Q Grader Course Williamsburg VA

Course Dates And Place

• Williamsburg, VA: Fri. 6 Mar - Wed. 11 Mar 2026
• Course Fees: $1650.00 usd
• Academy of Coffee Excellence

Upon paid enrollment in one of Todd Arnette's Q Grader Courses, you will receive a pre-course study and preparation guide. An in-depth training exercise workbook will also be provided on Q Day 1

What is Q Grader License Course and Exam all about?

The goal of the Q Grader Course is to license professional coffee evaluators in their use of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) system. The target audience for this course is coffee professionals with prior experience in cupping, sensory assessment of roasted coffee, and evaluation of green coffee. The Q Grader Course consists of nine exam components. Each exam component has been designed to assess the learner’s mastery of specific competencies needed to be an effective coffee evaluator

This 6-Day course will introduce knowledge and skills with significant time to practice and continue developing coffee evaluation skills. Your existing coffee evaluation experience paired with our attendee focused teaching and training style should more than adequately prepare you for the practical and written exams.

After completing this course, attendees will be able to…

• Explain key theoretical concepts in Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) and advise on the implementation of CVA in professional settings.

• Conduct physical, descriptive, affective, and extrinsic assessments to comprehensively identify and document attributes in coffee.

• Apply a high level of self-awareness and a knowledge of market preferences to evaluate a coffee’s value from different perspectives.

The Q Grader course provides an opportunity for experienced coffee professionals to sharpen their theoretical understanding and practical application of Coffee Value Assessment (CVA). Using research-informed, industry-standard tools and techniques, course participants will use physical, descriptive, affective, and extrinsic assessments to identify attributes and evaluate coffees from a variety of perspectives. Through rich discussions and a rigorous series of hands-on activities, this course centers real-world applications of CVA, equipping the experienced coffee professional with a comprehensive set of skills that can be applied in a variety of industry contexts. Course participants who pass all assessments become licensed Q Graders, a key achievement for any professional seeking to demonstrate their excellence in coffee evaluation.

Prior to attending this course the SCA Q Grader candidate should read and understand the following 7 documents that are available free at https://sca.coffee/value-assessment

1. A System To Assess Coffee Value (the protocol document)
2. SCA Standard 102 Sample Preparation And Tasting Mechanics
3. SCA Standard 103 Descriptive Assessment
4. SCA Standard 104 Affective Assessment
5. SCA Standard 105 Extrinsic Assessment
6. SCA Standard 710 Professional Competencies
7. Towards A Definition Of Specialty Coffee