Becoming a Q Grader is probably one of the most tough certifications in the entire coffee industry. It requires tough studying, 20 different tests — often with multiple attempts — with a pass rate of around 25-30%. And it’s exorbitantly pricey, sometimes reaching thousands of dollars if travel is required to pass the exams.
This is why Good form of coffee started cooperation with Royal Coffee offer two scholarships for the upcoming Q course held at The Crown in Oakland. I Scholarship applications are already open.
The six-day course will be led by Trish Rothgeb, co-founder of Good Form, owner of Wrecking Ball Coffee in San Francisco and instructor Coffee Quality Institute—the institution that awards the Q. Rothgeb will work with Evan Gilman, original director of Royal Coffee and assistant instructor of CQI. The goal of the fellowship is to make the resources that come with the Q certification available to coffee professionals who otherwise could not afford them. (The same Q course and exam at Royal Coffee normally cost $1,995.)
“We recognize that coffee professionals who would benefit from a Q Grader course may not always be able to afford the expense. Offering a scholarship will support democratize coffee education and open up modern opportunities for recipients,” Rothgeb said in a press release.
The course will run from July 27 to August 1 and will cover all nine modules required for the Q certificate. Applications for the scholarship are open until July 12 and can be submitted Here. Recipients will be notified July 17. The scholarship will cover course costs, but any meals, transportation, lodging, etc. will be the responsibility of the recipient.
For more information about the scholarship and the Q course, please visit the scholarship website Application page and Royal Coffee Q Course Event Page.
