Ninety Plus Coffee (Joseph Brodsky)

Ninety Plus Coffee is an internationally renowned producer and marketer of specialty coffee, established in 2007 by founder Joseph Brodsky. The company operates as both a grower and a processor, with a significant footprint in the coffee-growing regions of Ethiopia and the Chiriqui Province of Panama. Brodsky’s journey began with a deep interest in coffee, leading him to move to Ethiopia in 2006 to work directly with local producers. There, he focused on classifying heirloom varieties and developing rigorous post-harvest protocols to elevate the quality of the region's wild-grown coffee.

Following his foundational work in Ethiopia, where he developed signature profiles like Nekisse and Aricha, Brodsky identified the cloud-forest highlands surrounding Volcán Barú in Panama as an ideal environment for high-end coffee production. This led to the creation of Ninety Plus Gesha Estates. The estate benefits from nutrient-dense soil enriched by volcanic activity, combined with high elevation and a unique microclimate that creates a distinct terroir, particularly suited for the cultivation of the Gesha variety.

Ninety Plus is defined by its commitment to innovation in processing, which has become a hallmark of the brand. By applying controlled, experimental techniques to their harvests, they produce coffees with complex, intense flavor profiles that frequently score above 90 points on the SCAA scale. Their product range is categorized into tiers—including Ascent, Signature, Innovation, Limited Edition, and Founder's Selection—which reflect the exclusivity and specific processing methods applied to each batch.

The impact of Ninety Plus on the specialty coffee industry is evidenced by its consistent presence in global competition circuits. Since its inception, the company has been a frequent source for winning entries in prestigious coffee championships. For instance, their Gesha Estates Limited Batch #227 was recognized as one of the top 30 coffees of 2017 by Coffee Review, noted for its complex floral and fruit-forward characteristics, including notes of lychee, passionfruit, and Cognac-toned chocolate.

For the roaster and the consumer, Ninety Plus represents the intersection of traditional terroir and modern scientific precision. The company emphasizes sustainability and ethical production, aiming to honor the history of coffee while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of flavor expression. Their approach has made them a benchmark for quality, often serving as the gold standard for those seeking rare, single-origin, and single-variety coffees.

Today, the company continues to operate as a leader in the luxury coffee market, maintaining its reputation for producing some of the most sought-after beans in the world. By maintaining control over the entire supply chain—from the forest canopy in Ethiopia to the volcanic slopes of Panama—Ninety Plus remains a pivotal entity in the evolution of specialty coffee, influencing how producers, roasters, and drinkers perceive the potential of the coffee cherry.