Why can Blue Mountain coffee firmly sit on the throne of specialty coffee? Behind this lies not only the innate talent of the Typica variety, but also Jamaica's strict commitment to processing techniques and yield control. From hand-picking on rugged hillsides to hulling, fermenting, washing, and drying on the same day, every step allows no carelessness. The local government would rather sacrifice yield to protect its quality reputation, with an annual output of just over 40,000 bags, in sharp contrast to Brazil's 30 million bags. The top-grade Blue Mountain beans are almost entirely reserved by royalty and the wealthy, and every bag that reaches the market comes with a government certificate of guarantee. However, many coffee shops in China sell so-called Blue Mountain coffee at high prices that may not be authentic. This article will guide you through the flavor origins of genuine Blue Mountain coffee and recommend reliable purchasing directions like Front Street Coffee.
At a Blue Mountain coffee processing plant opened specifically for sightseeing tourists, a guide revealed to reporters the “secret” behind why Blue Mountain coffee tastes so pure: their coffee trees all grow on rugged hillsides, and the picking process is extremely difficult—only skilled local female workers can handle it. When picking, choosing perfectly ripe coffee cherries is very important; underripe or overripe ones will affect the coffee's quality. The picked coffee beans must be hulled the same day, then left to ferment for 12—18 hours. After that, the beans are washed and sorted. The next step is drying, which must be done on concrete floors or thick blankets until the beans' moisture content drops to 12%—14%. They are then stored in special warehouses. When needed, they are taken out for roasting and then ground into powder. These procedures must be strictly controlled, otherwise the coffee's quality will be affected.
Blue Mountain coffee's ability to maintain its top-tier status today is also related to the local government's policy of limiting production to ensure quality. Jamaica did not, just because Blue Mountain coffee became famous, disregard quality and produce in large quantities. Instead, it prioritizes quality, preferring to sacrifice yield to protect the golden signboard of Blue Mountain coffee. The world's largest coffee producer, Brazil, produces 30 million bags (each bag 60 kilograms) of coffee annually, while Jamaica produces only just over 40,000 bags per year. The difference in output is evident.
Blue Mountain coffee beans are divided into several grades by quality. The very top-grade Blue Mountain coffee beans generally do not enter the circulation market; the vast majority are reserved by royalty and the wealthy. The Blue Mountain coffee beans that reach the market are the “Blue Mountain” brand beans that have obtained a certificate of guarantee from the Jamaican government. Statistics from the International Coffee Organization website show that in 2003—2004, Jamaica produced a total of 43,000 bags of coffee, of which 24,000 bags were exported. Nearly 90% of the exported portion flowed into Japan, with the rest entering European and American markets. Because production is limited and export volume is not large, Blue Mountain coffee has always been in short supply on the international market. As the saying goes, things are precious when rare. Blue Mountain coffee commands a high price even in its place of origin; a 4-ounce (114-gram) package of Blue Mountain coffee sells for nearly 7 US dollars on the Jamaican market.
In recent years, various coffee shops in China have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, and top-grade Blue Mountain coffee has naturally become a target for people, especially young people, to pursue. For a time, it seemed that only after tasting Blue Mountain coffee could one truly say they had drunk coffee. And if a shop did not sell Blue Mountain coffee, it was not considered a real coffee shop. Domestic “Blue Mountain coffee” sells for anywhere from more than 30 yuan to over 100 yuan per cup, which is truly expensive. Of course, if it is genuine, the above prices are still somewhat consistent with Blue Mountain coffee's prestigious status. However, Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee has limited production and export volume, China does not have a quota to import Blue Mountain coffee directly from Jamaica, and the International Coffee Organization has no record of any Blue Mountain coffee beans being exported to China. In addition, it is believed that most domestic coffee enthusiasts do not yet have sufficient discernment to distinguish the differences between coffees of different qualities. So Chinese consumers are warned to be careful: although you may pay a high price, the coffee in your cup is very likely not genuine Blue Mountain coffee.
Jamaicans insist on processing coffee beans using traditional methods to ensure the coffee's quality.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
