Helping Jamaica Rebuild — One Cup at a Time

Every year, our team at York Coffee Emporium eagerly awaits the arrival of our seasonal batch of Jamaica Blue Mountain — one of the most sought-after coffees in the world.

Sourced through our long-standing partners at Small Farmers Coffee, it’s a coffee that’s become something of a legend in our roastery: smooth, rich, and balanced, with a gentle sweetness and an unmistakable taste of the Blue Mountains themselves. Each harvest is a reminder of Jamaica’s remarkable coffee heritage — and of the hard-working farmers who bring it to life.

But this year, things are different.

On 28 October 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica. It tore through the island with winds of over 180 mph, devastating homes, communities, and farms — including those in the highlands where Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is grown. For many small farmers, the damage is still being counted. Roads and infrastructure have been destroyed, crops flattened, and processing facilities left without power or water.

Our friends at Small Farmers Coffee, who work directly with independent coffee growers across the Blue Mountain region, are right in the middle of this. We’ve reached out to them — but we also know they have far bigger things to worry about right now than chasing coffee shipments. Their priority, quite rightly, is their people, their families, and their community.

So, while we wait to hear how they are and whether this year’s crop will make it to us, we’re turning our attention to what we can do.

Supporting Jamaica Through Coffee

This Christmas, we’ll be donating £1 from every bag of our Christmas Blend to Jamaica Aid, or whichever official relief fund is established to support the island’s recovery. If you’ve ever enjoyed a cup of Jamaica Blue Mountain — or simply appreciate how much care goes into growing and roasting great coffee — we invite you to join us in giving a little something back.

Our Christmas Blend has always been about warmth and generosity — the spirit of the season in a cup. This year, that spirit takes on new meaning. Every purchase will directly help those affected by Hurricane Melissa, providing vital support to farmers and families rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.

Why Jamaica Blue Mountain Matters

Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee isn’t just famous — it’s symbolic. The beans are grown in one of the most beautiful and challenging coffee regions in the world, where mist-covered peaks rise over 2,000 metres and volcanic soil nurtures some of the smoothest, most delicate coffee you’ll ever taste.

But it’s the people behind it — the small farmers, the pickers, the roasters, the families who’ve tended these slopes for generations — that make it truly special. Without them, there is no Blue Mountain coffee.

We may not yet know if this year’s batch will reach us in time for Christmas, or even at all. What we do know is that Jamaica will rebuild — and we want to be part of that story.

So, as you stock up on your festive coffee this year, choose a blend that does a little good along the way. Whether you’re gifting it, brewing it, or savouring it yourself, every bag of our Christmas Blend will help support Jamaica’s small coffee-farming communities as they recover from one of the strongest storms ever to hit the island.

Because sometimes, a simple cup of coffee can make the world of difference.