The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has launched the updated Q Grader Program, with courses now available via an international network of licensed instructors.
In April, the SCA announced it would be making changes to the program in tandem with the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). The aim was to provide better support and more accessible education opportunities across the coffee industry.
Designed to reflect advancements in sensory science, the updated curriculum is now aligned with the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) to create a global framework for understanding coffee’s value. In line with an internationally consistent stand, instructors guide students through sensory training and test their skills to equip them with the tools to evaluate coffee in real-world contexts.
“The Q Grader Program has long served coffee professionals around the world,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the SCA.
“With the addition of the Coffee Value Assessment, our goal is to provide resources that reflect the needs of today’s coffee community and help us work collectively to make coffee better.”
Courses in line with the new program became available on 1 October and are due to be rolled out in more locations and languages over the next few months. Interested parties can find out when and where courses are taking place on the SCA website.
