Tanya Nanetti
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
3 years
Is Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee the best in the world? Is it considered specialty coffee?
Asharita D'Silva
Coffee experts@Era of We
3 years
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Hey Tanya,
Yes, Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica is super expensive but there are a few reasons for that:
1. It only grows in a small area
2. There’s a huge supply-demand imbalance
3. Processing is labor-intensive
4. The total yield is very low
Jamaica coffee and specifically Blue Mountain Coffee has a reputation for being one of the most delicious coffees on the market. This excellence in flavor is connected to the unique growing conditions- the climate and the soil. Blue Mountain Coffee is well -balanced, with a distinct body and a smooth medium acidity. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee gives you notes of herb, nuts, and chocolate. This unique and exceptional flavor profile is what keeps it in heavy demand, making it expensive and difficult to source.
Blue Mountain Coffee can definitely be called specialty coffee, as it usually scores well over 80 points. However, there is some debate in the coffee community about the legitimacy of Blue Mountain Coffee as specialty coffee ever since the rise of better or on par coffee varieties in South and Central America. Right now, there’s a big push towards solidifying this coffee as specialty coffee by improving growing conditions and educating farmers.
Joachim Estal
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
3 years
I believe it is considered a prized coffee because it's in a very special region of Jamaica, a place not known to grow much coffee at all. It costs so much because the price is also based off on supply and demand. Since there is so little of it grown at a time, the demand for it is consistently high.
Have I actually tried Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee to validate the exquisite taste of this? No. However, according to Espresso Coffee Guide, it is typically a washed-process coffee. It is "silky smooth, full bodied," and with a refined taste of sweetness and richness. People also often say it tastes slightly chocolatey.
Like many prized coffees, like Kona coffee and Kopi Luwak for example, many people will scam others into thinking they're buying the real thing–and yet, they will sell something else off as the product. The same happens with Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. In order to combat this, the Jamaica coffee board ensures an official seal on is placed on the bags of true Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.
When buying the coffee, bear this in mind, and look for the seal on your next purchase.
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