The Q Grader Course is the leading international programme for professional coffee sensory evaluation, designed to develop and certify the skills required to analyse coffee quality in accordance with the official standards of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
Xorxios Aura
Q Grader Course
Certification and expertise in sensory analysis
This Q Grader programme — also known as the Evolved Q Grader — combines advanced theory, intensive tasting practice and a rigorous examination system that validates your skills as a certified professional cupper within a globally recognised framework.
Q-Grader Certification
The Q Grader certification is one of the most highly regarded qualifications in the speciality coffee sector and is recognised internationally as a professional accreditation. Upon successfully completing the course and passing the official exams, students are awarded the SCA certification, which attests to their ability to assess coffee physically and sensorially using standardised technical criteria.
This certification enables you to:
- Work as a certified Q Grader in global markets
- Participate in quality control, purchasing and sales of green coffee
- Provide technical expertise to roasters, farms, exporters and coffee laboratories
The programme is aligned with the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), the new coffee evaluation system established by the SCA.
Certified Q Grader training for coffee professionals
Who is the Q Grader Course aimed at?
This SCA-certified Q Grader training course is aimed at coffee professionals who wish to formalise, update and validate their sensory skills with an internationally recognised qualification.
It is particularly aimed at:
- Professional cuppers and quality control managers
- Green coffee buyers and sellers
- Roasters and roasting technicians
- Coffee producers and farm managers
Prior training in the Fundamentals of Cupping, experience in professional tasting or knowledge of the CVA protocol is highly recommended, although these are not mandatory requirements.
Q Grader Refresher Course
This training also serves as a Q Grader refreshing course for certified professionals who wish to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the new CVA system
- Reinforce advanced sensory skills
- Maintain a high technical standard in descriptive, affective, physical and extrinsic evaluation.
- Adapt to the new demands of the speciality coffee market
The course’s practical approach allows participants to recalibrate sensory criteria and improve consistency in professional decision-making.
Q-Grader course content
Sensory analysis and evaluation of coffee
The course provides training in advanced sensory analysis based on intensive practical work and structured technical assessment. Throughout the programme, students develop skills in:
Sensory analysis of coffee using descriptive, affective and combined cupping methods
Physical assessment of green coffee (defects, moisture content, size and colour)
Identification of roasting problems
Analysis of olfactory categories
Assessment of taste and aroma profiles
Triangulation exercises
Use of the four basic tastes (sweet, salty and sour)
Q-Grader course exams
The Q Grader course includes nine official exams that assess key skills in coffee sensory analysis, defect identification, triangulation and green coffee evaluation, leading to Q Grader certification.
1. Written exam
2. Cupping exam
3. Green physical assessment exam
4. Exam of problems in roasting
5. Descriptive assessment exam
6. Affective assessment exam
7. Olfactory categories exam
7. Triangulation exam
9. Exam of the main taste categories: sweet, salty and sour
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the courses take place?
All our courses are run twice a year, usually in March/April and September/October. When registration opens, we announce it by email and on our social media channels, and full details are available on our website. We recommend that you sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when courses open, as places tend to fill up quickly.
How can I find out the price of the programmes?
For full details of the course and the price, please feel free to fill in the form or write to us at cursos@xorxios.com
Are the courses accredited by the SCA?
Upon completion of the courses, you will receive a certificate issued by our centre – which is highly regarded within the industry – as Xorxios’ programmes cover content that goes beyond the SCA’s training standards. You will also have the opportunity to obtain the official Q Grader certification issued by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
Are the courses face-to-face or online?
All courses are face-to-face, as the sensory experience is essential.
What level do I need to be at to enrol on your courses?
Based on our 22 years of training experience, this is our recommendation:
- If you have no experience or are just starting out in coffee cupping: the Fundamentals of Cupping course.
- To take the Fundamentals of Roasting course, it is highly recommended that you have some cupping experience.
- To take the Q Grader course, it is essential to have completed the Fundamentals of Cupping course (which prepares you for the accredited cupping protocol), or to have extensive experience as a coffee cupper. Please note that to obtain the Q Grader certificate, you must pass all the exams; otherwise, you will have to restart the course and pay the full fee again.
Can I enrol on the courses as an individual?
No problem. If you’d like us to recommend the right course for your level, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, or simply request a registration form if you’ve already made up your mind.
