A Q Grader License is valid for a thirty-six (36) month period, to be tracked from date of the student’s initial Q Exams, and not from the completion date of any retakes if applicable. A Q Grader maintains a valid license at the end of the thirty-six (36) month period by successfully passing the Calibration. Testing described below. This document is applicable for both Q Arabica and Q Robusta Graders.
Allotted Timeframes for Q Calibration and Q Recertification
CQI's Q Program is consistently being evaluated and improved for quality assurance purposes. The allotted timeframes outlined below are meant to maintain the highest quality and experience for all attendees. It is the responsibility of Q Graders to understand and comply with all policies and procedures set forth by CQI.
Calibration Testing is required for those Q Graders whose licenses are about to expire or have already expired (within the allowed 6-month window, unless previously approved in writing by CQI). Q Grader Licenses will be reinstated and reissued for all Q Graders who pass the Calibration Testing. A Q Grader Calibration course must be completed within 1 year from the certificate expiration date (6 months before and 6 months after the date of the Q certificate expiration). Unless written consent is given by CQI, Q Graders may not participate in a Q Grader Calibration earlier or later than the allowed timeframe. Q Graders who do not pass the Calibration, or the retake of that calibration, will be required to take a Recertification Testing. Please refer to the above section for allotted timeframes.
Calibration is necessary first and foremost as an update to all the improvements that CQI frequently makes to its Q Program. Additionally, when Q Graders are not cupping frequently, and their taste sensitivity and attribute scoring become out of alignment for the quality of coffees they are presented compared to fellow cuppers, calibration is necessary. A calibration activity reestablishes the parameters of how to identify various quality levels in coffee, ranging from outstanding to very good (specialty grade), and down to commercial grade coffees. The activity will consist of three tasting sessions after one reference cupping and a brief presentation. During the Calibration Testing, the results of all cuppers are entered into an Excel document to assess their capacity for rating coffee attributes compared to the other cuppers, similar to the method in which they were evaluated in their Q Grader Testing - however, the allowed deviation is tighter, as the Cuppers are now considered as more experienced. The spreadsheet indicates if the cupper is in calibration or not, based on the quality of each of the coffees on the table. At the same time during this calibration session, Q Graders will also review the cupping protocols/standards for a Q evaluation, including: the rule of silent work, objective evaluation of varying grades of coffees, identification of defects, repeat coffees, or lower grade coffees; cupping protocols, green grading standards, and roasting/quaker tests according to SCA or CQI Protocols.
Calibration Testing is a one-day (1-day) exercise conducted by a certified Q Grader Instructor in which coffees are cupped in three (3) separate cupping sessions of six (6) samples each (cupping session)
Q Graders failing a Calibration test may retake one (1) time in order to renew their Q Grader license. If a Q Grader fails all three Cupping Sessions during their Calibration attempt - the Q Grader must re-certify and can not participate in a Calibration Retake.
Teaching staff
PRESIDENT OF D'CODES
HEAD OF EDUCATION TEAM
Authorized SCA Trainer - Trainers officially authorized to train by Specialty Coffee Association
SCA Professional Certificate Skills
CQI Q Arabica Grad
CQI Q Robusta Grader
Teaching staff
Q Grader Course Instructor
Southeast Asia's first Q Grader owns and operates Secangkirkopi, an F&B training and consulting company, and coffee lab 5758
Teaching staff
Mrs. HA CHUN
Cafe owner
Such a pleasure to meet people so passionate about brewing an excellent cuppa. And the coffee is simply the best!
Ms MAHK ZUMI
from Malaysia
Best place to learn coffee here.excellent coffee classes
Thu Anh Le
Barista
Full range of machines to learn and practice coffee courses. Have the opportunity to meet young and enthusiastic instructors, make friends and learn everything about becoming a professional barista, opening a coffee shop or simply learning more about coffee.
Trần Bá Hòa
Founder of Humming Bird Cafe & Roastery
My first coffee school. Highly recommend for sensory lab.
Others
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![[CQI] Q Arabica Grader](https://dcodeslab.coffee/uploads/items/cqi-q-arabica-grader-2402010959.png)
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