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  1. Home/
  2. Glossary/
  3. Q Grader

Origin & sourcing

Q Grader

A certified coffee taster who has passed the Coffee Quality Institute's rigorous sensory exam — qualified to score green coffee on the SCA scale.

  • Availability: Specialty

A Q grader is a coffee professional licensed by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) to apply the SCA cupping protocol consistently. The certification involves 19 separate sensory and technical exams over three days, including triangulation tests, organic-acid identification, and green-grading. There are Q graders for arabica and a separate (R) qualification for robusta. Many Brooklyn roasters employ at least one on staff for sourcing and quality control.

Related terms

  • SCA Score
  • Specialty coffee
  • Cupping
  • Tasting Notes
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