Make your mark.
Become a Q Grader.
Q Graders represent the world’s best coffee evaluators.
The Q Grader License is the premier professional qualification in specialty coffee and demonstrates that you are equipped to identify, describe, and communicate a coffee’s attributes with precision and consistency using a shared, research-backed approach.
As a Q Grader, you join a global community of professionals who apply this common language to inform decisions, support transparent trade, and strengthen equity, sustainability, and collaboration across the coffee value chain.
What is the Q Grader License?
The Q Grader License is an internationally recognized credential for coffee professionals with experience in cupping and sensory analysis. It is issued by the Specialty Coffee Association, to individuals who successfully complete the Q Grader Course. The course ensures a learner’s comprehensive understanding the Coffee Value Assessment as well as their having precise coffee evaluation skills and a strong vocabulary for communicating coffee’s value.
What does it mean to be a Q Grader?
Earning this prestigious license helps to signify that a coffee professional has the skills to make a comprehensive evaluation of coffee’s quality. A license holder is confirmed as having the sensory skills necessary to evaluate coffees at the highest level, and confirms that their knowledge includes the most modern understanding of how the industry evaluates quality.
How do you earn your Q?
Those with the necessary experience and knowledge can embark on their license journey by finding a Q Grader Course near them. Upon successful completion, they earn a license that validates their ability to evaluate coffee. Q Graders will be eligible to renew their license after demonstrating current knowledge and continued professional development every three years.
Unlock your professional potential.
Many companies consider the Q Grader license an essential qualification, demonstrating a person's ability to evaluate coffee quality rigorously. The license is a particular asset for someone pursuing a career in trading, sustainability, and quality control.
Coffee Buyer
Coffee Trader
Coffee Quality Assessor
Product Developer
Sensory Scientist
Quality Assurance
Head Cupper
Coffee Quality Specialist
Quality Control Manager
Head of Procurement
Sustainable Sourcing Manager
ABOUT THE
Q-GRADER COURSE
COURSE AT A GLANCE:
The Q Grader course is a six day intensive and assesses a learner’s readiness to evaluate coffee in a professional setting. Rooted in the Coffee Value Assessment, the curriculum is designed to allow experienced coffee professionals to demonstrate their ability to evaluate coffee by its physical, descriptive, affective, and extrinsic attributes.
The course includes 9 comprehensive exams (8 practical evaluations and 1 written assessment). During the course, learners are allowed two attempts to pass each exam^. All practical and written assessment must be passed in order to pass the course, and subsequently earn the first three-year license. Every three years, Q Graders are eligible to renew their license but will not need to take the full six-day course again to do so.
^Starting in 1st Q 2026, there will be an option for a third attempt of the individual Q Grader practical exam components which can be taken after the course has concluded.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
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Introduction to the Course
Cupping: Key Concepts and Skills
Introduction to Coffee Value Assessment
CVA Physical Assessment and Form
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CVA Descriptive Assessment and Form (Part 1)
Multi-Perspective Cupping
Olfactory Category Examples
Main Taste Solutions
Physical Assessment Practical Exam
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CVA Descriptive Assessment and Form (Part 2)
Triangulation Scenarios
Incorrect Preparation
Olfactory Category Examples Practical Exam
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Descriptive Assessment Practical Exam
Triangulation Practical Exam
CVA Affective Assessment and Form
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Roasting Problems Practical Exam
Main Taste Solutions Practical Exam
Affective Assessment Practical Exam
CVA Extrinsic Assessment and Form
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Value Discovery
End-of-Course Reflection and Review of Logistics
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Comprehensive understanding of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA)
Precise coffee evaluation skills, including physical, descriptive, affective, and extrinsic assessments.
Heightened understanding of multi-perspective evaluation, including separating subjective and objective judgements
Grasp of a strong shared vocabulary for communicating coffee’s value on a global stage
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Registered for a course already?
For those who are planning to take the Q Grader course soon, and want to be sure they’re prepared, our team has put together some advice for what to do before the course:
Ready to take the course?
If you have prior experience in cupping and sensory analysis, experience with the CVA, and a high level of sensory skill, you are ready for the Q Grader course.
Not ready to start the Q Grader Course yet?
The premier license in the world of specialty coffee isn’t a starting point: it’s the capstone on years of learning, testing your knowledge and communication skills to be sure you’re ready to join the ranks of industry leaders with this license.
