Blue Mountain coffee is grown on small farms between roughly 900 m and 1,800 m altitude, in the narrow band of land where the combination of volcanic soil, high rainfall, cool temperatures, and misty cloud cover slows the maturation of the beans. The result is a cup that is notably smooth, with low acidity and a clean, mild flavour. It commands some of the highest prices of any coffee in the world, and the majority of the certified crop is exported to Japan.
Several farms and estate tours are accessible from the Mavis Bank road, including the Craighton Estate and the Mavis Bank Central Factory, where you can see the wet-processing of coffee cherries. The Jablum cooperative, based at Mavis Bank, is one of the largest processors and runs tours by appointment. If you are buying to take home, purchase directly from a farm or an authorised seller — there is a significant amount of fake "Blue Mountain" coffee on the market.