Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

[forgop]

So, 11+ years ago, my wife and I went on our honeymoon in Ocho Rios and brought back a pound of Blue Mountain coffee for our dads. We didn't drink coffee at the time and thought nothing of it. We drink coffee now and I'd really like to get my hands on some, but I'm really not sure about what I'm finding online. With the pricing discrepancy, I feel like there's a "black market" of bogus stuff being sold on ebay and the likes. I'm almost sure the coffee bags we brought back weren't a vacuum-sealed type of a bag, kinda like a cloth bag of some sort. Does anyone have any insight they could provide to ensure if the cheaper stuff I'm seeing on ebay is the real thing? Thanks!

[macsauce13]

I'm sure there will be guys who have much better insight than I do, but my understanding is that the "cheap stuff" would only have a minimal amount of Blue Mountain in it, and then the rest would just be other, cheap coffee. Blue Mountain is not cheap stuff, but I think it is delicious! I would only buy from a reputable vendor, and skip out on the fleabay auctions! Good luck!

[jaymz]

Originally Posted by macsauce13

the "cheap stuff" would only have a minimal amount of Blue Mountain in it, and then the rest would just be other

that is my understanding also. they are a 'blend' ... usually 30% or less of actual jamaican blue mountain coffee.

That's not to say they are not good ... drink what you like, not what's most expensive.

this is a blend ($11 / 2lb)
http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Jamaica.../dp/B0031O4B16

this is 100% jamaican blue mountain ($35 / 1lb)
http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Jamaica...xgy_gro_text_c

[awsmith4]

I've never tried it, but Norman at Uncle Beanz carries it and he is reputable in my book

http://www.unclebeanz.com/merchant2/...tegory_Code=RE

[Big_Ern]

over the past few years they have also under went a name change and package change. even in Jamaica there are two different types of blue mountain coffee. I was going to buy some and didn't because of this new packaging. the one I found to have the best flavor is the one in the cloth bag and not the vacuum packed one. In Canada it goes for about 40 to 50 dollars a pound. I would stay away from the cheap stuff, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

[gvarsity]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I've never tried it, but Norman at Uncle Beanz carries it and he is reputable in my book

http://www.unclebeanz.com/merchant2/...tegory_Code=RE

+1 for Norman and Uncle Beanz. He will tell you exactly what you want to know as well if you just send him a pm. He is very knowledgeable and helpful.

[JaKaacH]

Good vendor here, but looks like no matter what vendor you use high $30.00s is the pricing norm.
25# for $900 = $36 per pound.....

http://www.coffeebeandirect.com/prod...roducts_id=300

[forgop]

I just can't justify the likes of $40+/lb, especially considering the 1 lb bags I bought 11 years ago were like $10...of course, maybe it was the cheap stuff. I don't know. If anything, I'll be more than happy with the Starbucks house blend out of my french press. Sams Club has a house blend that's really good as well.

[Chingas]

I can't help, sorry but if you do find out or if anyone knows, I would be interested as well. Thanks.

[macsauce13]

This is a quote from Cigary, don't think he'll mind though! "The Jamaican Blue Moutain Coffee that is sold at Costco is not the same coffee as the one that is sold in Jamaica if that is what you are talking about. I have bought the Costco Brand of the Jamaican Blue Mountain as well and it's pretty good coffee...certainly better than most store brands or even Starbucks. If you have ever had the "real" Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee it is light years better. Everytime the wife and I travel to the Carribean I bring back 2 or 3 packages of their coffee just like when we travel to Hawaii we buy the Lion Brand Kona coffees. I'm getting just as bad with the coffee as I am with cigars. I bet I have over 20 different coffees packaged and frozen in my deep freeze in the garage ( 8 ounce packages) that last for 3-4 days and you'd swear it was as fresh as the day it was packaged.

[bonjing]

Is the stuff from unclebeanz already ground?

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by bonjing

Is the stuff from unclebeanz already ground?

Norm sells both whole bean and ground to your spec's. Great vendor.

[novasurf]

Thank you for your kind words, fellas. We sell only 100% pure JBM, straight from the wooden barrel it is packaged in. Our is JBM Mavis Banks CF Grade 1.

To put its pricing into perspective, it translates to roughly $2.60 per 12 oz cup. Plus we roast on demand. So it doesn't get roasted until it is ordered.

JBM is tough to navigate outside of a trusted vendor. Just like cigars. So as always...caveat emptor.

[forgop]

Ouch. I guess I'll stick to my Starbucks house blend at $8.50/lb.

JBM=too rich for my blood

[loki]

i'll be there next month, i'll pm you with a price if I can find it. PM me on the 14th of next month to remind me

[forgop]

Originally Posted by loki

i'll be there next month, i'll pm you with a price if I can find it. PM me on the 14th of next month to remind me

You'll find blue mountain coffee in all of the tourist gift shops. Chances are I'm guessing most of what you'll see are the blends that aren't 100% JBM coffee though.

Just an opinion, but for the price there are much better coffees available. I would take a good ethiopian sidamo or yirg over JBM. Not that JBM is not good coffee--if you actually get a quality lot, but for the cost of a pound you could have several pounds of high quality single origin beans.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by forgop

You'll find blue mountain coffee in all of the tourist gift shops. Chances are I'm guessing most of what you'll see are the blends that aren't 100% JBM coffee though.

Anthony Bordain from Travel Channel did a show on Jamaica and he went to the Blue Mountains and did a plantation tour.

I found it interesting that Jamaica is not a coffee consuming country, exports 80% of the Blue Mountain coffee to Japan, 10% to the US, and most of the rest to the remaining buyers, keeping very little in country.

The demand far exceeds the supply.

Personally, I find it good, but not worth seeking and paying the high price.

I'll take most South and Central American beans over JBM any day.

[MarkinAZ]

If you know how to roast your own or know of someone who does roast coffee beans, you may give this well known place a shot:

http://coffeeproject.com/shop/magento/raw-coffee-beans/caribbean-colombia/jamaica-blue-mountain.html

Originally Posted by floydpink

I found it interesting that Jamaica is not a coffee consuming country, exports 80% of the Blue Mountain coffee to Japan, 10% to the US, and most of the rest to the remaining buyers, keeping very little in country.

That is sooooooooo true. Japan bogarts a majority of those beans and has been doing so for many many years too...

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I've never tried it, but Norman at Uncle Beanz carries it and he is reputable in my book

http://www.unclebeanz.com/merchant2/...tegory_Code=RE

I'll second that!

[floydpink]

And they apparantly don't mind washing down the $75 an ounce Kobe beef with an $18 cup of coffee.

Top it off with a high priced Geisha girl and one night in Bangkok makes a tough guy crumble.