What Is NistuRuz? Ethiopia’s Unique Coffee From Ninety Plus

When elite baristas and champion roasters reach for a singular coffee bean that breaks the mold—something with vibrant fruit depth, experimental processing, and rare genetic potential—they often turn to Ninety Plus. But what makes a coffee like NistuRuz stand apart in a market saturated with familiar Ethiopian origins? This is the story of a bean that redefines how we classify flavor, not just origin.

Ninety Plus created the NistuRuz coffee—a rare Ethiopian offering—with a fruit-forward intensity graded under its proprietary system. Unlike conventional processing labels, NistuRuz may fall under H2 (honey-style) even if processed differently, based solely on its fruit flavor expression. Its exact processing method is tailored per batch using their Profile Processing system to highlight unique tasting notes.

Who Is Ninety Plus and Why Do Champions Use Them?

Ninety Plus is a globally recognized coffee producer and exporter, founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky. Since 2008, their beans have appeared in high-level competitions worldwide. By 2013, six World Barista Championship (WBC) finalists—including competitors from Italy, South Korea, and Canada—used Ninety Plus beans, underscoring their reputation for rarity and quality.

How Ninety Plus Classifies Flavor, Not Just Process

Rather than relying solely on traditional processing terms—washed, honey, or natural—Ninety Plus uses a fruit-flavor intensity scale. Their grades include W2, H2, and N2. These letters broadly align with washed, honey, and natural styles, but the classification is driven entirely by the strength of fruit flavors, not the processing method itself. That means an H2 coffee could actually be washed or natural, as long as it exhibits intense fruity characteristics.

The Science Behind Profile Processing

Ninety Plus developed the Profile Processing system to maximize the distinct traits of each coffee variety. Every lot undergoes custom cultivation, harvesting, and processing methods. Through repeated cupping and adjustments, they refine each batch to express its optimal fruit characteristics. This approach treats each coffee not as a commodity, but as a unique profile deserving tailored treatment—from farm to cup.

What Makes Ethiopian Coffee So Distinctive?

Ethiopia is the birthplace of Arabica coffee, home to hundreds of native varieties grown at high altitudes. While regions like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo are widely celebrated, the country’s genetic diversity allows for experimental profiles rarely seen elsewhere. Altitudes often exceed 2,000 meters, paired with fertile soils and ideal rainfall, creating conditions where unique flavor compounds thrive. That genetic and environmental diversity is what allows a company like Ninety Plus to develop a coffee as specialized as NistuRuz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NistuRuz coffee?

NistuRuz is a rare Ethiopian coffee produced by Ninety Plus, known for its intense fruit flavors and unique processing approach. It is graded under the company’s proprietary flavor system rather than traditional processing categories.

What does Ninety Plus do differently?

Ninety Plus creates customized processing methods for each coffee lot through their Profile Processing system. They focus on highlighting unique fruit flavors through tailored cultivation, harvest timing, and post-harvest techniques, refined via repeated cupping.

How does Ninety Plus grade its coffee?

Ninety Plus uses a flavor-based grading system with designations like W2, H2, and N2. These reflect the intensity of fruit flavors—regardless of whether the coffee is washed, honey, or naturally processed—breaking from conventional processing-based categorization.

Why did WBC competitors use Ninety Plus beans?

Champions and finalists at the World Barista Championship, including those from Italy, South Korea, and Canada, used Ninety Plus beans in 2013 due to their distinctive flavors, rarity, and proven cup quality, which stand out in high-stakes competitions.

What makes Ethiopian coffee unique compared to other origins?

Ethiopia grows hundreds of native Arabica varieties at high altitudes with ideal climates. This genetic diversity, along with rich volcanic soils and consistent rainfall, leads to complex and varied flavor profiles not commonly found in other coffee-growing regions.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Exploring Ethiopian Profiles

FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui offers bright berry and floral tones with a juicy body, reflecting the complexity of Ethiopian genetics. For something more classic, their Yirgacheffe (Gedeb) delivers crisp citrus and floral notes typical of high-altitude Ethiopian lots. Both highlight the diversity and vibrancy that make Ethiopian beans, like Ninety Plus’ NistuRuz, so sought after. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.