ordinary Jamaican coffee is called "Jamaican Coffee," mainly from mid-to-low altitude mountain areas, and is classified under the Prime Washed Jamaican series. Specialty Blue Mountain (No. 1 beans) BLUE MOUNTAIN (NO.1) and Amber (No. 1 beans) AMBER (NO.1) are both high-end products, with Amber No. 1 beans priced 300 to 400 yuan per pound higher than Specialty Blue Mountain No. 1 beans.

High-spec Blue Mountain coffee is divided into three grades by screen size: No. 1 beans (17 to 18 mesh and above), No. 2 beans (16 mesh), and No. 3 beans (15 mesh), where 17 mesh equals 17/64 inch. These three grades show no difference in taste (all must be confirmed by full-time cuppers recognized by the Jamaican government), differing only in bean size. All grades of green beans must be packed in wooden barrels for export overseas, with specifications of 70 kg per barrel, 30 kg per barrel, and 15 kg per barrel.

Many friends are concerned about the normal selling price of Blue Mountain coffee. The Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans currently selected by Front Street, produced at Jamaica's Clifton Farm, are priced at 158 yuan/100g for roasted beans.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.