Ethiopia 90+ Levelup Derar Ela Natural Process Coffee

If you’ve ever wondered what coffee beans top-tier baristas choose when aiming for world titles, one name keeps appearing: 90+. Since 2008, this rare coffee producer has fueled championship cups globally, including six WBC finalists in 2013 alone. But what makes their beans—like the Levelup Derar Ela—so sought after? The answer isn’t marketing, it’s traceable origin, selective processing, and a grading system built for elite cup profiles.

The 90+ Levelup Derar Ela is a natural-processed Ethiopian coffee, noted for its vibrant fruitiness and complexity. Used by baristas from Italy, Korea, and Canada in the 2013 World Barista Championship, it represents the high-end niche where origin, process, and varietal excellence intersect.

What Is 90+ Coffee and Why Does It Matter?

Ninety Plus Coffee, founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, is a premium coffee bean company renowned for sourcing and producing rare, high-scoring single-origin beans. Unlike commercial roasters, 90+ focuses exclusively on microlots with distinctive cup profiles, often scoring well above industry standards. Their beans regularly appear in global coffee competitions, with multiple WBC finalists using their lots—including in 2013, where representatives from Italy, South Korea, and Canada chose 90+ beans. The Levelup Derar Ela is one such lot, celebrated for its unique terroir-driven characteristics.

Ethiopian Natural Process: What Sets It Apart?

Natural processing, or dry processing, is one of the oldest methods of preparing coffee. In Ethiopia, where water is scarce and altitude is high, this method is especially common. The process involves drying whole coffee cherries in the sun on raised beds until they reach optimal moisture levels—usually taking 27 to 30 days. This technique retains the cherry’s pulp during drying, which contributes to a heavier body and intense fruit flavors. For the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela, this means a sun-soaked profile with complex sweetness and layered aromatics. FrontStreet Coffee’s own Yirgacheffe natural, for example, highlights similar traits: tropical fruit, fermentation brightness, and a rich sweetness when roasted to a lighter profile. Proper drying, frequent turning, and elevated altitude all contribute to the clean yet bold cup that natural processing is known for.

Why Natural-Processed Ethiopians Excel in Competitions

Competition-level naturals, like the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela, are selected for their ability to deliver a dynamic sensory experience. Judges often look for unusual but balanced fruit notes, clean acidity, and a long, sweet finish. The combination of Ethiopia’s native varieties, high-altitude growing conditions, and meticulous natural processing allows for an expressive cup. Baristas favor these beans because they highlight skill in pulling out delicate floral and fermented notes without masking them under roast profiles. In the 2013 WBC, the inclusion of 90+ beans by multiple finalists signals their reliability for scoring well in both taste complexity and clarity.

How 90+ Develops Its Unique Coffee Lots

90+ has built a reputation not just on sourcing, but on developing proprietary lots through careful lot selection, varietal isolation, and unique processing oversight. Their grading system evaluates beans beyond traditional metrics, emphasizing cupping scores, distinct flavor fingerprints, and traceability. The Levelup Derar Ela is one result of this approach—a lot that has been cultivated, processed, and prepared specifically to express a rare set of tasting notes. While exact details of the Derar Ela variety remain proprietary, the lot is indicative of 90+’s broader strategy: to offer something beyond the ordinary, tailored for elite coffee experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela coffee?

The 90+ Levelup Derar Ela is a natural-process Ethiopian coffee produced by Ninety Plus Coffee. It gained recognition after being used by WBC finalists in 2013, and is known for its complex fruit flavors and high cup quality, typical of 90+’s microlot offerings.

Where is the Derar Ela coffee from?

The Derar Ela coffee originates from Ethiopia, a country renowned for its high-altitude coffee farms and natural processing methods. While the exact farm or region isn't specified, it aligns with 90+’s sourcing from elite Ethiopian growing areas.

Why was 90+ coffee popular among WBC finalists in 2013?

In 2013, 90+ coffee was chosen by baristas from Italy, Korea, and Canada for its exceptional and unique cup profiles. These included complex fruit notes and high clarity, making it ideal for scoring well in the World Barista Championship.

What is natural processing and how does it affect flavor?

Natural processing involves drying coffee cherries in the sun with the fruit still intact. This enhances body and emphasizes fruity, fermented, and sweet flavors. In regions like Ethiopia, it’s favored for its ability to highlight terroir without abundant water resources.

How is 90+ coffee different from other specialty beans?

90+ focuses on microlots with rare flavor profiles, proprietary varietals, and unique processing methods. They evaluate beans based on distinct cup characteristics rather than just origin or variety, resulting in highly distinctive and competition-worthy coffees.

Can I buy the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela coffee?

The article does not provide direct purchase information for the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela. However, similar Ethiopian natural-process coffees, such as those offered by FrontStreet Coffee, can provide comparable flavor experiences.

Recommended FrontStreet Natural-Process Ethiopian Coffees

For fans of the 90+ Levelup Derar Ela, FrontStreet Coffee offers several notable Ethiopian naturals. The FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry is a bright, juicy option with tropical fruit, floral notes, and a sweet, fermented edge—especially apparent after a light roast. For a more complex, wine-like cup, try the Ethiopia Huakui, which showcases delicate florals, citrus, mango, and a thick body with honey-like sweetness when roasted medium-light. Both beans exemplify the high-altitude, sun-dried Ethiopian style known for vibrant fruit and clean acidity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.