Does anyone if they are still there? I would like to get some coffee beans
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Does anyone if they are still there? I would like to get some coffee beans
Big Roy is still there and roasting beans. :)
On my list along with various granny sauces. mmmmmmm
Where exactly is Café Goa? We'll be staying at Grand Pineapple...thanks..
Kathy
Anyone know how much for a pound ?
How much for a pound of coffee?
It was $20 last time I bought there. It is high mountain, not Blue Mountain. That was over a year ago, we didn't stop in there our last two trips.
I paid $25 last week
tonyred
..was it blue mountain
From the Grand Pineapple cross the road to moras side walk down the sidewalk towards town, can't miss it, if you see the purple building you went too far. Not for from there.
I'm not saying this is 100% true but most Blue Mountain is accounted for and much of what is said to be Blue Mountain isn't. 80% of ALL JBM goes to Japan. Also (I roast coffee), beans have to sorted as to size and quality. Rustic roasted Jamaican coffee is often done in a large steel pan over a wood fire with the beans stirred with an oar. This gives it a unique taste that many enjoy but it will not taste like that cup you fell in love with at the expensive coffee shop back home. If that's what you want, go to the Hi-Lo (skip the expensive duty-free stores). For the money, I'd buy High Mountain for myself but you may want to treat yourself. Also make sure you're not buying a dark roast, you'll never taste the quality. Real Jamaican Blue Mountain (Wallenford, Jablum, Mavis Bank, Coffee Roasters of Jamaica) has a sweetness that is unique and shows itself best roasted to a City or City+ (medium roast). It should never taste strong, harsh, or bitter i.e. NEVER like Starbucks. Real JBM is very mild. If you can, try some of Big Roys or Thunders or Lion of Zion by the cup and if you like it, buy it. Buying on the beach is hit or miss but look at the bean color. Ideally it should be uniform and a dull chocolate brown. Varied shadings is not good nor are beans that are oily and black (if you like Starbucks, buy that-don't waste your money on $$$$ beans). I'm amazed at the amount, and I'd say it is the majority of coffee in Negril, that is instant. Oh yeah, if it is real JBM it will have an official Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica logo on it. You can crush a few beans, pour boiling water over it, wait a few minutes and slurp the coffee water with a spoon. You won't want to drink it made this way but you will taste if it will make a good tasting coffee. Good luck. Don't forget, you can buy the cheapest coffee you can get and it will taste great with some Overproof Rum Cream in it. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by negrilmaven
Big Roy said it was blue mountain. We have been going to Negril since 1979 and it is very good.
I'd also like to give a big up for Roy's coffee (Cafe Goa) - cannot say whether it is High or Blue Mountain but I thought it was very good. And I'd like to advise I had a very bad experience buying two bags of what was supposed to be Blue Mountain at Mobay airport coffee store two years ago - spent a lot of money for stuff that I had tothrow away - it had a musty smell and tasted worse.
Ironic that I bought the airport store coffee as gifts because Roy doesn't do pretty packaging. So coffee Igot for myself from Roy in clear plastic bags was excellent.. But beautiful packaged gift bags from airport seemed spoiled.
best to buy blue mountain on line of that's one wants ($$$$$). . . even the stuff they say is blue mountain at the airport is not . . . just saying . . .
It's high mountain. A lot of locals don't like to recognize the distinction.
The real Blue Mountain Coffee as many of you know has a really great and unique flavor. BM is grown at between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level. High Mountain is grown at less than 3,000. The growing conditions such as soil and climate are considerable different between the two and hence quality and flavor. many vendors will claim their coffee is BM when in fact it isn't. In the USA coffee called 100% BM Mavis Bank can cost upwards of $50USD per pound. Is it really what they say it is??? Who knows. Only sure way is to visit the Blue Mountains in JA and visit a coffee plantation in Mavis Bank and vicinity and buy your coffee there. Many small growers (roadside vendors) over there will bargain with you on price usually unroasted beans. The bottom line is that JA coffee comes in many forms, regardless of it's name if you like the taste that is all that matters. Finding fresh authentic 100% Blue Mountain Coffee in Negril probably is a challenge and an expensive one at that.
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MilwaukeeMike gives great advice! I only buy green beans now, I have a small roaster, but tend to roast all my beans in a stainless steel dog bowl with a heat gun (yes the kind you use to take wallpaper off with and such) and a wooden spoon.....can roast it by sight, sound, and smell now...only way to drink good fresh coffee once you get used to it! I tried to buy some green beans in Negril a couple years ago....from a guy on the beach, don't remember his name but he sometimes has his daughter with him? Maybe someone knows him? Anyway, I prepaid him 2000JA for a pound of BM green promised to me but didn't see him again....I wasn't to broken up about not getting it though, even if he beat me out of the money, it will find me in Negril time I'm sure! I will be sure to check out Big Roy next time I'm in Negril and pick his brain and hopefully pick up some roasting tips!
Years ago we bought beans I would think were BLue Mtn. All I know was they gave you a zing, like cleaning the house until 2:00 without breakfast zing. We were told that the Jamaicans only drank it for wakes, when family and friends and lots of long hours of cooking where in order.
Not sure what to say about that. Caffeine level is dictated by the roast for the most part, which has nothing to do with Blue Mountain certification. Dark roast has less caffeine than light roast.
great pics . . . brings tears to one's eyes in real life . . .breathtaking!!!
Has anyone stayed up in the Blue Mountains at a coffee plantation recently?? I would love to stay a few days there before heading to Negril on my next visit! How cool would that be for a coffee and Jamaica enthusiast!?
As I'm sure butch knows, coffee is at its peak from when it is 3 or 4 days old up to about 2 weeks old. What is sold at the airport and duty free stores could be a year or two old. They have a best by date on that is just ridiculous. I've seen some two years in the future. I toured a coffee factory (no cheap prices) and I was surprised that ground coffee was a little cheaper than whole bean. Since that involves an extra step I was puzzled. He confided in me that they used quakers, pales, and bits, all coffee defects when they grind the beans so unground is a much higher quality bean. If you go for a visit to the South Coast, the town of Santa Cruz has some decent green beans for sale at the market but no matter what you are told, they are not Blue Mountain. PNG, Papua New Guinea coffee, are offshoots from JBM beans planted in the 1920's. Excellent tasting coffee, but it does not have that silky mouthfeel that JBM gives you. It would be my first choice after real Kona for an island tasty coffee.
Big Roy puts out a nice product never been disappointed in all the years he has been at that location.
His coffee is now 25usd a pound
Quote:
Originally Posted by butch
Visit Old Tavern Coffee and stay at Prince Valley.....both are a cheap ride up from Kingston on a route bus or Prince Valley can pick you up in town. Avoid Rafjam, I once gave them a thumbs up but now a triple thumbs down. Old Tavern sells at about $50 a pound and it's f-ing mint! The tour of their tiny place only takes an hour or two....on and Prince Valley grows as well but in my opinion both are a must do. I have a bunch of youtube videos of my travels in the Blue Mountains if you search some might be a spoiler. Oh....you will love it up in the mountains, almost zero tourist type of stuff(bullsh!T)....local prices and no beggy beggy. Stock up on supermarket stuff before heading up since there are not many options up there.