We are excited to announce that our first SCAA Cupping Judge Course & Q-Grader Test was a success!

During the first week of December, Coffee Solutions held a 5-day SCAA Cupping Judge course and Q-Grader Test at the Hopedale lab.  Marty Curtis, SCAA Cupping Judge, Licensed Q-Grader and certified course instructor for both the SCAA Cupping Judge Course and certified to administer the Q-Grader Test, led six students through sensory exercises, lectures, and tests.

"Marty's teaching style is approachable, encouraging, and very organized, which made taking this course especially rewarding," said Tracy Allen of Brewed Behavior, a student in the course.  "He understands the complexities of cupping and actually enjoys being challenged by students."  Marty, of Combustion System Sales & Service, Inc. is known throughout the industry for his values of integrity, teamwork, and education to improve the understanding of coffee. 

"I try to set up the right environment to accommodate students who have natural cupping ability as well as those who need to learn it as a more technical skill. I try to teach classes in a way that no one in the class feels like they are in over their heads," says Marty.

These courses and tests, known collectively as "The Q" in the industry, are actually several different combinations of exercises and tests, varied not just in material but delivery.  We often get asked what the difference is between the SCAA Cupping Judge course and the Q-Grader Test.  The difference is that the same material that is covered in 5 days for the SCAA Cupping Judge is taught and then tested but the Q-Grader Test is the test only with no supplemental instruction or exercises. This makes the SCAA Cupping Judge course ideal for most people in the industry whose daily work includes not just cupping but also other responsibilities.  At the end of the SCAA Cupping Judge Course, students whose scores qualify can submit their results to the certifying body to qualify as Q-certified.  There is also an additional written test, after the sensory exercises, that applicants must complete for the Q-Grader license which is administered at the end of our SCAA Cupping Course.  The 5-day format of the SCAA Cupping Judge course gives students time for learning and practicing required skills for sensory exercises with the opportunity to achieve the same certificates and licenses as the 3-day Q-Grader Test, so our SCAA Cupping Judge Course is able to deliver the best of both worlds.

Tracy emphasized, "The most difficult challenge was the rigorous testing that takes place relatively quickly.  The cupping comes fast and furious, day by day, without much room for error and recovery. My suggestion to others is to cup everything you can get your hands on before you attempt this class, often 1 or 2 points means pass or fail."

Marty agrees: "I would recommend that if your ultimate goal is to pass the Q-program, the SCAA Cupping Judge Course is a great way to start, as this will bring you up to speed on how to use the SCAA Cupping form correctly and get comfortable with the protocols, and of course if your score qualifies, you can use your results of the SCAA Cupping Judge course towards your Q-license."

If you're interested in the SCAA Cupping Judge course or Q-Grader Test, our next offering of this SCAA Cupping Judges course and Q-grader Test will be March 23-27.  The cost for this course is $1000 per student and includes lunch all five days.  We offer an early-bird registration discount of $100 to anyone who registers before February 21. The protocols are rigorous for us, too: this course must be for exactly six students, so we invite you to take advantage of the early-bird registration discount and secure your place in the March class.  Registration is secured with a 50% non-refundable deposit.  Please call us at 508-422-9233 or email rob@coffeesolutions.net for more information.

 

 

This has already been an exciting year for the World Barista Championship, and definitely one of the most important new developments are the remotely held, brand-new, Judges Certification Workshops.  I was thrilled to be a part of the very first one, in Guatemala City, Guatemala on November 3 & 4 (yes, I voted absentee!).

The concept of the Judges Certification workshop centers around the idea that judges who are highly educated in the competition rules, skilled at tasting, and above all, calibrated with one another and in sync with the competition's standards, will be best positioned to judge in a way that is accurate and fair.  Furthermore, this intensive (really, really intensive, seriously) training is very valuable to an individual's professional development and is a meaningful step in their careers.

The Certification itself starts with a lengthy and difficult written test.  Other exercises include technical and sensory evaluations (there are more calibrations coming up so I don't want to be too specific) including full 15-minute performances from top baristas.  This was my role at this Certification and will be at the upcoming Cert in Long Beach, to ensure the two baristas were clear on their objectives and consistent between one another, as well as ensure the baristas at this Cert will be calibrated with the Long Beach Cert.  I was fortunate to have Ana Luica, champion from Honduras, and Lily, Champion from El Salvador as the baristas for this workshop.  They are both excellent baristas and having them at this workshop contributed to the success in a big way.  They accepted gracefully the challenge of creating and delivering a signature drink on the fly- these are drinks that competitors take weeks or months to develop and to do so in an afternoon is not easy.  Of course, Espresso Laranja, the greatest signature drink of all time, came to the rescue once again!

As a former competitor, this workshop and other new developments with WBC, USBC, and the USBC Regionals have particular meaning.  Competitors prepare for months, agonizing over each detail, working over and over again with the coffee, all the while balancing the usual demands of their jobs.  Success in the competition is a lot of work- although totally worth it- and these competitors deserve excellence from judges.  After having competed and pouring my heart and soul into competition, doing whatever I can to help judges be able to fairly and accurately identify the next champion is something I am super passionate about. This workshop is evidence of WBC moving in a positive direction IMHO and I'm so happy to be a part of it.

Many thanks to Cindy, Brent, Roukiat, and Jose for all of your hard work during this workshop.  Thank you to the volunteers of the WBC Board for making it happen!  See you in Long Beach!