Q GRADER COURSE

Description

The Evolved Q Grader course is the most advanced training and certification path in the world of coffee, designed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) to empower the most experienced professionals in the art of coffee evaluation. In six intensive days, you will refine your theoretical understanding and practical application of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), the industry’s most comprehensive and modern evaluation system.

This is not a course for beginners. It is aimed at coffee professionals with solid prior experience in cupping, sensory evaluation, and green coffee analysis. Through a rigorous program of theoretical lessons, practical activities, and exams, you will learn to identify and document every attribute of coffee, becoming a benchmark in the industry.

By passing all the exams, you will earn the prestigious Evolved Q Grader license, a key milestone to demonstrate your excellence and competence in coffee evaluation on a global level.

Course Program and Objectives:

An intensive 6-day course (48 hours total) that combines theory, practice, and exams to test and certify your skills at the highest level.

Course Objectives: What You Will Learn to Do

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Master the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA): Explain the fundamental theoretical concepts of the CVA and advise on its strategic implementation in any professional context.
• Conduct Comprehensive Coffee Analyses: Accurately perform the system’s four key assessments to create a comprehensive profile for any coffee:
  • Physical: Analyze green coffee to classify its color, moisture, size, and defects.
  • Descriptive: Map the sensory profile, precisely identifying aromatic notes, taste, and mouthfeel.
  • Affective: Evaluate the quality and potential of a coffee not only according to your personal taste but also by simulating the preferences of specific markets.
  • Extrinsic: Document the “hidden” attributes that create value, such as origin, the producer’s story, certifications, and sustainability practices.
• Evaluate from Multiple Perspectives: Apply a high degree of self-awareness to distinguish personal preferences from an objective evaluation, learning to identify a coffee’s value for different clients and markets.

Program Structure

The course is divided into 6 intense days, each dedicated to specific modules and practical tests.

• Day 1: The Foundations. Introduction to the course, review of key cupping concepts, and a deep dive into the physical assessment of green coffee (CVA Physical Assessment).
• Day 2: The Descriptive Assessment. In-depth study of the descriptive assessment (CVA Descriptive Assessment), multi-perspective tastings, aroma identification, and basic tastes tests. First practical exam on the physical assessment.
• Day 3: Discrimination Tests and Flaws. Triangulation exercises to sharpen sensory discrimination skills, analysis of roasting defects, and the first practical exam on aromas.
• Day 4: The Affective Assessment. Entering the world of perceived quality evaluation (CVA Affective Assessment), learning to provide ratings from different market perspectives. Practical exams on triangulation and descriptive assessment.
• Day 5: The Extrinsic Assessment and Final Exams. Analysis of attributes that go beyond the cup (history, certifications) and an intensive session of practical exams on roasting flaws, basic tastes, and affective assessment.
• Day 6: Value Discovery and Retake Exams. Application of all learned skills to real-world market scenarios (Value Discovery). Final session dedicated to second attempts for those who did not pass the exams on their first try.

A Demanding Path: The Exams

The course includes 9 exams (8 practical and 1 written) covering all areas of expertise. Learners must pass all nine components to pass the course and receive the Q Grader License. Learners are offered two attempts to pass each practical exam component per course. If any learner fails the first attempt of a practical exam component, the trainer must offer a second attempt of that component before the course concludes.
Learners are offered three attempts to pass the written exam per course. The written exam tests learners’ knowledge of CVA, including concepts related to the system’s theoretical foundations, assessment mechanics, and form use. If a learner fails three attempts of the written exam or both attempts of any practical exam component, they must retake the course.

Want to prepare for the Q-Grader Course? The following link  outlines each of the course’s exam components and provides recommended reading and activities to help you get ready. Read on to get recommendation on how to prepare for the cupping skills, physical assessment, roasting problems, descriptive assessment, affective assessment, olfactory category examples, triangulation, main taste solution practicals, and written exams. 

This course requires a minimum of 6 people so please contact us to see if the course has enough attendance to happen.