Q Grader Online Courses

Are Q Grader certificate and calibration courses offered online? Some Q programs created by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) may be delivered entirely online with online testing to obtain a certificate. As of 2024, only entry-level Q Processing courses are eligible. The curriculum for these courses covers post-harvest processing basics, including an introduction to standard coffee processing methods, good practices, and fermentation chemistry. A list of all available Q Courses, including online processing courses, is found in the schedule database on CQI’s website.

Q Grader coffee cupping (tasting) certificate courses are not offered online. The content of this program requires in-person instruction and evaluation of practical skills that cannot be easily duplicated online. However, using online materials allows someone to prepare to take a course. Free resources, including the Q Grader study guide posted on this website, can help you understand and prepare for the series of exams. Knowing how exams are structured and scored will help you perform better in your course. The guide also includes helpful tips from a longtime Q Grader and former Q Instructor who led classes worldwide.

In addition to written resources, check out this excellent, fully online Q Grader Prep course offered by our partners at CoffeeCourses.com. Led by industry expert and early Q Program designer Willem Boot, the prep course explores concepts outlined in the study guide in more detail. 

It’s one of a series of online knowledge and skills courses available individually or included in the Coffee Pro 3.0 education package on-demand.