SCA and CQI Announce New Q Grader Program Based on Coffee Value Assessment
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) have announced a historic partnership that will transform coffee education and support for professionals across the industry. As part of this strategic collaboration, the globally recognized Q Grader Program will be evolved and managed solely by the SCA starting October 1, 2025, with CQI stepping away from program operations.
The newly evolved Q Grader license will become the first and only qualification based on the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment (CVA)—a groundbreaking evaluation system introduced in 2023 that expands coffee quality assessment beyond flavor to encompass the full range of attributes that contribute to a coffee’s value.
This updated program will provide coffee professionals with a globally recognized credential for evaluating and communicating quality and value in specialty coffee. The transition will also create more inclusive pathways for those seeking Q certification. Holders of the SCA Sensory Skills Professional Certificate, and current or former Arabica or Robusta Q Graders, Instructors, or Assistant Instructors, may fast-track their updated certification by completing the SCA’s CVA for Cuppers Course by December 31, 2025.
Research-Informed, Skills-Based Curriculum
The evolved Q Grader Program, built on the Coffee Value Assessment, will feature a robust curriculum focused on practical sensory evaluation techniques, defect identification in green coffee, and quality control. Graduates of the program will earn the evolved Q Grader license, reflecting a modern and scientifically informed approach to assessing coffee.
“Coffee is more than a score,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association. “This partnership marks a major milestone in our mission to make coffee better. Graduates of the evolved Q Program will lead the way in redefining coffee evaluation with a holistic approach rooted in value.”
Michael Sheridan, CEO of the Coffee Quality Institute, added: “We’re proud of the Q Program’s impact over the past 20 years and honored by the industry’s trust. Now, we’re excited to partner with the SCA to evolve the Q in a way that meets the coffee sector’s changing needs.”
Attendees of the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston can learn more about the evolved program by joining daily info sessions or visiting the SCA Community Lounge.
