Course Dates And Place

• Quito Ecuador 18 - 23 August 2025

• Early Registration $2,750 (less IVR tax)

It may be less expensive for you to enroll, fly round trip to Quito and stay at a local hotel rather than doing all of the course and travel with the US or European course costs and travel expenses. Plus you get the advantage of taking your Q Course in a coffee producing country with a great diversity of coffee professionals.

The $2,750 usd includes:

Full access to the Q Grader Arabica Combo Training & Exam 

Official materials and our digital study guide

Use of calibrated lab and equipment

Three on-line training sessions (1 in June, 1 in July, 1 in August)

CQI exam registration and certificate (upon passing all modules)

Seven (7) nights of hotel accommodation (check in 17 Aug / check out 24 Aug)

Airport transfers for arrival & departure

Daily roundtrip transportation between hotel and lab

Daily breakfast & lunch during the course dates

Light refreshments at the lab

For those interested, and for a small additional charge we can easily facilitate a trip to Mitad Del Mundo / The Middle Of The Earth as well as a coffee farm tour.

Upon enrollment in one of Todd Arnette's Q Grader Courses, you will receive a pre-course study and preparation guide. An in-depth training exercise workbook will also be provided on Q Day 1

Q Arabica Grader Training And Exam Course 

What is Q Grader License Course and Exam all about?

A Q Grader Course and Exam is a 6 Day course designed to critically evaluate a broad sensory analysis skillset. The first 3 day period involves some teaching of the subject matter, and how we will be evaluating your skills. There will be a practice test version of each of the 20 exams that will be taken over the second 3 day period. The 20 exams are designed to evaluate competency and sensory acuity in a number of areas closely associated with coffee cupping and grading.   

What is an Active Q Grader?

You will become an active Q Grader upon receiving your Q Grader License. Further, an active Q Grader puts in the effort to maintain their calibration to the Q Community by calibrating their skills every 36 months with a 1-Day, 3-Cupping Table and Flavor Standards official exercise. Q Graders are accredited coffee cuppers, licensed by CQI, and are the backbone of the Q Coffee System developed by the Coffee Quality Institute.

Who should pursue the Q?

By itself, the Q Grader License has become a widely successful gold standard of competency among those who cup coffee. Q Graders impact on the Specialty Coffee Industry has been tremendous. The Q Grader curriculum is designed as a certification course for those who routinely taste and evaluate coffee as a part of their profession.

The Q Grader License exams are recommended for any coffee professional who routinely evaluates the quality of coffee: coffee producers (farmers), coffee importers and exporters, green buyers, roasters, quality control personnel and baristas can benefit from what they learn about coffee and themselves from the Q Grader License series of exams. 

What If I Do Not Pass My Q Exams?

Although thousands of coffee professionals pursue the accreditation each year, only about 65% or so pass and obtain their license in their first attempt. It is not uncommon to need a retake for one or more of the exams. If you do not pass the exams on your first attempt, you do not need to repeat the entire course, merely the exam or exams that you need to retake. Since the exam series is offered all over the globe, you may take your retakes at a lab that is conveniently located to where you are currently located. If you require retake exams, you have up to 18 months from the original course date to complete or retake all outstanding exams to earn your Q Grader License. You may join 2 additional Q Courses from your original Q Course while pursuing your retake exams. Each License is valid for 36 months, after which time a calibration course must be taken in order to remain active.

Course Dates And Places

• Quito Ecuador 24-29 July 2023

• Jeddah Saudi Arabia 9-14 September 2023
  

Upon enrollment in one of Todd Arnette's Q Grader Courses, you will receive a pre-course study and preparation guide. An in-depth training exercise workbook will also be provided on Q Day 1