This week we talk about the shifting landscape of coffee certifications — particularly the recent changes to the Q grader system. With the program moving under CQI, many coffee professionals are now being told their existing certifications no longer count, and that they’ll need to retest under a new system. This sparks a conversation about what certifications really mean in practice. Do they actually make someone better at sourcing or tasting coffee, or are they more about recognition and status within the industry? For seasoned professionals with years of experience, the answer isn't always clear — especially when their day-to-day work remains unchanged by these official titles.
We talk about how learned skills typically come not from structured certifications, but from real-world practice. While certifications can offer a shared language and pathway for new professionals, we question whether they should be gatekeepers for credibility. In the end, staying sharp and doing meaningful work comes down to passion, commitment, and community — not just passing a test. It's a reminder that building culture in coffee isn’t about following someone else’s system, but about knowing your values and living them out.
🔖 Chapters –
00:00 Stirring the Pot
01:57 C.O.E. coffees
09:47 Coffee in Competitions
13:43 The Q Grader Certification Debate
17:59 Industry Standards and Their Relevance
30:57 Certification of experience
🔗 Links –
Trish Rothgeb - The Sprudge Twenty Interview: https://sprudge.com/trish-rothgeb-the-sprudge-twenty-interview-258811.html
Actually Good Coffee Podcast: https://actuallygoodcoffeepodcast.podbean.com/e/41-the-sca-and-cqi-have-some-explaining-to-do/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/
Cat & Cloud webstore: catandcloud.com/
Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: chrisbaca.com/
We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes.
The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen!
Enjoy!