What Is Ninety Plus LevelUp NistuRuz Ethiopian Coffee?

If you’ve ever watched a World Barista Championship and wondered what those rare, jaw-dropping coffees are that pros use to win medals, chances are some of them came from Ninety Plus. Since 2008, this US-based coffee company—founded by Joseph Brodsky—has supplied some of the most sought-after single-origin beans in elite competitions. Their LevelUp Series, including the Ethiopian offering NistuRuz, represents the cutting edge of what’s possible in coffee flavor development through farming, processing, and post-harvest innovation.

Ninety Plus LevelUp Series NistuRuz is a single-origin Ethiopian coffee known for its intense fruit-driven profile. It’s part of a broader Ninety Plus project that uses tailored cultivation, harvest, and processing methods—plus advanced cupping protocols—to highlight each coffee’s unique fruit characteristics. This bean gained recognition after being used by multiple WBC finalists in 2013.

Who Is Ninety Plus and Why Do They Matter?

Ninety Plus is a US-based coffee producer and exporter founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky. Almost immediately, the company began appearing in global coffee competitions. By 2013, six WBC finalists—including competitors from Italy, Korea, and Canada—had used Ninety Plus beans. The company is respected for its rare, unique green coffee offerings and its ability to coax distinctive flavors through meticulous farming and processing techniques.

What Makes the LevelUp Series Different?

The Ninety Plus LevelUp Series is not your average microlot. Each coffee in this range is developed through a custom “Profile Processing” system. That means every bean is farmed, harvested, and processed under conditions specifically designed to bring out its inherent fruit qualities. Through repeated cupping and adjustments, Ninety Plus fine-tunes variables to maximize clarity and complexity. The result? Unusually vibrant, high-scoring coffees with distinct fruit profiles that stand out even among other specialty lots.

Where Does NistuRuz Come From?

NistuRuz originates from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee and home to hundreds of native Arabica varieties. While the exact farm or washing station for NistuRuz isn’t specified in the source, the coffee benefits from Ethiopia’s ideal high-altitude growing conditions. The country’s regions—especially Yirgacheffe and Sidamo—are known for producing some of the most aromatic and complex coffees in the world. These areas feature elevations around 1,400–2,200 meters, rich volcanic soils, consistent rainfall, and cool temperatures, all of which contribute to the bright acidity and floral or fruity notes for which Ethiopian coffees are famous.

How Did Ethiopian Coffees Become Competition Favorites?

Ethiopian coffees, particularly those from Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, have long been staples in the specialty coffee scene. Their vibrant acidity, floral aromas, and complex fruit notes make them ideal for showcasing in brewing competitions. Roasters and baristas frequently choose Ethiopian beans for their ability to express unique terroir and processing methods. The country’s genetic diversity—hundreds of uncategorized native varieties—means that even small changes in elevation, soil, or processing can yield dramatically different flavor results. That genetic flexibility, combined with ideal growing conditions, is why Ethiopian beans like NistuRuz often end up in the hands of world-class baristas.

What Is Profile Processing?

Profile Processing is Ninety Plus’s proprietary method for developing coffee profiles. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, the company designs specific protocols for each coffee based on its variety, growing environment, and desired flavor outcome. This includes controlled harvesting schedules, customized fermentation and drying regimens, and rigorous cupping feedback loops. The goal is to align every step of production with the goal of amplifying the coffee’s intrinsic fruit characteristics. For NistuRuz, this means a tailored approach that highlights its unique flavor profile through every stage of post-harvest handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ninety Plus?

Ninety Plus is a US-based coffee company founded in 2007 by Joseph Brodsky. It specializes in producing and exporting rare, high-scoring single-origin coffee beans, many of which have been used by World Barista Championship finalists. The company is known for its elite-level competition coffees and innovative processing methods.

What is the LevelUp Series?

The LevelUp Series is a line of specialty coffees from Ninety Plus that uses a custom farming, harvesting, and processing system called Profile Processing. Each coffee is developed to express its unique fruit characteristics, resulting in highly distinctive and high-scoring lots aimed at competition and specialty markets.

What makes NistuRuz special?

NistuRuz is an Ethiopian coffee from the Ninety Plus LevelUp Series. It is produced using a tailored Profile Processing method to enhance its natural fruit flavors. The coffee gained attention after being selected by multiple WBC finalists in 2013, highlighting its competition-level quality and unique profile.

Where is NistuRuz from?

NistuRuz is sourced from Ethiopia, a country renowned for its high-altitude coffee-growing regions like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo. While the exact origin within Ethiopia isn’t specified, the coffee benefits from Ethiopia’s ideal conditions for producing complex, aromatic, and high-scoring specialty beans.

What is Profile Processing?

Profile Processing is Ninety Plus’s method of creating unique coffee profiles by customizing every aspect of production—from planting and harvesting to fermentation and drying—for each individual coffee. The aim is to emphasize the bean’s inherent fruit qualities through a scientifically managed post-harvest process.

Why are Ethiopian coffees popular in competitions?

Ethiopian coffees, especially from regions like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, are prized for their bright acidity, floral and fruity notes, and genetic diversity. These qualities allow baristas to highlight unique flavor profiles and terroir, making them a top choice for competition routines.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Ethiopian Profiles

For drinkers exploring Ethiopian coffee profiles like those in Ninety Plus NistuRuz, FrontStreet Coffee offers Ethiopia Huakui, a naturally processed lot with intense berry and blueberry notes; Yirgacheffe Gedeb, a washed coffee highlighting citrus and floral tones with a jasmine aroma; and the iconic Ethiopia Huakui, known for its sweet berry profile. These beans showcase the same bright, fruit-forward qualities typical of high-altitude Ethiopian coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.