While there’s no one set of prerequisites, this course is designed to assess a cupper's evaluation skills, not to teach inexperienced cuppers.
Those looking to begin to explore the world of coffee tasting may wish to begin with a course from the SCA Coffee Skills Program. Our modular training system designed to build practical expertise across all aspects of specialty coffee, from foundational barista techniques to advanced sensory analysis.
Some starting points could include:
Introduction
to Coffee
Teaches coffee fundamentals from origin to cup, now updated with the logic from the SCA Coffee Value Assessment in a single module.
SENSORY
SKILLS
Covers sensory science, coffee evaluation, and practical applications in business and consumer testing over three module levels.
BREWING
Comprehensive exploration of coffee brewing methods, from basic principles to advanced extraction theory and practice over three module levels..
FAQs
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What is the duration of the new Q grader license?
The new license term is for three years from the day that you receive your badge in your SCA profile.
Is the new Q Grader license species-specific?
No, because CVA itself is intended to be species (and process) neutral. Cuppers have been applying the CVA (with the exception of the Physical Assessment, which mirrors the 2004 system) to canephora, with acceptable results. However, efforts are underway to expand the framework to include Robusta descriptorsin the short term (by the end of 2025). Collaboration with canephora researchers is underway to achieve a more comprehensive inclusion of other Coffea species attributes in 2027.
Is there a cost for the new Q Grader license?
No, there is no charge from the SCA at this time. Trainers will charge a course fee for the CVA for Cuppers Course and the Q Grader course.
What are the renewal conditions of the new license?
There will be a continuing education requirement for renewing your license. We are currently developing this requirement and will share full details once it is ready, ensuring you have plenty of time and guidance to prepare with confidence.
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What is the term of the Q instructor license?
The term of your Q authorization matches the term of the badge license you received when your Q Application was processed.During this initial Q authorization term, you are authorized to teach globally.
How much is the Q instructor license?
There is no license fee for this initial three-year period. At renewal, you will be required to purchase either an AST Individual License or Global AST Individual License.
How do I renew my Q Instructor license?
There will be a continuing education requirement for renewing your license. We are currently developing this requirement and will share full details once it is ready, ensuring you have plenty of time and guidance to prepare with confidence.
I just took the Q Onboarding Course – what are my next steps?
Once you complete the onboarding, you will receive an email with the next steps listed below.
1. Complete the Onboarding Experience Survey
2. Sign your agreement
3. Access your course materials
4. Review the AST Handbook (2025 edition)
5. Post a Q Grader course
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Why hasn’t my Q Application been approved?
We are currently experiencing a high volume of applications and aim to process them within 5–7 business days.
Will there be a Q Grader Certificate?
Yes. Certificates are in development and will be available to download from your SCA portal. For now, new Q Graders and Instructors receive a digital badge in the SCA portal.
Will there be a public facing list of licensed evolved Q Grader/Q Instructors?
Yes; this is currently in development.
The Evolution of the Q Grader Program
The Q Grader Program has long been the Coffee Industry's foremost coffee credential. In 2025, the program was revised, aligning it further with current coffee standards and the latest sensory science. Now, the Q Grader course is based on the SCA Coffee Value Assessment, a holistic system that is better adapted to the diverse global specialty coffee marketplace.
In order to ensure that coffee professionals in producing and consuming countries around the world have access to evaluation skills and the recognition that comes with earning a Q Grader License, over the past year the SCA has taken large steps towards greater affordability, accessibility and quality, expanding the network of quality experts internationally.
Early this year, we introduced geographic pricing to all our education programs—including the Q. This means your cost to become a Q Grader will be based on where you earn, making the pricing of the course more equitable across the globe.
While you don’t need to be a Q Grader to build a successful career in coffee, there’s more than just the license here: there’s value in completing the course beyond that outcome. The course can also serve as a personal check, to ensure your tasting skills and assessment process are both as aligned with the industry standard as possible.
BECOME A
Q INSTRUCTOR:
The Q Grader course is delivered by a growing network of global Q Instructors. Q Instructors are qualified by earning their Q Grader license and becoming a qualified Sensory Skills Authorized SCA Trainer (AST) and applying via the portal (applications will be available soon!)
Got Questions?
Fill in the contact form and a member of the team will follow up.