Blue Mountain coffee in Jamaica

[shutterbug]

I've got a friend heading to Montego Bay this weekend. I was thinking of asking them to pick up some Blue Mountain coffee.
Where's the cheapest place to get authentic blue mountain? On one hand if you buy at the resort or the airport you'll likely
get the real stuff but you'll be paying tourist trap prices. You buy offsite and who knows what kind of stuff it really is.

[miss_swan]

I've got a friend heading to Montego Bay this weekend. I was thinking of asking them to pick up some Blue Mountain coffee.
Where's the cheapest place to get authentic blue mountain? On one hand if you buy at the resort or the airport you'll likely
get the real stuff but you'll be paying tourist trap prices. You buy offsite and who knows what kind of stuff it really is.

If I were you i'd hit up some local coffee hobbyists or research online in coffee forums first.

Thing is, it's hard to get "real" Blue Mountain coffee and if you find it - it's very expensive.

Furthermore, other cheaper alternatives can be superior to Blue Mountain depending on the year and harvest. So, you're really paying just for the name. Do you care that much?

If you want to get your hands on a reputable source ... perhaps you should just look at Costco online.

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10314059&search=blue+mountain&Mo=1&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=blue+mountain&Ntt=blue+mountain&No=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

or the blended variety:

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10314169&search=blue+mountain&Mo=1&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=blue+mountain&Ntt=blue+mountain&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

I'm sure there are other reputable places to order online.

Good luck.

[jayt90]

Even if a bag says 'Authentic Blue Mountain' it will be a blend of lower slope coffee beans. That's commonly sold and sometimes mixed with other beans.
The real Blue Mountain comes from estates high up in the range, and the bag will clearly state this.
If you can find estate coffee in Jamaica it will be expensive, probably $50/ lb as it is mostly held for export.

[slinger99]

Mavis Bank Blue Mountain coffee is the one to get. Mavis Bank is authentic and the coffee beans come from the TOP of the mountain.

[Arrgh]

How long is your friend in MoBay? Is s/he going to Ocho Rios at all?

You can buy authentic BM coffee in many stores, including tourist shops. They'll cost around US$25/lb. Check the lable to make sure it's 100% BM and NOT blend.

Costco does NOT sell BM coffee. Sometimes they may sell BM BLEND coffee which may contain 10% of the low grade coffee. Don't buy those.

==

In 2010 we went on a cruise which had a port stop at Ocho Rios. I contacted many coffee plantations in Jamaica and eventually arranged to buy a box of 12-lbs of whole bean coffee from Country Traders (countrytraders.com). On the day we went to Ocho Rios, we went to Dunns River Falls first, then went to town to tour around. At the end of the port stay, the rep met us near the pier to give us a big bag containing those 12 x 1-lb bags of Gold label Export grade whole bean coffee. The coffee was roasted the day before. The price as arranged was US cash of $235.20. I gave a little more to the rep. He was happy and gave me an extra bag of their 1 lb ground coffee.

At the Ocho Rios General Foods supermarket, we also bought two other 1 lb bags of whole bean BM coffee of other brands. It was a Jamaica "local" store that sells mostly to locals so the charges were in Jamaica dollars that worked out to between $20-24 each.

==

I'm sure Country Trade would have rep in MoBay too. So if you like to buy a box of 12-lbs, I'm sure they would be happy to make arrangements. But if you only like to get a few lbs, it'll be fine to buy from the shops in town or at the airport. The prices at airport will be either the same or not much higher.

[Arrgh]

Note that a lot of the BM coffee produced are already on long term contract and shipped to Japan. The best BM are for export, hence the "export" grade. What people can buy at the local or tourist shops, or airports in Jamaica, are NOT the export grade, and are of lower quality. Most people in Jamaica are not coffee drinkers and even they don't know of the differences in grades of coffee.


BM coffee is a medium roast coffee. Has a slightly heavier taste than Kona coffee. Just like Kona coffee, BM coffee leaves a good after taste.

