#1 COFFEE IN THE WORLD

Good coffee is rare but the best can only be found in Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee has been admired since the 19^th century as the most celebrated and sought after coffee in the entire world and if you’ve ever had a cup you won’t need to wonder why.

Grown on the most eastern end of Jamaica, its smooth texture, full bodied flavor and intense aroma delivers a whole new experience to drinking coffee.

Today over 80% of the coffee produced in the Blue Mountains are exported and it is among the most expensive worldwide. If you appreciate coffee then you know a good cup is worth paying more for however there are other contributing factors that qualifies the Blue Mountain Coffee as world class.

SCARCITY

Genuine Blue Mountain Coffee is limited, with about 5 million pounds produced yearly. That is because the designated coffee growing region is smaller compared to other producing countries. Not all coffee grown in Jamaica is qualifies to be labeled as the world’s best; only those actually grown in the Blue Mountains above 3000ft. And as we all know where there is greatness there will be attempts to duplicate hence you may come across Blue Mountain BLENDS Coffee that contains very little authentic Blue Mountain Coffee or Blue Mountain STYLE Coffee that contains none at all.

GROWING CONDITIONS

Rising to 7402ft, The Blue Mountains are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean producing the perfect environment for growing high quality coffee. Coffee needs to be grown at an elevation between 3000ft (910 meters) and 5500ft (1700 meters) to be labeled Jamaica’s Blue Mountain. It is perpetually misty and cool at the peak where the coffee is grown and paired with the unusual volcanic soil is considered the perfect combination necessary for proper coffee production. The fog slows the development of the coffee extending the time between bloom and harvest to about 10 months. That is twice as long as the growth period in other countries.  This causes the bean to be much denser resulting in its unique flavor.

MANUALLY INSPECTED

Before the coffee beans are roasted they are first inspected for defects. Unlike many other countries where this process is trusted to machines, in Jamaica the beans are sorted manually by hand where they are graded based on size and quality. If the bean is too small or too large or has any other defects it is rejected resulting in only about 85% beans harvested being exported.  

STRICT REGULATIONS

There are strict guidelines regarding the growth, harvest, processing and roasting of the regions coffee and before exported Jamaica’s Coffee Industry Board must first evaluate the coffee to ensure it meets the standards of their regulations. The cupping session conducted is rather formal and rather rigorous where any coffee not deemed up to par is immediately rejected.

Next time you have the privilege of enjoying a cup of Blue Mountain Coffee consider the energy and hard work that was involved in delivering a first class cup of coffee to you.