Why Starbucks in Jamaica Doesn’t Sell Jamaican Coffee

Years after Starbucks recommitted itself to incorporate Jamaican coffee into its local offerings, the reality tells a different story.

Walk into any Starbucks store in Jamaica today, and one thing is constant: it does not sell Jamaican coffee. This contradicts the very intention of its entry into the market back in 2017 and its recommitment to offer local beans in 2020.

At the time of Starbucks’ expansion into Jamaica, the company expressed excitement about using local Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffee varieties. As local franchise holder and businessman Ian Dear noted, “Starbucks has proudly sourced Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee since the early days of its operations…and it continues to be a key feature in the Starbucks Reserve line of small-lot coffees in the U.S. and select international markets”.

When Starbucks first entered Jamaica, it briefly offered local coffee during its first year, albeit at prices nearly double those of supermarket brands. The challenge, however, lay in sourcing quality beans at a competitive price.

Compounding the problem, all the beans were shipped to Seattle for roasting and bagging, only to be shipped back to Jamaica. This process made local coffee prohibitively expensive for the Jamaican market.

Despite the initial excitement, none of the Starbucks locations in Jamaica currently offer Jamaican-grown coffee. This missed opportunity has been a disappointment for the local coffee industry, which had hoped that Starbucks’ presence would lead to increased international exposure and local job creation. Instead, Jamaican farmers and stakeholders are left questioning the unfulfilled promises, as Starbucks continues to rely on imported coffee, leaving its local varieties absent from the menu. The goal of supporting the Jamaican economy and promoting its world-renowned coffee remains unrealized.

The only thing Jamaica based is its Been There Travel mugs.