Here's a quick summary of our recommended Blue Mountain beans.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Price

Still here? Great, let's dive in. First thing is first, let’s talk about the price. The high cost of Blue Mountain coffee is something that many people fixate on; 

Why is it so expensive?

Beyond the obvious reason that it tastes really good, a few factors contribute the the exceedingly high cost of Blue Mountain beans.

Production Process

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee requires a long time in order to properly produce. The beans mature at a very slow rate due to the high elevations that it is grown at. The beans are often grown on hillsides, and must be handpicked. This takes a lot of time and labor. Beyond all of this, each individual bean is hand inspected to ensure that the quality is up to par with the lofty reputation.

Supply & Demand

Simple economics will tell you that when the supply for something is low and the demand is high, the price will be high. Jamaica produces just 0.1% of world’s coffee, and not all of that is Blue Mountain certified. The supply is therefore quite scarce as compared to many other types of coffee. The demand exists and continues to grow as Blue Mountain coffee becomes more widely known.

As painful as the high price might be, it can work as an indication of legitimacy. That is not to say that every expensive Jamaican Blue Mountain product is legitimate, but a cheap product is most definitely not the real deal. You should always be careful to ensure that what you’re getting is 100% certified. Let’s chat a bit more about what it takes to be certified.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Certification Requirements 

In order to be given the official 100% certified Blue Mountain label, a rigorous set of criteria must be met.

Growing Region & Altitude

To be certified, beans must be grown in one of these four parishes; St. Andrew, St. Mary, St. Thomas or Portland. Also, beans must be grown at an altitude between 3000 and 5500 feet. 

The most well known estates are Wallenford, Langley, Silver Hill and Mavis Bank. If you see these names on a product, it’s a good thing.

100% Blue Mountain Beans... No Blending!

Jamaican Blue Mountain Blends

Let’s clear the air, I'm not saying that all Blue Mountain blend are inherently bad, just that they aren’t the true experience and should not be in the same cost ballpark.

If money were no object, sure, I’d subscribe for a monthly (or weekly) auto-delivery of some Blue mountain beans and drink it every day. Unfortunately, money is most definitely an object to myself, and most people for that matter. 

Let’s be real, the vast majority of us aren’t going to shell out the cash to drink Blue Mountain coffee every day. But once you’ve tasted to this luxury, how do you go back? Well, I won’t sugar-coat it, it’s not easy. If you’re hooked on that Blue Mountain taste, your best bet is to find a good blend that can satisfy your craving.

Yes, it’s true that we talked before about ensuring that you go for a 100% certified product, so this is a bit of a 180. And let’s be clear, to get the true Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee experience, you should absolutely do this. But for the sake of practicality, I’d like to offer a potential solution to your Blue Mountain withdrawal. 

That solution? 

A good Blue Mountain blend.  

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Taste Profile

Okay so we have yet to address a pretty obvious question. What makes Blue Mountain coffee so good? What does it taste like? As is the case with most coffee, there is some variance in the available taste profiles. That being said, you can expect your Jamaican Blue Mountain beans to produce a cup with at least a few of the following characteristics;

Getting the most out of your Jamaican Blue Mountain beans

So you’ve decided to splurge on the real deal. It probably goes without saying that you’d like your purchase to be worthwhile. Here are a few tips to follow to help you get the most out of these luxurious beans.

Grinding

As I’m sure you know, purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding the beans yourself as needed is always the way to go. But if you really want to get the most out of your beans, it’s essential that you use a Burr Grinder. I could ramble on for ages about the importance of using a Burr Grinder… so I did. You can check out the article below if you’re interested!

The take home point here is;

Grinding your Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans with a Burr Grinder immediately before you intend to use them will yield the best tasting results.

Brewing

If you’re interested in Blue Mountain coffee, you probably know a thing or two about the many coffee brewing methods. You probably have a preferred option, and that’s great! However, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, you should use an immersion technique.

French Press, AeroPress, Siphon, Clever, the list goes on.

The important thing is the immersion aspect, as this technique allows for the best extraction. Better extraction allows you to get the most out of your coffee, and therefore the most out of your money!  

The Best Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Okay, you’re now armed with plenty of knowledge regarding Blue Mountain beans, it’s time to take the plunge and pick your poison!

Luckily for us, there are several options available online that are well worth your time and money. Here’s a couple of our favorite Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee brands. You'll also find a more affordable blend option!

And there you have it. What are your thoughts on the esteemed Jamaican Blue Mountain bean? What’s your favorite Blue Mountain coffee? Let us know!

Have a coffee question? We may have the answer. Ask away!