A Must-Read for Baristas! Q Grader Certification Increasing in Content and Price Starting 2023!

Yesterday, the CQI (Coffee Quality Institute) sent a notice about its latest reforms to the Q Grader certification to everyone who has passed the certification and everyone registered for upcoming Q Grader courses.

CQI noted that the Q Grader certification has earned international recognition through its professionalism and its commitment to consistent coffee quality assessment. Passing is no easy feat—every certified individual stands out as an elite taster. Q Grader is an authoritative credential the industry trusts, which is why demand for certified Q Graders spans every sector of the coffee trade.

New Annual Flavor Calibration Requirement

To keep all Q Grader course participants and certificate holders calibrated to the same standard, CQI has decided that starting January 1, 2023, everyone must complete one additional task each year: the Flavoractiv Calibration.

This is an independent course you complete on your own. Every certified Q Grader must finish the flavor calibration annually or lose their certification—which also means the validity period of the Q Grader credential is being shortened from three years to one.

Note carefully: the flavor calibration is a new yearly requirement on top of the existing triennial cupping calibration, which continues as before! In plain terms, what used to be one major exam every three years is now a minor exam every year, plus both a major and a minor exam in the third year—and every exam decides whether your certification survives.

Differences Between Flavor and Cupping Calibration

How does the new flavor calibration differ from cupping calibration? The big one: no instructor needs to be present. For the flavor calibration you simply order the food-grade calibration capsules from CQI's designated website, prepare and taste them according to the instructions, and upload your answers to the examination site to renew your credential.

According to CQI's official site, the annual certification exam runs in three windows: January 1 to April 30; May 1 to August 31; and September 1 to December 31. In other words, you just need to set aside one day somewhere in the 365-day year. (So why divide it into windows at all?)

Pricing and Group Options

CQI has also thoughtfully arranged "packages" for groups of different sizes to calibrate together:

• Individual portion: $160
• 6-12 people portion: $375 (about $31.3 per person)
• 24 people portion: $585 (about $24.4 per person)

And the contents of each "package" differ! All you Q Graders out there—hurry and find your partners to order together!

After reading the email, one phrase came to mind: "Annual renewal fee? The more people, the bigger the discount!"

We've already sat the exam, so renew we must—expensive or not, even if it's through tears!

Image source: Coffee Quality Institute official website

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Calibrated palates need good coffee to practice on. If you're just stepping into specialty coffee, FrontStreet Coffee suggests starting with these entry-level, high-value beans: the washed Chelbesa (Guodingding) from Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe, with clear jasmine florals, lemon acidity and berry tones; or the natural Huakui from Sidamo, packed with berry, floral, jackfruit, melon and honey notes.

If your taste runs to something fuller and gentler, try FrontStreet Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon—a classic cream, peanut and cocoa cup that's tasty and affordable—or Indonesia's PWN Golden Mandheling, triple hand-sorted for exceptional cleanliness, with distinct woody fragrance and caramel sweetness.