What Is a Q Grader? The Coffee Tasters Behind SCA Scores
Behind every SCA score on a specialty bag is a trained taster. Here is who they are and what they do.
The Short Answer
How Q Graders Are Certified
Candidates attend a multi-day course and sit a series of exams on sensory skill and green coffee knowledge. Passing earns a license, and it has to be renewed by recertifying, so scores stay calibrated between tasters.
That shared calibration is the point: a 88 from one Q Grader should mean roughly the same as an 88 from another. See the full scale in What Is a Good Coffee Cupping Score?
What a Q Grader Scores
| Attribute | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Fragrance and aroma | The smell of the dry grounds and the wet coffee after water is added. |
| Flavor and aftertaste | The main taste impression, and what lingers after you swallow. |
| Acidity and body | Brightness on the palate, and the weight or texture of the liquid. |
| Balance and sweetness | How the parts fit together, and how much natural sweetness shows. |
| Uniformity and clean cup | Consistency across cups, and freedom from off-tastes. |
| Overall and defects | The taster’s final impression, with points removed for flaws. |
Want to try it? Use the SCA cupping score calculator to turn your own notes into a score.
Scored Coffees in Our Index
| Coffee | Roaster | SCA score |
|---|---|---|
| Panama Elida Estate | Dune Coffee Roasters | 95 |
| Naranjas Nadando | PT's Coffee Roasting Co. | 95 |
| Ethiopia Rumadamo Anaerobic Natural | Olympia Coffee Roasting Co | 94 |
| El Salvador Jasal Orange Geisha Anaerobic Natural | Klatch Coffee | 94 |
| Belle Espresso | Klatch Coffee | 94 |
These are the highest published scores in our index. Many fine coffees are unscored, so a missing number is not a warning sign. Learn to read the rest of the label in How to Read a Coffee Bag Label.