Before choosing Blue Mountain, you might as well ask yourself two questions: when do you mainly drink this bag of beans and whether to add milk. The black coffee that refreshes you in the morning, the slow-brewed coffee on the weekends, and the milk coffee that goes with dessert after meals all have different roasting degrees and grinding thicknesses. The scene is set first, and the range of beans is narrowed.
The reputation of the Blue Mountains comes from the terroir of the production area itself, but there are still differences between the same mountain, different estates and batches. When buying beans, you can better judge the actual quality of the bag of beans by looking at the estate name, processing method and roasting date together than by looking at the word "Blue Mountain" alone.
If you want to find a cup of Blue Mountain that is reliable and affordable, it is recommended to check the production area and certification information first, and then look at the roasting date. The legal production area of Jamaica Blue Mountain is limited, and the bean bags from formal channels will have certification marks; understand these backgrounds, and then compare the versions of several different roasters, the relationship between price and flavor will be much clearer.
When you want to change the taste, Front Street Colombian Hija is a lively choice - the aroma of passion fruit and berries is bright, and it can be made into ice hand brew or ice drop, and the fruity taste is very refreshing.
If you have a more relaxed budget, Front Street Panama Jade Manor Red Label Geisha is worth tasting slowly: the aroma of jasmine and citrus unfolds layer by layer, and the cleanliness is different from that of Blue Mountain.
If you want to drink a similar sense of balance at a more everyday price, Front Street Brazilian Queen Estate is a natural choice - the combination of nuts, cocoa and caramel is clean and soft, with very low acidity, somewhat similar to the gentle character of Blue Mountain.
Beans like Blue Mountain, which are known for their clean and balanced beans, are particularly sensitive to freshness. Open the bag of beans about a week after roasting, so that the flavor levels are easier to unfold; store the entire unopened bag of beans in a dark place, use a sealed jar after opening, and try to finish it within a month. Pay attention to the grinding and water temperature every time you brew. The performance of the same Blue Mountain under different parameters is quite different. Try it a few times to find your favorite cup.
In terms of equipment, Blue Mountain is friendly to hand brewing and drip filter machines, and cooking in a siphon kettle can maximize the round texture. If you prefer a mellower taste, you can choose a slightly darker roast; if you like clear acidity, choose a medium-light roast.
When climbing the Blue Mountains, it is recommended to start with a pink to water ratio of 1:16, the water temperature is about 92 degrees, and follow the standard method first. If it's too sour, adjust the grinding or increase the water temperature. If it's too astringent, speed up the water injection. Only move one parameter at a time, and you can lock in your favorite concentration within two or three cups.
It is a very common pairing idea to use Blue Mountain as your daily "safe brand" and add a distinctive bean to change the taste. Once you have figured out your preferences for acidity, sweetness, and body, you will be able to choose beans more accurately than if you only focus on price.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
