SCA Certified Q Grader Course
SCA Q Grader Course
The Q Grader Program has evolved to support the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) and is now driven by a new partnership between CQI and SCA. Beginning October 1, 2025, SNOW BEANS LAB (SCA Premier Training Campuses) will offer the new Q Grader Program with SCA Authorized Q Instructor NaRa. The Q Grader Course is a six-day program. There are no special prerequisites, but participants are strongly encouraged to have prior knowledge or experience in coffee value assessment (CVA), cupping, sensory evaluation, and green coffee evaluation.
This Course is a Six-Day Intensive Program
This course is a six-day intensive program that evaluates whether participants are prepared to conduct coffee assessment in a professional environment. The curriculum is built around the Coffee Value Assessment and is designed for experienced coffee professionals to demonstrate their ability to evaluate coffee from the following perspectives.
The course includes a total of nine comprehensive exams: eight practical exams and one written exam.
Each exam may be attempted up to two times. To complete the course, participants must pass all practical and written exams. For candidates who take Q Course exams on or after May 22, 2026 and do not pass within the maximum two attempts during the course, a third retake may be requested at a later Q Course. In that case, SCA registration fees and retake exam fees will apply separately. Please contact the instructor at the course venue for details.
This grants an initial license valid for three years. Q Graders can renew their license every three years, but they do not need to take the six-day course again for renewal.
- Physical characteristics
- Descriptive characteristics
- Affective characteristics
- Extrinsic attributes
Now Accepting ApplicationsNow Accepting
Please check the card for schedule details.
SCA Certified Q Grader Course
[Date] October 4 (Sun) – October 9 (Fri), 2026, 9:30–18:00 approx. each day
Start and end times are subject to change.
[Fee] ¥200,000 (tax included)
Includes SCA registration fee.
A license will be issued to those who pass the written and practical examinations.
[Capacity] 12 participants
If the minimum number of 6 participants is not reached, the course may be postponed.
The end time may be shortened or extended depending on course progress.
Instructor
Nara (SCA Q Instructor / SCA CSP Instructor)
Executive Director of SNOW BEANS COFFEE
Executive Director of SNOW BEANS.LAB
SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) Specialized Instructor
SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) AST (for all Modules)
SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) Q Instructor
Course Photos
Notes
After applying, payment information will be provided in order of application.
Participant information must be registered in the SCA database before the course begins. Please note that information provided at the time of application may be shared by SNOW BEANS LAB with SCA.
Official pass/fail results are determined after the course, once SCA headquarters has completed the score review.
Participants must log in to the SCA website to check results and obtain certificates.
Participant information is managed in the SCA database, which participants can access through the SCA website to confirm certificates and related information.
For other information about the Q Grader Program, please refer to the SCA website.
Venue / Contact
SNOW BEANS COFFEE
135-0004
5-19-18 Morishita, Koto-ku, Tokyo
5-14-17 Morishita, Koto-ku, Tokyo
tel / fax 03-6240-2836 ／ info@sbo.co.jp