Q Grading Program

A Solution For a More

Sustainable Future
The Q Grading Program

• Program Overview
• Licensed Q Graders
• Program Benefits
• How it works
• Expansion of the Program
Program Overview

Goals of the Q Grading System:

• Sets a Standard for Quality
• Uses Licensed Q Graders to Measure Quality
• Provides Feedback on Quality
• Creates a Common Language for Quality
• Links Producers with Quality Buyers
• Establishes a Relationship Between Quality and Price
Program Overview

The Q Grading System is rooted in the belief

that only quality is sustainable.
Program Overview

The Q Grading System,

developed by the Coffee Quality Institute,
implements industry-recognized standards
for quality, both cup and grade, and is a highly
effective method for identifying coffees
that sell for premiums in the marketplace.
Program Overview

The standards, developed by the Specialty

Coffee Association of America (SCAA),
define specialty coffee as having a
minimum cup score of 80 points out of a
possible 100 and no primary defects.
 Coffees at the Top of the Pyramid
Sell for Premiums

Exceptional
Q Coffees
Extraordinary

Specialty Grade

Premium Grade
“C” Market
Exchange Grade

Commercial
Low Grade
Off Grade
Program Overview

Licensed Q Graders are professional

cuppers who have successfully passed a
rigorous exam to earn the industry’s only
professional accreditation for cuppers.
Program Overview

In the Q Grading System, three (3) Licensed

Q Graders evaluate coffees using the
SCAA standards and forms.
Program Overview

The Q Grading System offers immediate and direct

feedback to coffee producers, allowing them
to improve their quality
to meet marketplace demand.
Over 80 Score
use of Q Logo
Producer/Mill
Feedback and
Quality
Improvement

Critical Information
to buyers and
feedback loop on
cupping profile
Program Overview

Feedback is provided to the producer through a

Q Certificate, or technical report.

Q Certificates are only provided for those coffees

who meet the minimum requirements of 80 and
above and no primary defects.

If the coffee does not meet the minimum

requirements, a technical report is provided.
Under 80 Score
no use of Q
Logo, but valid
as a report Use of CQI Logo
is still valid for
Technical Report

Information to
buyers and
Producer/Mill
feedback loop on
Feedback and
cupping profile
Quality
Improvement
The Technical Report

• If the coffee does not meet the minimum requirements, it

cannot be marketed as a Q Coffee.

• However, the Technical Report may be used and is of

value in marketing the coffee.

• About 1/2 of the coffees graded thus far in Central

America were not considered Q Coffees, but were still
purchased by the buyer at premiums over the C-market.
Program Overview

The Q Grading System

establishes a
transparent relationship
between quality and price.
Program Overview

Summary of the Q Grading System:

• Sets a Standard for Quality
• Uses Licensed Q Graders to Measure Quality
• Provides Feedback on Quality
• Creates a Common Language for Quality
• Links Producers with Quality Buyers
• Establishes a Transparent Relationship Between
Quality and Price
• Program Overview
• Licensed Q Graders
• Program Benefits
• How it works
• Expansion of the Program
Licensed Q Graders

The goal of the Q Grader Program is to

create a skilled and credible body of
specialty coffee cuppers to
consistently and accurately
assess coffee quality,
both cup and grade
Licensed Q Graders

There are currently 462 Licensed Q Graders

Brazil 9
Colombia 136
Central Am. 130
Ethiopia 25
Kenya 18
Japan 59
Mexico 28
Others 3
United States 54
Licensed Q Graders

Licensed Q Graders must successfully pass

a rigorous exam
to earn this professional accreditation.
Q Grader Test

Sensory Skills Test

This exam is made up of
three parts and the tests
consist of identifying the
solution, flavor and intensity
in three different formats
1. Mixtures of Sweet, Sour
and Salt in 3 concentrations
(9 samples total)
2. Identify by type and
strength of each
3. Mixtures of same solutions
and identify concentrations
Q Grader Test
Cupping Skills Test
The objective of this
exam is to test the
individual’s knowledge of
the SCAA cupping
protocol and cupping
form, and to measure the
individual’s ability to cup
and rate coffee flavor
attributes in a consistent
manner.
Q Grader Test

Olfactory Skills Test

The objective of this test
is to evaluate the
individual’s familiarity
with 36 common
aromatic scents often
found in coffee’s
fragrance, aroma and
nose.
Q Grader Test

Triangulation Skills Test

Test subjects will be
measured on their
ability to successfully
differentiate coffees
by flavor attributes
relating to origin.
Q Grader Test

Matching Pairs Skills Test

Students demonstrate their ability to

identify acids common to coffee:
Acetic, Citric, Malic and Phosphoric.
Q Grader Test
Arabica Green Coffee Grading Skills Test

The objective of this

test is to measure the
individual’s
knowledge of the
SCAA Green Arabica
Coffee Classification
System (GACCS) and
Defect Handbook.
Q Grader Test

Roasted Sample Identification and

Grading Skills Test

The objective of the test is to measure the

individual’s knowledge of the SCAA
Cupping Protocol roasting instructions.
Q Grader Test
General Coffee Knowledge Test

