Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

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Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Information


Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a coffee growing area classification in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The best grown lots of Blue Mountain coffee are noted for their mild mellow flavour and lack of coffee bitterness. Over the last several decades, this coffee has developed a following and reputation that has made it one of the most expensive and loved coffees in the world. In addition to its use for rich brewed coffee, the beans are the flavor base of the famous local Tia Maria coffee liqueur.
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a now globally protected certification mark meaning that only coffee certified by the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board can be labeled as such. It comes from a recognised growing region in the Blue Mountain region(see map) of Jamaica and its cultivation is heavily monitored by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica.
The Blue Mountains major coffee growning area is located between Kingston to the south and Port Maria to the north. Rising to 2,300 metres (7,500 feet), they are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean region. The climate of the region is cool and misty with high rainfall, perfect for coffee. The soil also has rich texture with excellent drainage. This combination of climate and soil is considered ideal for growing really great coffee.


Blue Mountain Coffee Industry Regulation
Traditionally, only coffee grown at elevations between 3,000+ and 5,500 feet (1,700 metres) could be offically called Jamaica Blue Mountain. Coffee grown at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 feet (910 metres) is called Jamaica High Mountain, and coffee grown below the 1,500 foot (460 m) level is called Jamaica Supreme or Jamaica Low Mountain coffee. (All land in Jamaica above 5,500 feet (1,700 metres) is a forest preserve or National Park, so no coffee is grown there.)
Classifications of Blue Mountain Coffee

As with most other varieties of coffee, there are several grades assigned to different lots, based on factors such as size, appearance, and defects allowed. The Coffee Industry Regulations Act allows for five classifications [2]: Blue Mountain Number One - 96% of beans must have a screen size of 17/20. No more than 2% of the beans may have major defects. Blue Mountain Number Two - 96% of beans must have a screen size of 16/17. No more than 2% of the beans may have major defects. Blue Mountain Number Three - 96% of beans must have a screen size of 15/16. No more than 2% of the beans may have major defects. Blue Mountain Peaberry grade - 96% of beans must be peaberry. No more than 2% of the beans may have major defects. Blue Mountain Triage grade - Contains bean sizes from all previous classifications. No more than 4% of the beans may have major defects.

Major certified Blue Mountain coffee works in Jamaica include:

Blue Mahoe Estates Jamaica Limited
Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative Limited
Blue Mountain Coffee Venture Limited
BM Coffee Processors Ltd.
Clifton Mount Estate Limited
Coffee Industries Limited
Coffee Roasters of Jamaica Ltd
Coffee Solutions
Greenwich Coffee Company Ltd
Greenwich Mountain Estate Limited
Jamaica Standard Products Ltd
Mavis Bank Central Factory Limited
Michael Black Farms Limited
RSW Estates Limited
Wallenford Coffee Company Limited