Ninety Plus Select Roasters Callout

If you’re a roaster chasing excellence and want your skills recognised by one of the most respected names in specialty coffee, now’s your moment. Ninety Plus is hosting a rare opportunity to have your roast judged not just for quality—but for how truly it represents their complex, high-scoring beans.

During their Shanghai exhibition (March 31 to April 3, 2014), Ninety Plus will handpick a small group of elite Chinese roasters—dubbed 'Ninety Plus Select Roasters'—whose work they deem most representative of their top-tier coffees. Only a few will be chosen.

What Ninety Plus Is Looking For

Ninety Plus is searching for roasters who demonstrate both deep understanding of their beans and the technical artistry to unlock every subtle flavour layer. It’s not enough to get the basics right—the winning roasts must reveal the full spectrum of taste that Ninety Plus beans are known for.

The Selection Process

From March 31 to April 3, 2014, during their Shanghai exhibition, Ninety Plus will evaluate roaster submissions. A shortlist of roasters will be featured in the World Barista Championship pavilion at the Hotelex trade show. Their coffees will be brewed using Slayer and Alpha Dominche equipment—the exact machines Ninety Plus uses for their own exhibitions. These are not just any machines; they’re the tools Ninety Plus trusts to present their coffees fairly.

Why Equipment Matters

According to Ninety Plus’ Steve, only the best brewing and roasting setups can truthfully reveal a coffee’s profile. While Ninety Plus beans have distinctive flavour characteristics and good roasting usually yields good results, it takes exceptional roasting paired with top-tier brewing equipment to unveil every one of the coffee’s nuanced tasting notes—possibly dozens more than you’re used to experiencing.

What Happens Next

The final selected roasters will be publicly recognised as Ninety Plus Select Roasters. They’ll also be invited to roast for future Ninety Plus events as official partners. This is more than recognition—it’s an endorsement from one of the most exacting names in specialty coffee.

How to Enter

Details on how to submit your roast and register for the selection process are available here: http://www.latitude22coffee.com/2014/03/03/green/ninetyplus-coffee/2903

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the Ninety Plus Select Roasters program?

Chinese roasters are eligible to apply. The program seeks out skilled roasters based in China who can present the most representative roasts of Ninety Plus top-tier green coffee beans.

Where and when is the selection taking place?

The selection will occur during Ninety Plus’s exhibition in Shanghai from March 31 to April 3, 2014, with selected roasters showcased at the World Barista Championship pavilion in Hotelex.

What equipment will be used to evaluate the roasts?

The shortlisted roasts will be brewed using Slayer and Alpha Dominche machines, which are the same equipment Ninety Plus uses for showcasing their beans at exhibitions.

What criteria will be used to judge the roasts?

Rosters will be judged based on their ability to express the full flavour complexity of Ninety Plus beans, requiring both deep understanding of the green coffee and advanced roasting skill.

What happens to the selected roasters after the event?

The final selected roasters will be recognised as official Ninety Plus Select Roasters and may be invited to roast for future Ninety Plus events.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Ninety Plus Fans

For fans of complex, high-scoring coffees like those from Ninety Plus, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera (Humbera, Ethiopia)—renowned for its floral, stone fruit, and citrus layers, a true specialty single origin. Another excellent choice is FrontStreet’s Kenya Little Tomato, which offers vibrant acidity, sweet berry tones, and a juicy body. Both beans highlight the kind of intricate flavour profiles that Ninety Plus is known for. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.