Comparing the other two bags of BM of other brands that I bought from the Ocho Rios store, the beans from those two bags were smaller. Ther beans that I got, Gold label export grade directly from Country Traders, were larger. In terms of taste, they were all similar, all good. Of all the coffee beans I've head, I'd still give Kona coffee a slight edge over BM although BM would rank quite high. (and I've bought Kona coffee, at Kona, that were freshly roasted and packaged the morning I was buying).

[jayt90]

Costco does NOT sell BM coffee. Sometimes they may sell BM BLEND coffee which may contain 10% of the low grade coffee. Don't buy those.



If you actually read and comprehend post #2, you'll realize that they do sell 100% Blue Mountain arabica
from the same roaster who does their road shows, which sell blends.
I see I have to edit this, so that we understand that post #2 clearly refers to www.costco.ca not the warehouses.

[Cavegirl]

Have seen Costco road shows, but they only sold "blends", and not 100% Blue Mountain coffee.

[Toukolou]

overrated+overpriced=BM coffee

[Arrgh]

If you actually read and comprehend post #2, you'll realize that they do sell 100% Blue Mountain arabica
from the same roaster who does their road shows, which sell blends.
I see I have to edit this, so that we understand that post #2 clearly refers to www.costco.ca not the warehouses.
Ah I see. When I saw that post talking about blends, I kind of dismissed it because blends are junk. You only need 10% of the lowest grade of BM coffee, plus 90% of junk, to call it BM blend coffee. I wouldn't advise anyone to get or show link to anyone about coffee blends. That one link shows you can buy 100% BM coffee online, has price of $109/kg. That's a very high price to pay for BM coffee.

There are some coffee roasters in town (just google to find) that have BM green beans and they roast it here. That's a better way to buy BM coffee than thru Costco online, and they're are cheaper. You don't know how fresh/old the Costco online bags. And $109/kg, no coffee is worth that much.

Yet another way to get BM coffee is to ask colleagues/friends/relatives who go to Jamaica. There are so many people going to Jamaica for holidays or Caribbean cruises that stop in Jamaica, if they can carry some back, that'll be about $25/lb. Or get a 5-lb bag that would run about $100.

[Arrgh]

overrated+overpriced=BM coffee

BM coffee and Kona coffee are expensive, but that's what you pay for fine coffee. They are grown in high elevation, in places where there's a lot of fog cover. The fog shields the crop from harsh direct sunlight. The high elevation and rich soil, gives the special taste to the coffee, that leaves good after taste without bitterness.

Fine wine also cost a lot, some are really expensive. You can also say all those wines are overrated+overpriced, but some others would really enjoy them.

[jayt90]

BM coffee and Kona coffee are expensive, but that's what you pay for fine coffee. They are grown in high elevation, in places where there's a lot of fog cover. The fog shields the crop from harsh direct sunlight. The high elevation and rich soil, gives the special taste to the coffee, that leaves good after taste without bitterness.

Fine wine also cost a lot, some are really expensive. You can also say all those wines are overrated+overpriced, but some others would really enjoy them.

There are lots of high grown coffees from many other areas, at reasonable prices because they don't have the brand name of BM, Kona, much like LaTour or Grange are expensive wines.

[Fatman]

take a look here on ebay:

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/linacoffeeroasters/m.html?item=120229254542&_trksid=p4340.l2562

I found these guys from a thread on these forums where people were getting good results.

seems pretty good at $14 a lb for 5lbs

or like $12 a lb for 20lbs

[barqy]

anyone buy from these guys before: http://www.bluemountaincoffee.com/

the site states "100% Grade I Blue Mountain Coffee from the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory and is certified by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board"

so that seems pretty promising.


Or can anyone point to where I can find more information about bean reviews?


as for the ebay vendor, a lot of users (on RFD) have reported that they actually use inferior beans, so it's not really 'true' JBM....

