The Royal Botanical Gardens, sprawled across 200 acres of land in the Liguanea Plains of urban St Andrew, provided the perfect blend of Jamaican street food and the world’s best Blue Mountain coffee on Saturday, March 7, day three of the 2026 Jamaica Food and Drink Festival (JFDF) at Meet Street and the Market. This year the event was presented in tandem with the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, an innovative partnership, bringing together over 80 vendors.

Tourism Enhancement Fund Executive Director Dr Carey Wallace underscored the significance of this synergy in positioning Jamaica as a premier destination for coffee and gastronomy.

“Other countries may have sun, sea, and sand, but Jamaica has sun, sea, and sand plus coffee, music, and outstanding gastronomy. That is what makes us so special, and it is why our tourism continues to grow year after year,” Wallace said.

The merging of the festivals brought the much-anticipated barista competition to the fore. This year’s title went to Rusean Waite from Café Blue Fontana in Montego Bay, while Ricardo Jackson (Ricardo Jackson Master) and Nickolas Herron (Good Day Cafeteria) secured second and third place, respectively.

The mixology competition saw Randeen Thomas take the top spot, earning $50,000 from Coffee Roasters of Jamaica and $80,000 from J Wray & Nephew. Runner-up Craig Edmondson secured $60,000 from J Wray & Nephew and $30,000 from Coffee Roasters, while third place went to Sean Hopkin, who collected $40,000 and $20,000, respectively, from both sponsors.

Among the diverse array of coffee vendors was first-time exhibitor Léo Moço, principal of Rio by Léo Moço. The Brazilian native expressed his delight at showcasing his unique brews to a broader audience while simultaneously absorbing the rich experience and expertise of the local coffee community.

“I think Jamaica people are very similar to us [Brazilians]. It was amazing to be here, serving my coffee and showing my experience in the industry. I think the customers here they know about coffee, they know about food,” Moço said. “So it is amazing to talk to people [like that].”

NCB Programmes Delivery Officer Lori Whyte welcomed the dual experience highlighting the benefits of combining both festivals into one event.

“It brings together persons that have not experienced Meet Street before and those who have not experienced the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Festival. The merger brings a greater reach. I have never been to the coffee festival, so I got to try different blends of coffee and I think it’s great.”

The atmosphere remained vibrant as DJs Sparks and Delano took to the decks, followed by a live set from reggae artiste Etana, making it a truly memorable and family-friendly occasion.

Photos: Karl Mclarty, Jhordan-Ashlé Newby and Garfield Robinson

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett uses a mortar and pestle to grind coffee as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Jennifer Griffith (left) and Gastronomy Tourism Network Chair Nicola Madden-Greig observe. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Barista Competition third-place winner Nickolas Herron (fourth left), second-place winner Ricardo Jackson (third right) and first-place winner Rusean Waite ( fourth right) were congratulated by (from left) Tourism Enhancement Fund Executive Director Dr Carey Wallace, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Tourism Jennifer Griffith, Tourism Enhancement Fund Director of Linkages Carolyn McDonald-Riley, Gastronomy Tourism Network Chair Nicola Madden-Greig, and Jamaica Vacations Executive Director Joy Roberts.Jhordan-Ashlé Newby.

Journalist Kelesha Williams received a cup of iced coffee from Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Managing Director and CEO Dr Norman Grant.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Rio by Léo Moço principal Léo Moço (right) served a freshly brewed Aeropress coffee to customer service representative Quaine Barrant. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Mixologist competition winner Randeen Thomas (right) was all smiles as he was presented with the symbolic cheque of $80,000 from judges (from left) Mark Fletcher, CEO of Coffee Roasters; Sharman Hinds, J Wray & Nephew Group consultant; and Marsha Grant, senior director, progammes at HEART NSTA. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Educator Ava Lewis enjoyed iced coffee from the Jamaica Mountain Peak booth. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)