DUBAI – Qahwa World

Michael Sheridan, CEO of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), delivered an important message to the coffee community and CQI members, reviewing the organization’s key achievements during 2025 and outlining future plans for 2026.

In his message, which coincides with the approaching year-end, Michael Sheridan highlighted a busy fourth quarter of 2025, marked by extensive educational outreach and strategic planning for the organization’s future.

Sheridan noted that the closing quarter was highly active, emphasizing CQI’s role in supporting a growing network of CQI Educators who are conducting coffee processing courses worldwide. The primary focus was on collaborating with both long-time and new partners on projects specifically designed to empower coffee producers.

Sheridan stated: “The three initiatives highlighted below delivered coffee education to more than 350 women coffee producers in Mexico and Colombia, and they don’t even tell the full story of our Q4 project work.”

These efforts underscore CQI’s core mission of creating educational opportunities for the producers who represent the heart of the industry.

Behind the scenes, the CQI team has been intensely focused on strategic planning for the next phase of its work. The organization expressed deep gratitude to its community for generous contributions, which are critical in determining the course for the future.

Consultation efforts spanned the globe, including:

Conversations with producers in El Salvador, Indonesia, Mexico, and Peru.

Hundreds of online surveys completed by producers, processors, traders, roasters, Q Graders, CQI Educators, and other stakeholders.

Dozens of personal interviews.

Sheridan affirmed: “We look forward to reporting back to you on what we heard and how we believe we can best serve CQI’s worthy mission together.”

Despite historic market volatility and massive disinvestment in economic development in coffee-growing regions, Sheridan reaffirmed CQI’s unwavering commitment to its foundational mission.

He said: “The year behind us has been marked by plenty of change and disruption in the coffee sector, and it hasn’t always been easy… Through it all, we have returned again and again for inspiration and orientation to our mission to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it. Against this backdrop, this work has never felt more important.”

Sheridan announced that the team will take a necessary rest period at the end of this month but plans to “hit the ground running in the New Year.”

Sheridan concluded the message by extending warm wishes on behalf of the Institute’s staff and board, saying: “I want to wish you all joy, good health, and peace this holiday season, and a great start to the New Year. And I know I also speak for everyone on the team when I say that I look forward to seeing you and working with you in 2026 to advance our mission together.”

It is worth noting that the Coffee Quality Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it.

CQI CEO Michael Sheridan: 2026 Plans & 350 Women Producers Trained in 2025

Q Graders.

Coffee Quality Institute CEO Delivers Key Message to Global Coffee Community