What does the coffee quality institute Q Grader exam involve?

The Q Grader certificate is issued by the Coffee Quality Institute, known as CQI, and focuses on green coffee quality evaluation rather than barista skills. Candidates must pass twenty tests within six days, and the certificate stays valid for three years. It has no levels, unlike the SCA system, which uses a credit accumulation model.

SCA courses cover barista skills, brewing, roasting, sensory and green coffee, and a diploma requires 100 credits, though students can take single modules. Q Grader sits within the SCA education framework as a CQI branch. Fees and target audiences differ, so the choice depends on whether the goal is general coffee knowledge or grading work.

Thinking of entering the coffee industry—do you really need to spend money on certifications? SCA and Q Grader, the two major international certifications, are often discussed. SCA uses a credit accumulation system, covering barista skills, brewing, roasting, sensory, green coffee, and other directions, and students can choose courses as needed; Q Grader was launched by CQI, focusing on green coffee quality evaluation, requiring passing twenty tests within six days, with the certificate valid for three years. This article sorts out in detail the course structure, exam content, fees, and target audiences of the two types of certifications, helping you determine which path is more suitable for your career plan.

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Whenever someone asks on social platforms: "I want to become a barista. Do I need to take classes and get a qualification certificate?" The comments below are basically all throwing cold water... "It's outrageously expensive. What else couldn't you do with that money?" "The courses are too watered down. A few thousand yuan is enough for you to drink a whole set of experience at a café..."

Introduction to Coffee

Barista Skills

Brewing

Roasting

Sensory

Green Coffee

Because this system is calculated by credits, each level of course corresponds to fixed credits. To obtain a diploma, you must accumulate 100 credits, and in practice it is far less easy than it looks. But the advantage is also obvious: students can choose only specific modules to study in depth according to personal interests or actual needs, and do not have to complete all courses.

If you are a complete beginner and are determined to become a barista, it is recommended to focus on three areas: Barista Skills, Brewing, and Sensory. As for the final level you reach, that must be decided based on your own situation, because each level up costs quite a bit.

"Does the Q Grader certificate have levels? What does it test?"

The Q Grader certificate does not have levels~ Q Grader is one of the coffee bean quality graders certified by the Coffee Quality Institute CQI (Coffee Quality Institute), and belongs to a branch of the SCA education module. Unlike the SCA course system, CQI is more inclined toward green coffee quality evaluation, with its main focus on sensory training and improvement.

Q Graders are the people who safeguard green coffee quality. They use cupping to evaluate flavor, score, and grade each bean at the export stage, so that other green coffee buyers have a basic concept of the bean's flavor and can plan corresponding roasting methods to bring out the bean's potential.

The Q Grader certification system was designed by CQI (Coffee Quality Institute), with the purpose of using a set of industry-common language to evaluate the quality of exported coffee beans. Because common evaluation language and standards are used to determine coffee quality and price, coffee prices become more transparent and fair, and there will not be a situation where one side says one thing is right and the other says another.

Unlike SCA, where you can freely choose courses, candidates registering for Q Grader must complete 20 assessments over 6 consecutive days, and only after passing all of them can they obtain the certificate. These 20 tests include:

General Coffee Knowledge Exam (1 test)

Sensory Skills Test (3 tests)

Olfactory Skills Test (4 tests)

Cupping Skills Test (4 tests)

Triangle Cup Test Skills Test (4 tests)

Organic Acids Matching Pairs Test (1 test)

Arabica Green Coffee Grading Test (3 tests)

Arabica Roasted Coffee Grading Test (1 test)

Roast Degree Identification (1 test)

If any test is not passed, you may request a retake within the 6-day course period, or take a makeup exam within 18 months after the course ends.

The Q Grader certificate is valid for 3 years. During this period, a flavor calibration must be done once each year (order the food-grade capsules used for calibration on the website designated by CQI, then mix and taste according to the instructions, and upload the answers to the exam website to continue the Q Grader certification).

Then, before the 3-year period expires, students must take a calibration course (Q Grader Re-Calibration Course) to extend the certificate's validity period.

Q Grader can be said to be the most expensive certification course in the coffee industry at present, with the most exam items. Those who are lucky/exceptionally capable may be able to obtain it for twenty or thirty thousand, otherwise each retake of one subject costs several thousand more... It is a course that costs money and people.

If you are in the green coffee trade, then Q Grader is essential. Because the certification course focuses on sensory training, it can help you better evaluate the quality and flavor of coffee bean samples and price coffee beans. It is also very suitable for coffee bean roasters to pursue further study.

Or if you want to register as a judge for coffee competitions, such as sensory evaluation for green coffee, roasting, brewing, and other major competitions, a Q Grader certificate will be one of the registration qualifications, but having a certificate does not necessarily mean you can successfully register; there are other reviews as well.

Image source: Internet

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.