Jamaica Blue Mountain is the coffee the literary Bond names, and it is worth knowing what the name means. Real Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee comes from a single small area on the eastern side of the island, and only coffee grown there is officially certified under the name.
In the books
Bond has it with breakfast in Jamaica at the start of Chapter 17 of Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die, where it is described as the most delicious in the world. It returns in Jeffery Deaver’s Carte Blanche (2011), where he drinks a fiercely strong cup in his Chelsea flat in Chapter 6, and in Solo, where he would have happily killed for a cup in Chapter 9.
Buying it now
The point is the label, not the price. Look for 100 per cent Jamaica Blue Mountain, certified, rather than a blend that borrows the name. Blue Mountain Coffee sells certified single-estate coffees and a sample pack, which is the sensible way to find the roast you like before committing to a bag. Another retailer in our research, Plantation Blue, states its coffee is grown at 3,000 to 5,500 feet and roasted in small batches. We would brew it strong, as Bond does, and without milk.
The films are on our films page, with related titles in books and media.
Specifications
| Origin | Blue Mountain region, eastern Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Look for | 100 per cent Jamaica Blue Mountain, certified |
| Seller in our research | Blue Mountain Coffee (single estates, sample pack) |
| Price | Varies by estate and bag size; see the seller |
Questions
Which Bond books mention Blue Mountain coffee?
Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die, in Chapter 17, and Jeffery Deaver’s Carte Blanche, in Chapter 6. Solo also mentions it, in Chapter 9.
How do I know it is genuine?
The coffee must be grown in the Blue Mountain region, and reputable sellers state their certification and the estate.
