| The island of Jamaican is known for many things, | | | | altitudes. |
| sandy beaches, reggae music, Bob Marley and coffee. | | | | The rigorous quality standard for Jamaican Blue |
| The high regard for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee | | | | Mountain excludes beans that would probably be |
| among avid coffee drinkers has driven its price up to | | | | considered fine for other coffees. The screening |
| between $26 and $40 a pound. What is it about this | | | | process also helps to eliminate maragogipe (elephant |
| particular brew that warrants such a high price tag? | | | | beans). A mutant strain believed to have originated |
| True to its name, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is | | | | on Brazil, elephant beans are large, green, porous |
| grown in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, | | | | beans that seem to absorb the flavor of the soil |
| generally located between Kingston to the south and | | | | they grown in. The jury is still out on their worth, but |
| Port Maria to the north. Rising to 7,500 feet, the Blue | | | | they are considered an insufferable defect for |
| Mountains are the highest point in the Caribbean. The | | | | Jamaican Blue Mountain production. |
| area is characterized by cool, wet weather and dark, | | | | At least 96 percent of the beans used must be of |
| rich soil with good drainage, ideal conditions for | | | | the same size and bluish-green tint. No more than |
| cultivating coffee. Though coffee is not native to | | | | two percent can stray from that standard in any |
| Jamaica, it is the chief export of the island. | | | | way. Sour or black beans, or foreign matter of any |
| Not just any old cup of Joe can call itself Jamaican | | | | kind, are considered unforgivable defects and do not |
| Blue Mountain. The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica | | | | fall under the two-percent rule. The most unbending |
| must certify every bag of coffee to ensure only the | | | | benchmark is needed to maintain the traits that |
| highest quality beans bear the prestigious trademark. | | | | coffee drinkers have come to expect. |
| The Board only recognizes beans grown in specific | | | | The geographical area that grows Jamaican Blue |
| parishes of Jamaica: St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland | | | | Mountain beans is relatively small and can only |
| and St. Mary. | | | | produce so much coffee. The limited quantity, the |
| The Coffee Industry Regulation Act established a | | | | matchless quality resulting from painstaking cultivation, |
| system of three grades of Jamaican Blue Mountain | | | | the alluring aroma and the renowned name of |
| based on the screen or size of the bean. The term | | | | Jamaican Blue Mountain have undoubtedly contributed |
| screen refers to the literal screens of various | | | | to its reputation as one of the most sought-after |
| dimensions used to sort the beans according to their | | | | coffees in the world. As long as hard-core coffee |
| size. The theory behind this practice is that beans | | | | drinkers continue to demand it, it will also be one of |
| grown in higher altitudes are larger and make | | | | the most expensive. |
| better-tasting coffee than those grown in lower | | | | |