In a landmark move for the specialty coffee industry, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has formally acquired the Q Grader Program from the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), marking a significant shift in the global evaluation and education standards for coffee professionals. As reported across multiple sources, this transition—effective from 1 October 2025—will position SCA as the sole operator of a newly evolved Q Grader license based on the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), signalling a pivotal transformation in how coffee quality is assessed and communicated.
Key Takeaways from Reports
According to Coffee Talk, the revised Q Grader Program will offer a globally recognised license rooted in the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment—a comprehensive framework introduced in 2023. This CVA broadens traditional quality metrics to include flavour, origin, sustainability efforts, and social factors, enhancing transparency and aligning quality standards across the value chain. The new program provides practical training in sensory evaluation, defect identification, and quality control, with fast-track options for current Q Graders available until the end of 2025.
STiR highlights that while CQI will no longer manage Q Grader certification, ties between the organisations remain strong through a newly announced grant agreement. Under this deal, the SCA will contribute a share of its education revenue—including from the new Q Grader courses—to support CQI’s development fund. This commitment ensures sustained investment in CQI’s initiatives, which include training coffee producers across more than 30 countries.
As detailed in International Communicafe, this announcement was among the key highlights of the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, which attracted thousands of professionals from 89 countries. Notably, Colombia became the first producing country to officially adopt the CVA as its national standard—reinforcing the model’s growing influence. This shared approach to evaluation enables producers and buyers to align on value, creating a more equitable and unified global marketplace.
Market Impact & Strategic Analysis
This transfer of ownership reflects a strategic consolidation of industry standards and educational infrastructure under a single authority. For SCA, it represents a vertical expansion into certification, allowing tighter integration of its assessment framework across training and quality control systems. Coffee professionals stand to benefit from a more consistent, modernised approach to quality evaluation, while producers gain a tool to better communicate their coffee’s unique attributes—potentially commanding higher prices.
For CQI, the grant-backed partnership ensures continued relevance and resourcing for its development programmes, especially at a time when traditional funding streams are under threat. The financial commitment from SCA effectively positions the organisation not just as a certifying body but as a key investor in global coffee development.
This deal also underscores a broader industry trend toward holistic value models in product evaluation. It echoes moves in other beverage sectors—such as wine and craft beer—where consumer demand for provenance, sustainability, and ethical production is reshaping quality narratives.
Summary & Industry Outlook
SCA’s acquisition of the Q Grader Program marks more than a change in management—it’s a strategic repositioning of how quality, value, and education intersect in the coffee sector. As the CVA gains traction, especially with national adoption in Colombia, expect more producing regions and certifying bodies to align with this model. For the global beverage industry, this shift signals a growing emphasis on standardised, multidimensional value systems that benefit stakeholders across the supply chain.