What Are the Export Grades of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee?
Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee does not use Grade 1 as its grade name, relying instead on names such as Blue Mountain No. 1. The coffee is divided by growing altitude into three categories: Blue Mountain Jamaican, High Mountain Jamaican, and Prime Washed Jamaican, with ordinary Jamaican coffee sold under the Jamaica Coffee name.
Export beans are split into seven grades, each with rules on screen size and defect ratio. Blue Mountain No. 1 requires 96% of beans at screen size 17/18 with no more than 2% defects, and the lower grades, peaberry lots, and triage blends follow smaller screen sizes and looser defect limits.
Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is globally recognized as one of the top coffees, but many people are not clear that its grading system is actually different from the common Grade 1. Front Street Coffee takes you through the origin background of Jamaica Blue Mountain, as well as the three major categories and seven export grades of Blue Mountain coffee divided by altitude and bean size. From Blue Mountain No. 1 to Blue Mountain Peaberry Mix, each grade has strict regulations on screen size and defect bean ratio. This article will analyze in detail the grading standards for Jamaican Blue Mountain green beans, helping coffee enthusiasts more accurately understand this legendary region.
Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) Jamaica Blue Mountain Origin Introduction and Green Bean Grading
Front Street Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee does not use Grade 1 as its grade, but instead uses what we often hear as Blue Mountain No. 1 as the grade name.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Grading Official
According to the altitude of the coffee-growing mountains and the size of the raw beans, Blue Mountain coffee is divided into three grades: Blue Mountain Jamaican, High Mountain Jamaican, and Prime Washed Jamaican. Of course, ordinary Jamaican coffee is called "Jamaica Coffee," mainly produced in mid- and low-altitude areas, and belongs to the Prime Washed Jamaican series. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans for export are further divided into 7 grades:
Blue Mountain No. 1: 96% of the beans must be screen size 17/18, with no more than 2% defective beans. Blue Mountain No. 2: 96% of the beans must be screen size 16, with no more than 2% defective beans. Blue Mountain No. 3: 96% of the beans must be screen size 15, with no more than 2% defective beans. Blue Mountain Peaberry: 96% of the beans must be screen size 10 single peaberries, with no more than 2% defective beans. Blue Mountain Triage: A mix of Blue Mountain No. 1, 2, and 3 beans, with a small number of slight defects, but does not affect the cup quality of the coffee. Blue Mountain Fine Beans: Coffee beans with screen size below 15, with no more than 2% defective beans. This portion of beans is sold only in sample mode, and the price is determined by demand conditions. Blue Mountain Triage Peaberry: A mix of Blue Mountain peaberries, with a small number of slight defects, but very good cup quality, with no more than 4% defective beans.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
