Since the Specialty Coffee Association announced recently that it is moving to a new system of coffee evaluation based on the Coffee Value Assessment form, or CVA, we have gotten questions about what this news means for CQI’s work and community. This resource is designed to answer the most common questions we have been asked.
1. What does this mean for CQI’s education programs? CQI may be recognized as the industry leader in training and certification of coffee cuppers, but cupping training is only part of what we do, and the cupping form is just one tool we use in our Quality Evaluation program. CQI currently offers an array of classes and courses across two programs, one in Quality Evaluation and one in Post-Harvest Processing, with more new offerings scheduled for 2025. We will continue to pursue our mission to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it.
2. What does this mean for my Q Grader Certification? This has no impact on your Q Grader Certification, which is still valid and still signifies that you have the skills of a professional cupper. Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) will continue to train, test, and certify Q Graders as it has done for the past 20 years.
3. What cupping form will be used in Q Courses? CQI will continue to use the 2004 cupping form in its Quality Evaluation program offerings, including the Q Grader course, for the foreseeable future.
4. Will CQI change cupping forms in the future? We are not planning to change forms at this time. CQI has always seen cupping forms as tools in service of our larger objective of helping cuppers succeed. We know there are many coffee quality evaluation forms in use across the coffee sector, and we believe our approach prepares people to use all of them more effectively.
5. What changes should we expect in the Q? As part of our commitment to continue to deliver industry-leading coffee sensory education, CQI has introduced modest changes to the Q over the years, releasing new-and-improved versions on a periodic basis. Currently, CQI is engaged in a far-reaching assessment designed to help us better understand the current responsibilities of cuppers, and the skills they need to succeed in the industry today and into the future. As we see opportunities for improvement in our offerings to help cuppers develop these skills, we will work with members of our community to develop enrichments to our current offerings. Any future changes will be announced with plenty of time for our community to provide feedback and prepare.
6. Does CQI have any opinion about the new evaluation system? CQI welcomes the introduction of any tool that improves the evaluation of coffee and serves the interests of the people who produce it.
