Quality & Grading
Grading, sensory evaluation, defects, cup quality and evidence used to verify professional coffee standards.
Understanding the Coffee Quality Institute and Its Fine Robusta Revolution
Understanding the Coffee Quality Institute and Its Fine Robusta Revolution What Is the Coffee Quality Institute CQI ? The Coffee Quality Institute CQI is a nonprofit organization that has worked internationally since 1996 to improve the quality of coffee...
What Does CQI Do for the Global Coffee Industry?
4. What Does CQI Do for the Global Coffee Industry? Introduction With Q Grader operations now under SCA, a common question in 2026 is: what does CQI actually do today? Why This Matters Buyers and brand owners referencing "CQI" in marketing or sourcing...
What Is the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) and Why It Matters
1. What Is the Coffee Quality Institute CQI and Why It Matters Introduction The Coffee Quality Institute CQI is a nonprofit organization that has spent three decades working to raise coffee quality standards and improve the livelihoods of the farmers who...
Specialty Robusta Direct Farm Contracts: How Roasters Should Evaluate Scaling Claims
A verification framework for claims that direct farm contracts enabled a roastery to scale specialty Robusta. It removes an invented Tokyo case and unsupported volume growth, cost, margin, defect, traceability and customer outcomes while preserving the useful sourcing decision logic.
Common Mistakes Producers Make in CQI Robusta Grading
18. Common Mistakes Producers Make in CQI Robusta Grading Introduction Producers aiming for Fine Robusta status sometimes fall short for avoidable reasons — here are the most common pitfalls. Why This Matters Understanding these mistakes helps producers...
Understanding the Coffee Quality Institute's Grading System
8. Understanding the Coffee Quality Institute's Grading System Introduction CQI's grading system is the technical backbone behind terms like "Q score" and "Fine Robusta" — here's how it actually works. Why This Matters Buyers negotiating on the basis of a...
Why the Coffee Quality Institute Was Founded
6. Why the Coffee Quality Institute Was Founded Introduction CQI wasn't created to hand out certificates — it was created to fix a specific, practical problem in how coffee was bought and sold. Why This Matters Understanding the "why" behind CQI explains...
Historical CQI Fine Robusta Grading Protocol: How to Read Legacy Records in 2026
How to interpret legacy CQI/UCDA Fine Robusta grading records in 2026, including the 2025 transition to SCA Q Grader and Coffee Value Assessment.
Coffee Quality Institute 101: What Every Buyer Should Know
15. Coffee Quality Institute 101: What Every Buyer Should Know Introduction For coffee buyers, here's the practical, need-to-know version of what CQI is and how its standards affect sourcing decisions in 2026. Why This Matters A quick, accurate...
The Role of Q Robusta Graders in Fine Robusta Certification
17. The Role of Q Robusta Graders in Fine Robusta Certification Introduction Every Fine Robusta score traces back to a certified professional applying a specific skill set — here's exactly what that role involves. Why This Matters Understanding the...
Fine Robusta Quality Evidence: What Should Be on a Lot Sheet?
A buyer-focused guide to the lot-level evidence behind Fine Robusta: lot identity, Cambodian origin and traceability, harvest and processing, physical preparation, sample context, cupping, packaging, commercial terms and export documentation.
Cambodia's Fine Robusta Journey – A Case Study in Quality Transformation
Cambodia's Fine Robusta Journey – A Case Study in Quality Transformation Cambodia's emerging Fine Robusta story became more concrete in 2025 when coffee from Mondulkiri associated with KOFI was publicly reported as having received an 80.5-point evaluation...