The steep mountains of Jamaica provide a welcome respite from the heat below, while also providing perfect conditions for the cultivation of some of the world’s most expensive coffee. Rare plants and tropical wildlife flourish with the abundance of rainfall each year. This environment seems to be ideal for coffee bean production, an industry that has flourished since the 1800’s, when plantations and slave labor were the order of the day.

Although no longer plagued by the scourge of slavery, coffee production still thrives today, although there are distinct differences between the consistent qualities of the coffee crops produced. All Jamaican coffee is not the same. Careful research should preclude the paying of top dollar for any variety of Blue Mountain Coffee.

It is easy to confuse the name variations of Blue Mountain Coffee and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. In many circles, these two brand names are marketed as the same product. The only confusion that results is due to the fact that Blue Mountain Coffee beans are sometimes blended with other coffees, to increase their quality. It is said that this does not occur with certified Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Hence, the distinction between the two labels.

Coffee purists insist that each pot must contain freshly ground beans, or the act of drinking each cup is a total waste of time. These coffee aficionados could spend a similar amount of money to properly store their coffee beans and grinder that a wine connoisseur would invest in his or her collection. This “connoisseur” approach is similar to the passion with which one collects fine wines. For those willing to properly research the various labels of Blue Mountain Coffee, the rewards are paid daily, in the form of a cup of coffee unlike any other in the world.