What Makes Ninety Plus Coffee So Special?

When specialty coffee roasters and champions talk about groundbreaking beans, one name keeps surfacing: Ninety Plus. Since 2007, this producer has been behind some of the most awarded coffees in global competitions—not just for quality, but for entirely new ways of growing, processing, and grading coffee. If you’ve ever wondered how certain coffees manage to taste like tropical fruit cocktails or fine teas, Ninety Plus might be behind them.

In short: Founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, Ninety Plus quickly gained fame by supplying award-winning beans to coffee competitions worldwide. By 2013, six WBC finalists—including entrants from Italy, Korea, and Canada—used their beans, showcasing their rare profiles and innovative processing.

Who Is Ninety Plus and Why Are They Different?

Ninety Plus is an international specialty coffee bean production and sales company known for offering rare and unique green coffee beans. Launched in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, the company gained attention almost immediately, with its beans appearing in coffee competitions globally. Since 2008, Ninety Plus coffees have shown up repeatedly in contests, earning recognition for their exceptional cup quality and distinctive profiles.

Ninety Plus’s Approach: Profile Processing

One of Ninety Plus’s innovations is its custom “Profile Processing” system. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all method. Instead, each coffee variety gets its own tailored farming, harvesting, and processing plan. By adjusting variables and refining through repeated cupping sessions, Ninety Plus ensures that each bean expresses its maximum potential fruit character. The result? Coffee that tastes like nothing else on the cupping table.

Flavor-First Grading: Not Just Washed, Honey, or Natural

Rather than labeling beans by traditional processing methods—washed, honey, or natural—Ninety Plus uses a unique flavor intensity grading system. Their categories, W2, H2, and N2, refer to the strength of fruit flavors, not the processing method itself. That means an H2 (honey-style intensity) coffee could actually be washed or naturally processed. The classification reflects taste, not technique—offering a more accurate guide to what’s in the cup.

Level Up: A Sub-Brand with Flavor-Named Beans

Level Up is a sub-brand from Ninety Plus, launched in collaboration with Bodhi Leaf. It’s a series of Ethiopian single-origin beans where names are based on flavor, not geography. Each bean is named using local Ethiopian language terms that describe its taste profile—making the flavor expectation part of the buying experience.

Flavor Profile of Level Up Coffees

These beans deliver complex aromatic and taste experiences. Expect a cup with rich dry aromas of flowers, lemon, and orange peel. The wet aroma leads into elegant notes of honey-lemon and kumquat juice. The mid-palate brings juicy lychee, while the finish lingers with the taste of Darjeeling black tea. It’s a layered profile rarely achieved outside of top-tier competition lots.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ninety Plus founded?

Ninety Plus was founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky. It began gaining international recognition almost immediately, especially in the specialty coffee competition circuit.

Have Ninety Plus beans won awards?

Yes. Starting in 2008, Ninety Plus beans have appeared in coffee competitions around the world. By 2013, six World Barista Championship (WBC) finalists—including competitors from Italy, Korea, and Canada—used Ninety Plus beans.

How does Ninety Plus grade its coffee?

Ninety Plus uses a flavor-based grading system with categories W2, H2, and N2. These refer to the intensity of fruit flavors, not the processing method. For example, an H2 coffee might be washed or natural, but it shows strong fruit-forward characteristics.

What is Profile Processing?

Profile Processing is Ninety Plus’s custom approach to cultivating and processing each coffee variety. Variables like farming, harvest timing, and processing methods are adjusted per bean to maximize its unique fruit flavors, guided by ongoing cupping and refinement.

What is the Level Up series?

Level Up is a sub-brand from Ninety Plus and Bodhi Leaf. These Ethiopian beans are named after their flavor profiles in local languages, rather than their origin farms. It’s a sensory-driven way to select beans based on taste expectations.

What do Level Up coffees taste like?

Level Up coffees offer complex flavors including floral and citrus dry aromas, honey-lemon and kumquat juice notes, juicy lychee in the mid-palate, and a finish reminiscent of Darjeeling black tea.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Natural Process Fans

For those drawn to the bold fruit and tea-like profiles of Ninety Plus beans, FrontStreet Coffee offers several natural-processed options. The Ethiopia Huakui highlights floral and citrus tones with a rich body, showcasing the complexity possible in Ethiopian naturals. The Yirgacheffe Red Cherry features bright acidity and tropical fruit notes after a careful 27–30 day sun drying process. For a deeper, jammy fruit experience, try the Brazil Queen Manor, which delivers caramelized sugar, bold nuttiness, and smooth body. All are great examples of how natural processing can emphasize unique cup characteristics. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.