BEHIND THE CRAFT
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Coffee Craft: Roasting the Beans

Roasting transforms green coffee into the aromatic brown beans that we purchase, either whole or already ground.

To ensure freshness, roasting is always done near the country of sale to the coffee drinker. All The East India Company’s coffee beans are roasted in London.

Where once it was a manual process using copper pans, roasting is now done in machines that maintain a temperature of about 550 degrees Fahrenheit. The beans are kept moving throughout the entire process to avoid burning and when they reach an internal temperature of about 400 degrees, they begin to turn brown and the caffeol, or oil, locked inside the beans begins to emerge. This process, called pyrolysis is at the very heart of roasting.  It is what produces the specific complex flavours and aroma of the coffee we drink.

Expert roasters use their experience to stop the roast at the optimal time to achieve the required output.

FGCO12112

Jamaican Blue Mountain Roasted Coffee Beans 250g

Net Weight: 250g

£140.00
Perhaps the world's most prized of coffee beans, our elegant Jamaican Blue Mountain beans deliver a sophisticated and well-balanced cup with a floral aroma and a velvety smoothness.

The East India Company - Lifestyle

Coffee

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£140.00
SPECIFICATION DELIVERY & RETURNS
Product Detail Experience How to Ingredients
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the world’s finest. And it has a long background.

Today’s coffee plants are all descended from a single Arabica plant brought to the island as a gift in 1723. This tree was planted at the base of St. Andrew and just 9 years later the first coffee was exported. Soon the trees spread uncontrolled into the fertile valleys of the Blue Mountains, north of Kingston. The industry took off.

However, changes in the economic environment, including the end of slavery, trade agreements with Britain and poor management, meant that production declined, and the Jamaican coffee industry never achieved scale and it remains small now, accounting for just 0.1% of world coffee.

However, small is beautiful - The Jamaican Coffee Board created in the 1950s, were enlightened enough to be rigorous in quality control, with the resultant coffee of extremely high quality and commanding a high price.
Jamaica is fortunate to having perfect coffee growing conditions: a warm temperature all year around with reliable rainfall; potassium and nitrogen-rich, well-drained volcanic soil; and high altitude providing cooler temperatures and shading.

The result is that at 10 months, the cherries take twice as long to ripen as other coffee producing regions. Accordingly, the bean is more complex, with a mild flavour with low bitterness.

To be officially certified as Blue Mountain, the coffee must be grown above 900 metres in protected plantations. Every single shipment of coffee that leaves Jamaica is tested to make sure it meets the requirements of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

“Blue Mountain Coffee - the most delicious in the world”, said James Bond, 007.
A clean, subtle and nutty brew with a balance of aroma and a smooth, mild acidity. Known for its signature sweet after taste.
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is versatile when it comes to food pairings. A balanced flavour and low bitterness means it accompanies many foods. Great with a bacon sandwich and also with pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.
The following guidance assumes the use of a cafetiere – we can provide other grinds if you prefer.

Freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to a course grind.

Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 220ml [an average mug or large cup size].

Filtered water is best, poured on the coffee just under the boiling point.

Brew for 3 to 5 minutes.
If you would like you coffee beans to be freshly ground by our team, please add your requirement at the checkout.

Grind level options are:

1: Extra Fine - for Turkish
3: Fine - for Espresso Machine
5: Medium - for Drip
7: Medium-Course - for Home Coffee Maker
9: Course - for Cafetiere
Origin: Jamaica

Bean: 100% Arabica

Body: 4/5

Acidity: 4/5

Roast: Full City Dark Roast
We are happy to grind your beans for you of course - your ground coffee will remain at its best for a few weeks once opened. If you plan to use over an extended period, we recommend buying whole beans and to then grind only the exact amount required for each drinking occasion. Using a 'burr' grinder avoids heating up the beans as regular blade grinders do.

Store your beans or your ground coffee in an airtight container, in a cool [not refrigerated], dark place, away from other flavours. This will best preserve your coffee’s freshness and flavours.

Stories

The Story of the French Press

A little like the tea bag, what came to be known as the French Press was probably invented by accident.

Legend has it that an unnamed Frenchmen was preparing a pot of coffee on an open fire in the 1850s, when he realised he forgotten to add the coffee first. Adding it later meant the coffee grounds sat on the surface and wouldn’t brew properly. So, with a metal stick, he pushed a small piece of metal screen to the bottom, carrying with it the coffee grounds. Expecting the worst, the coffee was the best he had ever had. A new way of brewing coffee was invented.
Maybe that’s what happened.

What is true is the first patent issued for a coffee making device that closely resembles the modern French Press was by Attilio Callimani in 1929, an Italian from Milan, by which time Italian’s referred to it as a Cafetiere.

Nowadays, cafetieres are generally made with Borosilicate glass, which is very strong, together with stainless steel. It’s a cost effective and easy way of making an outstanding cup of coffee.

Our spirit delivers no ordinary products

  • FAQ

    What is the difference between Robusta beans and Arabica beans?
    Robusta and Arabica are simply the 2 main species of the coffee plant. Arabica is thought to be indigenous to Arabia and grows best at higher altitudes with shade and rainfall required, thus tending to be a little more expensive than the easier to grow Robusta. Arabica now accounts for the majority of coffee consumed, because the flavour is smooth and has a natural sweetness, with chocolate and berry undertones, whereas robusta can be quite bitter with a slightly burnt after taste - but is higher in caffeine and produces a better crema in an espresso.

    What sort of grind should I buy – I know there are different grades. Or should I buy beans?
    If you are an occasional coffee drinker then you probably don’t have a coffee bean grinder, in which case, the grind to buy depends on how you intend to brew your coffee. A French Press or Cafetiere requires a course grind and a longer brew, whilst making in the Turkish style means extra fine is required for this distinctive very strong brew. Do make sure you keep your ground coffee in a cool, dark place, well wrapped up. A coffee grinder can be good investment that allows you to buy beans which stay fresher for longer.

  • Delivery & Returns

    UK Standard Delivery: £3.95
    UK Next Day Delivery (mainland UK only): £9.95 (Order before 12pm)
    International Delivery is available, please see our delivery page for details. For more information and Terms & Conditions, please see our Delivery page.

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