Ninety Plus NistuRuz Washed Process Coffee Beans

When elite baristas and champion competitors seek out rare, high-impact coffee beans for their routines, they don’t settle for generic lots. They want something with identifiable origin character, exceptional cleanliness, and a flavor profile that stands out under scrutiny — and often, that leads them to Ninety Plus.

Ninety Plus’s NistuRuz coffee is a washed-process offering from their Level Up series, notable for its high fruit flavor intensity, classified under their proprietary W2, H2, or N2 system — not by traditional processing labels, but by actual sensory results.

Who Is Ninety Plus and Why Do Coffee Competitors Use Them?

Founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, Ninety Plus quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the rarest and most distinct coffee beans in the world. Since 2008, their beans have appeared in competitions globally. By 2013, six WBC (World Barista Championship) finalists — from Italy, Korea, and Canada — had used Ninety Plus beans, a testament to their cup quality and consistency under pressure.

What Is the ProfileProcessing System?

Rather than adhering to conventional farming or processing norms, Ninety Plus developed the ProfileProcessing system. This approach customizes the growing, harvesting, and processing of each coffee variety to bring out its specific fruit characteristics. Through repeated cupping and adjustments, they refine each batch to achieve a targeted flavor profile, making every origin and cultivar express itself fully.

How Does Ninety Plus Classify Its Coffee Differently?

Instead of labeling coffees simply as washed, honey, or natural, Ninety Plus uses a flavor-first classification. Their system includes three tiers: W2 (washed-style), H2 (honey-style), and N2 (natural-style), but these do not indicate the actual processing method. A coffee may be processed via washed method yet fall under the H2 category due to its intense fruitiness. This means a “washed” coffee like NistuRuz could be graded as H2 or N2 based on its sensory profile, not its drying technique.

What Is Special About the NistuRuz Washed Coffee?

NistuRuz is part of the Level Up series and is processed using the traditional washed method. In washed processing, coffee cherries are sorted by buoyancy, pulped to remove the skin, then fermented to break down the mucilage before being washed clean and dried. This method typically results in a cleaner cup with higher acidity, more pronounced floral and citrus notes, and a lighter body compared to naturals or honeys. For NistuRuz, the washed process helps highlight its inherent fruit characteristics while maintaining clarity and vibrancy.

Why Does Processing Matter So Much in Specialty Coffee?

Processing doesn’t just remove the fruit — it fundamentally alters the chemical composition of the seed inside. Washed processing, for instance, reduces sugar content through extended fermentation and water soaking, which lowers sweetness but increases perceived acidity and accentuates aromatic compounds. This is why washed coffees often taste brighter, more acidic, and more transparent. Ninety Plus takes this further by managing every variable — from harvest ripeness to fermentation timing — to guide the coffee toward a precise flavor goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ninety Plus Level Up series?

The Level Up series is a collection of coffees from Ninety Plus that represent their most refined and high-scoring lots. These beans are processed with meticulous care to highlight unique flavor profiles, often used in professional competitions for their distinct cup character.

What does the W2, H2, N2 classification mean?

This is Ninety Plus’s proprietary flavor grading system. W2 refers to washed-style flavor intensity, H2 to honey-style, and N2 to natural-style. The classification is based on the fruitiness and aroma profile of the coffee, not the actual processing method used.

Is NistuRuz a washed coffee?

Yes, NistuRuz is processed using the traditional washed method, which involves removing the coffee cherry’s skin and fermenting the mucilage off before washing and drying the beans. This method typically results in a clean, bright, and acidic cup.

Why did WBC competitors use Ninety Plus beans?

Competitors choose Ninety Plus beans for their exceptional and consistent cup quality, unique flavor profiles, and the ability to highlight origin characteristics. These beans often perform well under the intense scrutiny of professional judging panels.

How does washed processing affect coffee flavor?

Washed processing tends to produce a cleaner, more acidic, and brighter cup by removing the fruit mucilage through fermentation and water washing. It reduces sugars, which can lower sweetness but enhance clarity and aromatic complexity.

Recommended FrontStreet Washed Coffee Beans

For fans of clean, bright, and fruit-forward washed coffees like Ninety Plus NistuRuz, try FrontStreet’s Yirgacheffe offering, which highlights jasmine floral notes and vibrant citrus acidity. Another excellent choice is the Kenya Little Tomato, known for its juicy profile reminiscent of tomato, plum, and blackcurrant, achieved through a refined double-washed process. Both beans showcase the clarity and complexity that washed processing can deliver. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.