Become a Q Grader at CoffeeNutzHQ İzmir
Where the cup becomes a price, a curve, or a contract: that work requires Q Grader certification. Six days at CoffeeNutzHQ İzmir, in English.
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About the course
CoffeeNutzHQ in İzmir hosts the SCA Q Grader certification course in both English and Turkish. The program is delivered by Ömer Aydın, an SCA-appointed Q Instructor and AST since 2015. He delivered the first Türkçe-language Q Grader cohort in March 2026.
Until recently, professionals working between İstanbul and the Gulf had to fly to Western Europe or North America for English-language Q Grader certification. The closest accredited site running in English is in İzmir.
Six days. Eight practical exams. One written. Certification valid globally for three years.
What a Q Grader is (and isn't)
A Q Grader is certified to evaluate coffee quality at an internationally recognized standard. The credential is given to those whose readings of a coffee align statistically with those of other Q Graders. The role within the industry is best described as "calibrated, independent expert."
Q Grader certification covers sensory evaluation through cupping and assessment of unroasted material (green coffee), proven through formal exams. The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) handed the program over to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) in October 2025; today the certification continues under SCA, applying the same global protocol used in every accredited site worldwide.
Q Grader is not an introduction to cupping. The class tests calibration; it does not teach it from scratch. Candidates are expected to arrive comfortable with the SCA cupping protocol, sensory vocabulary, and basic green grading. For pure curiosity, the SCA Coffee Skills program (specifically Sensory Skills at Foundation or Intermediate level) is a more appropriate starting point.
Who this course is for
If your reading of a coffee determines a price, a roast curve, or a contract, the credential is built for your work. If you produce a defensible score rather than a personal preference, this is the global standard for that score.
In practice you see Q Graders most often in four roles.
1. Green coffee buyers and traders making purchasing calls on lots, where the score determines the price and the contract.
2. Roasters and roastery quality leads running selection, calibration, and release approval for in-house coffees.
3. Quality control specialists at origin and at the importer level, whose scores must align with downstream buyer expectations.
4. Educators and consultants, including ASTs and sensory trainers, whose teaching or advice carries more weight when backed by Q Grader calibration.
If one of those describes your work, the next English cohort is the right path.
Exam structure: 8 practical + 1 written
The Q Grader exam is built into the six-day class, beginning on day two. Each module is independently graded; failing one or two does not invalidate the rest, and individual retakes are possible within a defined window after the class.
In SCA-documented order:
- Cupping Skills: observed during Triangulation and Affective Cupping (no separate sitting).
- Roasting Problems: identifying common roast errors under blind tasting.
- Physical Assessment (Green Grading): defect identification per the SCA defect handbook, plus screen size, color, moisture analysis.
- Descriptive Assessment: cupping under the structured CVA descriptive vocabulary.
- Affective Assessment: preference-based scoring relative to an intended audience.
- Olfactory Category Examples: aroma identification and group categorization using the Le Nez du Café 60-aroma kit.
- Triangulation: the triangle test (find the odd cup in three).
- Main Taste Solutions: sweet, sour, and salty solutions at varying concentrations.
Plus one written exam: 55 questions online, 80% pass threshold, three attempts allowed.
The Evolved Q Grader format, which achieved full global validity in October 2025, is the curriculum delivered at every cohort.
Cost
110.000 ₺ (approximately $2,400 as of May 2026), all-inclusive:
- Six-day intensive instruction
- All meals throughout the course
- SCA Q Grader certificate (issued by SCA upon successful completion)
- Turkish VAT (KDV) included
Excluded: travel to İzmir, lodging.
Payment options: Only credit card from the reservation page. Six-month installment available for TRY-denominated payment (kredi kartı, no surcharge).
Getting here
Travel. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) has direct connections from İstanbul, Tbilisi, Doha, Dubai, Amman, London (Stansted, Gatwick), Milan, Rome, and other hubs.
Visas. Türkiye offers e-visa or visa-on-arrival for citizens of most regional countries. Confirm individual entry requirements before booking.
Stay. CoffeeNutz can recommend partner accommodations near the training site at preferential rates.
Language. Both English and Turkish cohorts are offered through the year. Mixed groups can be accommodated with prior coordination.
Upcoming cohorts
All up-to-date cohort dates are available on the reservation page.
Capacity: 6 candidates per cohort.
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About Ömer
Ömer Aydın is the founder of CoffeeNutz (since August 2013) and Türkiye's first SCA-certified roaster. He has been an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST) since 2015 and earned his Q Grader Instructor credential in November 2025. In March 2026, he delivered the first Türkçe-language Q Grader certification cohort at CoffeeNutzHQ İzmir.
He has trained coffee professionals from Türkiye, Georgia, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Italy, UK and other regional markets. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan roaster earned his SCA Roasting PRO certification at CoffeeNutz.
Questions before applying
Can I take the Q Grader course in English in Türkiye?
Yes. CoffeeNutzHQ delivers Q Grader cohorts in both English and Turkish. For English cohorts, course materials, oral instruction, and exam administration are all in English.
Where is CoffeeNutzHQ located?
İzmir, Türkiye. Direct flights to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) from İstanbul, Tbilisi, Doha, Dubai, Amman, and other regional hubs.
Is the certification recognized globally?
Yes. The Q Grader certification issued by SCA is recognized at every accredited site worldwide.
How long is the certificate valid?
Three years. Renewal requires recalibration; SCA has not yet announced specific recalibration requirements.
What if I fail one of the exam modules?
Two attempts are allowed during the class itself, with the final day typically reserved for retakes. For any module not passed in those two attempts, SCA permits a third retake, which must be completed within one year of the course end date. The third retake carries a separate SCA module fee and is booked through our SCA retake page.
What level of preparation is expected?
Candidates should arrive comfortable with the SCA cupping protocol, sensory vocabulary, and basic green grading. A WhatsApp prep group runs in the weeks before each cohort to align candidate readiness.
How do I apply?
Use the Apply button at the top or bottom of this page. For questions before applying, use the contact form or email directly.
Apply for the next cohort or Send us a question