Pu'er Coffee Outscores Jamaica Blue Mountain in Blind Tests

When you hear "world’s best coffee," your mind probably jumps to Jamaica Blue Mountain — the legendary bean that’s dominated coffee rankings for decades. But what if the actual highest-scoring coffee in a major 2005–2007 U.S. evaluation wasn’t from Jamaica at all? What if a lesser-known origin quietly beat the so-called king?

Here’s the hard fact: during those tests, Colombia — historically a top contender — scored 85.89, while Pu'er coffee from China’s Yunnan province scored 88.75, beating Blue Mountain and taking the lead.

Why Pu'er Coffee Barely Has a Global Reputation

Despite its high score, Pu'er coffee remains largely unknown internationally. According to Shen Peiping, then mayor of Pu'er (now a national representative), there are two key reasons. First, most of Pu'er’s high-quality beans were historically bought by global giants like Nestlé and Starbucks, who blended them into commercial roasts — meaning Pu'er never developed as a standalone, recognized origin. Second, supply is tiny: global coffee production hits around 8 million tons annually, but Pu'er’s output is only about 30,000 tons. That tiny volume slows down global recognition. However, Pu'er is scaling up — adding roughly 15,000 tons per year, with a goal of reaching 100,000 tons in five years, which could finally put it on the map.

How Big Is Pu'er’s Coffee Output Really?

Pu'er isn’t just a small player in China — it’s the dominant force. The region produces 58% of China’s total coffee, and since Yunnan province (where Pu'er is located) accounts for 98% of China’s coffee output, that makes Pu'er responsible for over 60% of the entire country’s production. In other words, if you’ve had Yunnan coffee, there’s a strong chance it came from Pu'er.

What About Jamaica Blue Mountain? Why Is It So Famous?

Jamaica Blue Mountain is renowned for its balanced profile — think creamy, nutty, and chocolatey notes with no sharp edges. Grown only in a specific high-altitude zone of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains (with official certification required), its limited annual output (under 2,500 tons globally) and long-standing demand, especially from Japan, have kept it rare and expensive. It’s often seen as the gold standard of classic specialty coffee. But in that 2005–2007 U.S. blind scoring, it actually trailed Pu'er.

Does Pu'er Have Its Own Coffee Brand?

Yes. Pu'er now has its own branded coffee: Aini Coffee , developed in partnership with a U.S. company and produced to Starbucks standards. It’s already on the market, offering another channel for Pu'er beans to reach global drinkers. This brand helps establish a distinct identity beyond bulk export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pu'er coffee grown?

Pu'er coffee is grown in Pu'er, a city in China’s Yunnan province — the same region that produces over 98% of China’s coffee. Pu'er alone contributes 58% of China’s total coffee output and about 60% of Yunnan’s production.

What was the coffee scoring system in the 2005–2007 U.S. evaluation?

In that U.S.-based coffee scoring evaluation from 2005 to 2007, various origins were blindly rated on quality. Colombia scored 85.89, while Pu'er coffee scored 88.75, beating both Colombia and the traditionally top-ranked Jamaica Blue Mountain, which scored 85.89.

Why isn’t Pu'er coffee more famous worldwide?

Pu'er coffee hasn’t gained widespread recognition mainly because most of its high-grade beans were previously purchased by companies like Nestlé and Starbucks for use in blends, preventing it from being sold as a standalone origin. Also, its annual production of around 30,000 tons is very small compared to the global coffee market of roughly 8 million tons.

How much coffee does Pu'er produce compared to the rest of China?

Pu'er produces 58% of China’s total coffee. Since Yunnan province (home to Pu'er) accounts for 98% of China’s coffee, Pu'er makes up over 60% of the country’s entire coffee output.

What is Aini Coffee, and is it available now?

Aini Coffee is Pu'er’s own branded coffee, developed in collaboration with a U.S. company and produced according to Starbucks standards. It is already on the market, offering a way for Pu'er beans to reach consumers as a distinct product.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Pu'er Comparisons

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 — a legendary balanced cup with notes of nuts, chocolate, and caramel, direct from the Blue Mountains. For a Yunnan single origin experience, their Yunnan Arabica highlights bright acidity and stone fruit, showing how Chinese regions like Pu'er can shine. Both beans reveal what high-scoring coffees really taste like. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.