Ethiopian NistuRuz Coffee from Ninety Plus

If you’ve ever wondered what sets elite competition-level coffee apart—or why certain beans command attention from world-class baristas—the answer often lies in the grower, the process, and the profile. One such coffee making waves is the Ninety Plus NistuRuz, a rare Ethiopian offering celebrated for its intense fruit flavors and meticulous cultivation.

Ninety Plus created the NistuRuz coffee using a custom Profile Processing method tailored to highlight its unique fruit characteristics. This coffee has been served at the World Barista Championship (WBC), including by finalists from Italy, Korea, and Canada in 2013, proving its elite status among global specialty roasters.

Who Is Ninety Plus and Why Do They Matter?

Ninety Plus is a globally recognized coffee bean producer and seller, founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky. Since 2008, their beans have consistently appeared in prestigious coffee competitions worldwide. By 2013, their presence was notable in the WBC, where multiple finalists used Ninety Plus beans. Their reputation is built on rare, high-scoring green coffee, exceptional varietals, and a groundbreaking approach to post-harvest processing and grading.

What Is Profile Processing and How Does It Work?

Ninety Plus developed the Profile Processing system—a method where each coffee variety is cultivated, harvested, and processed according to a custom plan. Through repeated cupping and adjustments, they refine each batch to express its fullest fruit flavor potential. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s a tailored methodology ensuring that each bean’s unique qualities are maximized, not masked.

How Does Ninety Plus Grade Coffee Differently?

Rather than using traditional processing descriptors like washed, honey, or natural, Ninety Plus employs a flavor-based grading system. Coffees are categorized under W2, H2, and N2—standing for different intensity levels of fruit flavor, regardless of actual processing method. That means you might find a honey-processed coffee in the H2 category, but also a washed or natural bean with equally intense fruit tones. This system shifts focus from how the coffee was processed to how it actually tastes, prioritizing flavor impact over terminology.

Why Are These Grading and Processing Methods Important?

The shift to flavor-first grading reflects a broader trend in specialty coffee: evaluating beans based on sensory experience rather than origin labels or processing jargon. For roasters and baristas, these grades offer a clearer expectation of cup profile. For coffee enthusiasts, it demystifies what makes certain beans stand out in competitions and cuppings. Ninety Plus’s methods push the boundaries of how coffee is cultivated, processed, and perceived on the global stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ninety Plus coffee?

Ninety Plus is a premium coffee producer founded in 2007, known for rare and high-scoring green coffee beans. They supply beans to world-class baristas and have been present in coffee competitions since 2008, including the WBC.

What is the NistuRuz coffee?

NistuRuz is a specialty coffee from Ninety Plus, grown and processed in Ethiopia using a custom Profile Processing method. It’s recognized for its intense fruit flavors and has been used by WBC finalists.

How does Ninety Plus process their coffee differently?

Ninety Plus uses a tailored Profile Processing system for each coffee variety, adjusting growing, harvesting, and processing steps through repeated cupping to enhance unique fruit flavors.

What is unique about Ninety Plus’s grading system?

Instead of using traditional processing terms, Ninety Plus grades coffees by fruit flavor intensity with codes like W2, H2, and N2. A coffee can be honey-processed but fall under a different flavor grade based on taste, not method.

Why do Ninety Plus beans appear in coffee competitions?

Their beans are rare, have distinct flavor profiles, and are processed to maximize cup quality—traits sought after by champion baristas. Several WBC finalists, including those from Italy, Korea, and Canada, used Ninety Plus beans in 2013.

Where is NistuRuz from?

NistuRuz is an Ethiopian coffee, reflecting the complex fruit and floral profiles associated with high-altitude Ethiopian coffees, particularly those processed with precision to highlight those traits.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Ethiopian Profiles

For fans of the fruity and floral complexity found in Ninety Plus’s NistuRuz, try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui, known for its vibrant notes of bergamot, blueberry, and rose. Also consider the FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Gedeb, offering citrus, jasmine, and stone fruit on a bright acidity. For a heavier-bodied Ethiopian option, the FrontStreet Sidamo features tropical fruits, chocolate, and winey tones. All showcase Ethiopia’s renowned flavor diversity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.