The objective of this test

is to examine the
level of general coffee
knowledge in the
categories of
cupping/grading,
roasting, brewing and
producing.
• Program Overview
• Licensed Q Graders
• Program Benefits
• How it works
• Expansion of the Program
Program Benefits

Correctly identifying
specialty and premium coffees
is one of the most immediate ways
to increase farmer incomes.
Program Benefits

Correctly assessing
the required quality improvements
is the second most effective way
to increase farmer incomes.
Program Benefits

“Invitation to Taste”

Being able to communicate quality nuances

is one of the best ways to create buyer interest
and increase buyer trials.
Q Buyer List
• Atlantic Specialty Coffee • Paragon Coffee Trading
• Atlas Coffee Importers • Port City Java
• Boyd Coffee Company • Mercon Coffee Group
• Café Imports • Mr. Espresso
• Caribou Coffee • RGC Coffee
• Coffee Masters • Ronnoco
• The Coffee Source • Royal Coffee Inc.
• Coffees of the World • Royal Coffee NY
• Colombian Coffee Federation • S. Ishimitsu & Co., Ltd.
• CTCS • Sucafina
• Diedrich Coffee • Tashiro Coffee
• Globus Coffee • UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.
• Horiguchi Coffee • Unicafe, Inc.
• International Coffee Corp. • VOLCAFE Specialty Coffee
• Kato Coffee Inc. • VOLCAFE USA
• Louis Dreyfus Coffee • Walker Coffee Trading
• Palm Beach Coffee Roasters • Wataru & Co., Ltd.
Licensing Partners

• The licensing program is complete in Japan.

• We have signed our first partner, Kanematsu.
• We expect significant demand and use of the Q
trademark names and logo in Japan.
• We are finalizing the agreement for
North America and now have our
first partner signed in April 2008.
• Program Overview
• Licensed Q Graders
• Program Benefits
• How it works
• Expansion of the Program
How it Works

The Basic Steps for a Country to

Enroll in the Q Program:
Cupper Training
Cupper Certification
Establish In-Country Partner
Begin Q Grading Services
Promote Graded Coffee to Buyers
How the Grading System Works

Corresponding Documents
Key Steps:
For Sellers |
(1) Producer or exporter
submits sample to In- Sample preparation guidelines
Country Partner (ICP) Registration Form
(2) ICP Schedules three Q Style Guide
Licensed Q Graders for
grading session For In-Country Partners |

(3) Coffee is evaluated and ICP Agreement

scored ICP Protocols
(4) Q Certificate or technical SCAA Roasting, Green, and Cupping Protocols
report is issued to the
producer or exporter by the Q Certificate / Technical Report Templates
ICP Q Style Guide
(5) CQI is copied on technical For Buyers |
report for web site posting
and buyer notification Licensing Agreement
Licensing Applications
Q Style Guide
How it Works

Role of the In-Country Partner (ICP):

• Manage and maintain lab facilities.
• Codify samples, keeping the owner anonymous from the
graders.
• Coordinate and schedule grading sessions, utilizing
three (3) Licensed Q Graders, with no ownership interest
in the coffees being graded.
• Ensure Q Grading Protocols are followed.
• Issue Q Certificates or Technical Reports to the owner.
• Report results to CQI and maintain adequate records of
all Q Grading activities.
How it Works

Scheduling a Grading:

The owner of the coffee or the owner’s

representative must contact the
in-country partner (ICP).
ICP listings are available on coffeeinstitute.org
How it Works

Registration Requirements:

The owner of the coffee or the owner’s

representative must prepare a sample according
the SCAA guidelines, complete the registration
form, and submit with payment

Forms and instructions available at coffeeinstitute.org

How it Works

Grading Fee:

Fees are assessed by country depending on local

costs. For comparison, fees in Central America
are set at US$360 per discrete lot.

Fee information can be obtained from the ICP.

How it Works

In-Country Partners:

In-country partners are selected by the Coffee

Quality Institute and verified to be equipped and
managed in accordance to the Q Grading
protocol set forth by CQI.

ICP Protocols may be found on coffeeinstitute.org

How it Works

Reporting Results:

The owner of the coffee will be provided either a

Q Certificate, if the coffee meets the
green grading requirements and scores
a minimum of 80 points out of a possible 100,
or a Technical Report if it does not.

A sample of this report may be found at: coffeeinstitute.org

How it Works

Credibility of the Q Grading System:

• Three (3) Licensed Q Graders are used per evaluation

• None of the Q Graders may have an ownership interest
in the coffee
• The ICP codifies the sample to keep the owner
anonymous to the Q Graders
• Results are reviewed and averaged by the ICP
• Results are also reviewed by CQI
• The Q Grading System
• Licensed Q Graders
• Program Benefits
• How it works
• Expansion of the Program
Expansion of the Program

Business Systems in Q Market Program

• Q Grading System
• Certification & Licensing System
• Q Tracking & Traceability System
Expansion of the Program
• Q Grading Services are currently offered in Central
America and in the U.S.
• We are actively working to bring Colombia, Ethiopia,
Kenya, and Japan on-line in 2008
• Q Grader training and testing is also scheduled in Brazil
and Mexico
• By 2009, we expect to have 14 countries established
with Q Grading Services and more than 500,000 bags
graded per year
• We are continuing to explore opportunities for an
electronic marketplace where all quality coffees can be
traded