Become a Certified Q Grader.
The gold standard in coffee sensory evaluation, and how the industry recognizes who it trusts to taste, grade, and value coffee.
What Is the Q Grader Certification?
An internationally recognized credential for coffee professionals with experience in cupping and sensory analysis. Issued by the Specialty Coffee Association, it's awarded to those who complete the Q Grader course and pass all required assessments, and it's renewable every three years through continued professional development.
- 1
Strengthen your sensory analysis skills
- 2
Evaluate coffee using standardized methods
- 3
Improve accuracy and consistency in cupping
- 4
Develop a clear vocabulary to describe coffee quality
Who the Course Is Designed For.
This course is built for experienced coffee professionals, including:
- Coffee professionals working in quality control, sourcing, or roasting
- Individuals with experience in cupping or sensory evaluation
- Those looking to deepen their expertise in specialty coffee
You're Ready If
- You Have Prior Cupping Experience
- You Have Experience Tasting and Evaluating Coffee
- You're Familiar With the CVA Forms
Don't Feel Ready Yet? Start Here.
Build the base first. Time spent preparing for the course helps increase your chance of success.
Career Pathways for Q Graders.
The certification strengthens your professional credibility and opens opportunities across the coffee industry.
How to Become a Q Grader.
Complete the six-day Q Grader Course and pass all nine assessments. The course builds and tests your ability to evaluate coffee to a professional standard, covering a coffee's physical quality, flavour and aroma, overall cup quality, and origin characteristics, with a full day off partway through so you're rested for the exams.
Course Structure
- Duration
- Six consecutive days, in person
- Rest Day
- One full day off partway through, so you're rested for the exams
- Focus
- Sensory evaluation, cupping, and green coffee grading, built on the CVA
- Outcome
- Q Grader Certification upon successful completion, valid for three years
Assessments
- Nine in Total
- Eight practical evaluations and one written exam
- Attempts
- Three attempts at each assessment, practical and written
- To Pass
- All nine must be passed to earn the certification
Cupping & Physical Assessment
Descriptive Assessment
Triangulation & Roast Faults
A Day OffRest and reset.
Affective Assessment
Extrinsic Assessment
Value Discovery & Finals
Reserve Your Spot in the Course.
Seats for each course are limited, and popular dates fill up early, so it's worth booking ahead to secure your place.
What's Included
- All the coffees we cup, across origins and roasts
- All CVA forms, worksheets, and exam sheets
- All equipment and supplies
- Six full days with an authorized SCA Q Instructor
- All nine assessments, with every attempt included
- SCA exam and certification fees
- Lunch and snacks each day
CAD. Certifications included.
Choose the instalment option at checkout.
Trent Rollings
Trent has spent more than twelve years in coffee, opening and running shops, a roastery, and this school, across the Philippines, Türkiye, and Canada. Today he's the lead educator at Timberline Coffee School, an authorized SCA Q Instructor, and an accredited SCA Trainer.
He's also a World Coffee Championships Representative and Certified Judge, so what you learn in the course comes from someone working at the top level of the craft.
What People Say After the Course.
I've taken a few of Trent's courses now, and I don't think there's a better instructor in Canada.
I left the program feeling seen. Not just as a student, but as a coffee professional and someone with something to give back to the industry.
Well organized, clear communication throughout, and Trent was quick to answer any question I had. A great instructor.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I Need Experience to Sign Up?
There's no formal prerequisite, but this course is built for people who already evaluate coffee. You should be comfortable with the CVA forms and confident cupping. If you're not there yet, start with CVA for Cuppers or Sensory Skills and take the Q when you're ready to pass it.
How Long Is It?
Six days, 9am to 5pm, around 48 hours in total, with a rest day built into the middle. Every teaching day pairs a bit of theory with a lot of hands-on cupping practice, and the exams are spread across the course.
What Exams Are There, and How Many Tries Do I Get?
Nine assessments: eight practical evaluations and one written exam. You get three attempts at each assessment, practical and written. You need to pass all nine to earn the certification.
What Certification Do I Actually Get?
Pass all nine assessments and the SCA issues your Q Grader Certification, recognized globally across sourcing, roasting, and quality control. The certification fee is included in your course price.
Does the Certification Expire?
The certification is renewable every three years through continued professional development. You won't need to retake the six-day course to renew.
How Is This Different From the Old Q?
The SCA now runs the Q, and it's built on the Coffee Value Assessment instead of a single score. You still taste and grade, but the focus is on describing a coffee clearly and judging whether it's right for a given buyer or market.
How Do I Prepare?
Keep cupping in the run-up, get familiar with the CVA protocol and forms, and taste widely across origins. The SCA's how to prepare guide is a good place to start. Arrive rested; it's an intensive course with a lot of tasting.
Can I Get a Refund If My Plans Change?
Full refund up to 30 days before the start date. Within 30 days we'll happily move your seat to another upcoming course.
