I’ve had a number of people ask me if I would stock authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. I love authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain. It is one of the most flavorful and smooth coffees on the market. But sadly, I don’t stock it and I don’t plan to. Here’s why.
The coffee industry is very economically complex. Unlike most other industries, coffee prices are not dependent on quality. In fact, there are crazy delicious beans that are quite inexpensive and really bad beans that are crazy expensive. It usually comes down to two things: international trade/labor costs and the negotiation of the farmers/suppliers and the distributors.
When it comes to Jamaican coffees there are two things at play. First, the labor costs are much higher than most other countries. This does not mean that other countries and regions are paying their labor force unfairly.,1 but it just means that in Jamaica, the labor costs are much higher. Second, without going into the different ways that coffee is harvested throughout the world, the way that the farm workers harvest in Jamaica is more labor-intensive. So those two things combined make for a much more expensive coffee.
So how much more is it? Well, the cheapest cost I can find (that’s my cost before roasting and packaging), is $35.99/lb. I don’t know anyone in my area who would pay even close to that for a pound of coffee. And that’s just the cost. I’d have to hike the price up to make somewhat of a profit, and even then the profit wouldn’t be worth the cost to purchase and produce. So, as much as I’d like to have some amazing Jamaican beans in my portfolio, it just isn’t worth it.
And in case you are wondering, Kona coffee is expensive for the same reason. Kona, however, is a bean from Hawaii, so the coffee producers have US minimum wage, benefits, and state regulations on top of the normal costs such as packaging and shipping.
So what about Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kona blends at Costco or Kwik Trip that are quite affordable? It’s not a matter of economics. It’s a matter of marketing. Look at the labels. There are no Kona or Blue Mountain beans in those bags. They are just blends: beans from all over the world that passed the test of resembling the Blue Mountain and Kona profiles. But they are just that they aren’t the real thing and won’t come close to the rich profiles of either.
I’ll admit, Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kona beans are good but not $40+ good per pound. You can get an amazing flavor at a much lower price point. Check out our online store for available options.
- In fact, if you purchase free trade or other certified coffee, there are regulations in place to ensure that workers and farmers are getting paid fairly according to their local economy. ↩︎
New Morning Mercies Coffee 