Sadly, the Caribbean region lies in the heart of the hurricane belt, putting it at risk to wholesale crop devastation. That is exactly what happened in the exceptionally nasty 2004 season. Four storms in rapid succession–Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne–tore through the islands and Florida, making good on the notion of a worst-case scenario.
Jamaican Blue Mountain, one of the most superb coffees of a region already rich in splendid beans, suffered badly. Approximately 60 percent of the Jamaican crop was destroyed during the course of these storms. Fortunately, the upcoming season should bring this spectacular coffee back into full circulation.
Like other coffees in Central America and the Caribbean, Jamaican Blue Mountain is an Arabica bean. Called by many the world's most perfectly balanced mix of acidity, body, and flavor, the coffee is smooth and delightful. It grows amidst the island's majestic string of hills at between about 2,000 …