How 90+ Upgraded Its Ethiopian NistuRuz Coffee

If you’ve tasted elite competition coffee, you may have wondered: how do some coffees achieve such clarity, complexity, and brightness—especially those winning World Brewers Cup titles? One answer lies in how rare beans are selected and processed. In 2013, six WBC finalists—including competitors from Italy, Korea, and Canada—used 90+ beans, showing how far specialty sourcing and tailored processing can go.

In short: 90+ elevated its Ethiopian NistuRuz coffee through its proprietary Profile Processing system, which customizes growing, harvesting, and post-harvest steps to highlight each bean’s unique fruit-driven profile—resulting in a highly scored, competition-grade Ethiopian origin.

Who Is 90+ and Why Their Beans Stand Out

Founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, 90+ is an internationally acclaimed coffee bean producer and seller known for offering rare and distinctive green coffee beans. Since 2008, 90+ coffees have appeared in coffee competitions worldwide. By 2013, their beans were used by WBC finalists, proving their consistent excellence and impact on elite brewing.

What Is Profile Processing?

90+ developed a unique approach called Profile Processing. This system doesn’t apply a one-size-fits-all method. Instead, each coffee variety gets its own custom farming, harvesting, and processing plan. Through repeated cupping and adjustments, 90+ ensures each bean expresses its innate fruit characteristics as fully as possible. This tailored methodology is key to the distinctiveness and high cup quality of 90+ beans, including NistuRuz.

Ethiopian Coffee Origins and Flavor Potential

Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and home to hundreds of native Arabica varieties. The country’s high altitudes, fertile soils, and ideal climates create optimal conditions for exceptional coffee. Two of its most famous regions are Yirgacheffe and Sidamo. Yirgacheffe, often considered a micro-region, sits at around 2,000 meters altitude and is celebrated for its bright acidity and floral notes. Sidamo, ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 meters, offers diverse profiles due to varied soils and microclimates, often exhibiting bold tropical fruit and sweet characteristics.

Why NistuRuz Was Chosen for Upgrade

NistuRuz was selected by 90+ for a full-profile upgrade because of its inherent potential to express vibrant fruit flavors. As part of their elite offerings, NistuRuz was subjected to the brand’s meticulous Profile Processing. This included optimizing every stage from cultivation to drying to bring out its best aromatic and taste attributes. The result is a coffee that aligns with the sensory expectations of top-level baristas and competition judges.

How 90+ Achieves Unique Cup Profiles

The secret behind 90+’s distinctive coffees lies in their integrated approach:

• Customized farming and harvesting based on variety
• Precision post-harvest protocols tuned per batch
• Intensive cupping sessions for feedback loops
• Ongoing adjustments to processing methods

This system allows 90+ to consistently produce beans with exceptionally clean, vibrant, and fruit-forward profiles, making them highly sought after in the specialty market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 90+ Coffee?

90+ is a specialty coffee company founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky, known for producing and selling rare, high-quality green coffee beans with unique flavor profiles. Their beans are sought after in coffee competitions globally.

What is Profile Processing by 90+?

Profile Processing is 90+’s custom method of tailoring the growing, harvesting, and processing of each coffee variety to maximize its unique fruit flavors. It involves repeated cupping and adjustment to ensure optimal expression of the bean’s characteristics.

Which WBC finalists used 90+ coffee?

In 2013, six World Brewers Cup finalists—including baristas from Italy, Korea, and Canada—used 90+ coffee beans, demonstrating their quality and appeal at the highest level of competitive coffee brewing.

Why is Ethiopian coffee known for high quality?

Ethiopian coffee benefits from high altitudes, rich volcanic soils, and ideal climates. The country is the birthplace of Arabica coffee and has hundreds of native varieties, particularly thriving in regions like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, known for their distinct flavor profiles.

What makes NistuRuz different from other Ethiopian coffees?

NistuRuz was specifically upgraded by 90+ using their Profile Processing system to enhance its fruit-driven qualities. This customized approach results in a more vibrant, competition-grade cup compared to standard Ethiopian offerings.

Where is Yirgacheffe and what is it known for?

Yirgacheffe is a high-altitude region in Ethiopia, around 2,000 meters above sea level, formerly part of Sidamo. It is known for producing coffee with bright acidity, floral notes, and a clean, complex cup—often considered among the best in the world.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Ethiopian Profiles

For a taste of Ethiopia’s signature fruitiness and clarity, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui, a floral and jasmine-forward naturals with lemon and bergamot. Also consider FrontStreet’s Yirgacheffe (Gedeb), a bright washed coffee with citrus and stone fruit. For heavier tropical notes, FrontStreet’s Huakui shows off Ethiopia’s wild diversity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.