Is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee worth the cost?

A: Yes.

...Okay, I suppose I should probably elaborate. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is considered to be one of, if not THE best coffee in the world. Jamaica produces only 0.1% of the world’s coffee, so these beans are relatively rare. A meticulous and laborious inspection process is in place to ensure the high quality of these beans. Beyond the limited supply and large amount of work behind Jamaican Blue Mountain beans lies another reason that they’re so expensive. Quite simply, they are in fact, some of the best tasting beans in the world. This is a largely undisputed viewpoint that the vast majority of coffee connoisseurs share.

As to whether it is worth the cost, that depends how much you love coffee. If you’ve found yourself researching Blue Mountain coffee, you probably care enough about coffee to appreciate these luxurious beans.

If you're just here for some recommendations, feel free to skip to our best Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee picks!

If your thirst for knowledge is not yet quenched, read on. We'll take a closer look at everything you need to know about Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

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

The Coffee

The Visual

Defining Aspects

Available As...

Blue Mountain Peaberry

Volcanica Jamaican Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee
  • Sweet & Clean
  • Chocolate, orange & mint notes

100% Certified Blue Mountain

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Certified 100% Whole Bean
  • Complex & Sweet
  • Nutty tobacco & citrus notes

Blue Mountain Blend

Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Whole Bean
  • Smooth, rich & balanced
  • Notes of chocolate & nuts

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 Coffee

Make sure you're getting 100% Blue Mountain beans! 


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!

To be certified, a product must consist of 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain beans. Many blends exist, but they are not the real deal. There are no regulations as to what can be considered a Blue Mountain blend, so many include only a small fraction of Blue Mountain beans.

Beans must also be packaged in Jamaica to qualify. If there is an indication of processing or packaging in a different country, avoid that product! 

All products that are certified by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica will have the certification image on the packaging. Double check for it!

In short, if you want the true Jamaican Blue Mountain experience, you have to opt for a 100% certified product. This certification ensures that the strict criteria has been met.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Certified

Always check for the seal!


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;

  • Clean, silky smooth & never bitter
  • Rich & sweet
  • Notes of chocolate, nuts & fruit, among a variety of others
  • Strong, sweet aroma
  • A vibrant, yet balanced acidity

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!


Blue Mountain Peaberry

Roasted By: Volcanica Coffee

Roast: Medium

Taste: Sweet & clean with notes of chocolate, orange & mint

Don't worry, this one is also 100% certified. It's also peaberry! One of the best coffees in the world, peaberry style, is nothing short of a luxury. This coffee sports a nice sweet taste, with prominent notes of chocolate and orange, as well as hints of mint. A balanced citrus-toned acidity is present, but the cup remains clean throughout. A pleasant chocolate aftertaste lingers long after the cup is complete. This coffee is truly exquisite.

Volcanica Jamaican Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee

Get 10% OFF when you use code:

Trynewcoffee


100% Certified Blue Mountain

Roasted By: Cubico Coffee

Roast: Medium

Taste: Complex, sweet, nutty tobacco & citrus notes 

This is perhaps one of the best coffees currently available on the internet. Coming with a nice little gift box, this makes a great gift for the coffee lover in your life... or you know, for yourself. This coffee has an intensely sweet aroma, as well as a sweet taste. Nutty tobacco and citrus notes are on display. A vibrant acidity adds to the complexity of this cup, and then fades away for a clean, mellow finish. This one is worth splurging on!


Blue Mountain Blend

Roasted By: Magnum Exotics

Roast: Medium

Taste: Rich, notes of nuts & chocolate

Please note that this is NOT 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. This is a blend. What this also is, is affordable. This is a great every day coffee that shares many characteristics to the real deal, without breaking the bank. This coffee is rich, with notes of chocolate and nuts. A moderate sweetness and acidity contribute to a taste profile that is smooth and nicely balanced. This one can fill the void that Blue Mountain coffee may leave when it runs out! 


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!

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