The recent shift in the coffee industry has left many Q graders in shock. The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) licensed its Q program to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), causing uncertainty among coffee professionals. This change threatens the established standards of coffee quality evaluation, which could ultimately affect consumers' daily brews.
• Q graders are essential in connecting coffee farmers to consumers by assessing the quality of beans.
• The SCA plans to manage the Q program starting in October, but will replace its standards with the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), which lacks the same utility for the industry.
• Many Q graders feel blindsided and worried about their future, with some already experiencing significant income loss.
• The SCA's approach to coffee evaluation emphasizes scientific objectivity, while the CQI values community consensus and shared language in quality assessment.
This transition is crucial because it could change how coffee is sourced and evaluated. Consumers might notice a difference in the quality of coffee they drink, depending on how these new standards are applied. The future of coffee quality hangs in the balance as professionals seek to redefine evaluation methods.
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