During the Specialty Coffee Expo at Houston, USA this April 2025, an announcement was made to the upcoming transition of the Q Grader Program. CQI is partnering with SCA to transition its management.
In other words, SCA is taking over all the Quality Evaluation programs from CQI. As of October 1, 2025, the SCA will be operating an evolved Q Grader program based on the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), and CQI will no longer be involved in the operations of the Q Grader Program.
Here’s what this means for you as an active Q Grader:
* Your current Q Grader certification *remains *valid until its expiration date**.
* Another piece of news is that **you are eligible for a fast track** to be recognized as an evolved Q Grader under the new system operated by SCA; certainly an _Evolving_ Q Grader program.
* This evolved program, based on the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), aims to expand the definition of ‘specialty’ and support industry collaboration. This mission may be well-purposed, we will have to see how it’s going to be executed.
* If you wish to qualify for the fast track, you have to complete the **two-day CVA for Cuppers course**.
* You must complete the CVA course by **December 31, 2025**, to get on this fast track.
For details of this fast-track, refer to this link from CQI.