[trini]

Just so you are aware Blue Mountain Coffee tastes bad but thats what the experts like just like most other expensive beans so if you do buy and don't like it don't complain.
I'm sure after paying the price you'd learn to like it though.
These folks in JA do need to make a living so support them please.

[nzo]

Hey guys the Costco at warden and else mere has blue mountin cafe for the next two weeks for the road show,it's. The beans and the grind them for you if you want.

[shutterbug]

I'm having a hard time believing that Costco will be selling authentic Blue Mountain. It might be lower mountain at best or some mix.

[jayt90]

I'm having a hard time believing that Costco will be selling authentic Blue Mountain. It might be lower mountain at best or some mix.

They have a JBM blend, which is lower slope. It is a full dark roast, which hides the nuances of true JBM.
Sometimes they have a higher grade online, at a much higher price.

[nzo]

It's the real one,it's fair trade type and it's 31 $ a bag ,I just bought it

[miss_swan]

I'm having a hard time believing that Costco will be selling authentic Blue Mountain. It might be lower mountain at best or some mix.

Why do you have such a hard time believing that? :?:

[revelation]

It's the real one,it's fair trade type and it's 31 $ a bag ,I just bought it

Its a blend - not pure Blue Mountain. The $31/bag is another dead giveaway.

Probably a blend of Blue and High Mountain at best.

[cmdr_shepard]

Anyone shopped at Gold Star Coffee before? They claim to sell 100% Grade 1 Jamaican Blue Mountain but as someone who's purchased JBM before, I am a little suspect they are selling it for $12 - $15/lb. They do have a lot of positive feedback on eBay though and the pictures of the beans/barrels seem to be legitimate. Still, I can't help but feel a little suspect.

http://www.goldstarcoffeeorders.com/

[Raphael__N]

Several RFD'ers and I did a large batch order of JBM + Kona Extra Fancy a few years ago. It was through a company called Lina Epicure on eBay (they also have their own website). Their advertising was similar to Gold Star, but I'm not sure if they source from the same supplier. Many of us were unimpressed by JBM, while the Kona fared better. In both cases, they did not stand out above other quality single-origin coffees that were much more competitively priced. Their fame is mostly due to marketing, and perhaps earned during a time when quality coffee was much less accessible than it is today.

[jaysfan4life]

All jamacian coffees are rated much higher than regular columbian coffees. I highly doubt you will find real 100% BM coffee in mobay. If your on a tour of the east end of the island (the blue mountain region) you can get it very cheap.

[Raphael__N]

All jamacian coffees are rated much higher than regular columbian coffees. I highly doubt you will find real 100% BM coffee in mobay. If your on a tour of the east end of the island (the blue mountain region) you can get it very cheap.

This is a heavily generalized statement, assuming "all Jamaican coffee". Not all goods from any ideal location are better than all the variations from another. Besides that, JBM actually has very little respect these days and constantly come out below par in comparisons. Where are you digging these reviews out of? Kenneth Davids (one of the leading experts in coffee) is known for handing out poor reviews to many JBM products.

As for Colombian coffee, I am not sure exactly what you are trying to convey in that message (as untrue as it is). Experienced single-origin drinkers do not hold Colombian coffee as some obscure gold standard. There are plenty of good plantations all over the world (e.g. Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Sumatra etc.).

[jayt90]

All jamacian coffees are rated much higher than regular columbian coffees. I highly doubt you will find real 100% BM coffee in mobay. If your on a tour of the east end of the island (the blue mountain region) you can get it very cheap.When I started reading expert ratings of various coffees several years ago, I expected jamacian (sic) BM to be at the top of the heap, but it was always rated way down, say 84 points when 90 was expected. Columbian (sic) from small estates almost always rates 86-87 or better.

JBM at its best comes from small estates 1700 m. above sea level.
Colombia has many more good estates at this level or higher, and the coffee is easy to find and cheaper.