Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association, and CQI CEO Michael Sheridan signed a new grant agreement pledging funds from SCA’s educational programs to CQI at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston. Photo credit: Specialty Coffee Association
Two major announcements were made this past weekend at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, Texas, regarding the longstanding partnership between the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). The first heralds an evolution in coffee assessment and education, while the second celebrates the SCA’s pledge to financially support the impactful developments and advances made by the CQI.
On April 24th, SCA announced that, starting October 1, 2025, management of the content and education for the Q Grader Program will transition from CQI to SCA. The new evolved Q Grader Program is the first and only curriculum based on the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment (CVA). Introduced in 2023, the CVA encompasses more than just a coffee’s intrinsic characteristics. It evaluates four different dimensions, including extrinsic details such as origin, processing methods, social factors of the producer, sustainability efforts, and certifications, as well as other vital aspects of the coffee’s story.
“Coffee is more than a score,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association. “The partnership between SCA and CQI to evolve the Q Grader program is the latest milestone towards delivering on the SCA’s purpose to make coffee better! Upon completion of the program, Q Graders holding the evolved, CVA-based license will set the standard for modern coffee evaluation. Through a system that takes a holistic view of value in coffee, they’ll play a key role in driving progress in the global specialty coffee industry.”
Those already certified as Q graders or instructors can update their licenses by completing the fast-tracked SCA’s CVA for Cuppers course by December 31, 2025.
Although CQI is no longer involved with the Q Grader Program, ties between the two organizations remain strong. A new grant agreement involving CQI and SCA was announced on April 26th at the CQI’s 25th Annual Specialty Coffee Expo Luncheon. SCA will contribute a percentage of its annual education revenues, including those from the new Q Grader system, to support CQI's research and development projects.
"The Specialty Coffee Association is honored to support the Coffee Quality Institute’s Development Fund and its vital role in advancing inclusive, sustainable development across the coffee sector,” Apostolopoulos added. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to center producers, recognize the full value of coffee, and make coffee better for everyone across the value chain."
Using funding from public and private-sector donors, the Coffee Quality Institute has spent the last 20 years training and educating producers and processors in over 30 different coffee-growing countries.
“It’s hard to overestimate the importance of this agreement for CQI and the people we serve,” said CQI CEO Michael Sheridan. “At a time when traditional sources of funding for development assistance are being eliminated, SCA is stepping into the vacuum and demonstrating real leadership. Its financial commitment to CQI will enable us to expand the scope of our work in the places where coffee is grown.”
The grant agreement provides vital and ongoing funding for CQI’s essential endeavors in coffee production areas and makes SCA a leading investor in CQI’s efforts to improve coffee quality. CQI played a pivotal role in the development of the Q grading system, and its partnership with SCA ensures that both coffee and the lives of its producers continue to advance.