We may be biased, but we think being a registered Q Grader has to be up there when it comes to cool jobs. The sommeliers of the coffee world, Q Graders are able to taste coffee and identify specific characteristics, grade coffee with a cup score and assess it for any defects which are impacting the flavour.
How did you become a Q Grader?
Tom Altoft, Roasting and Coffee Specialist
My career at Lincoln & York began almost 25 years ago when I joined the business in a coffee packing role. Surrounded by coffee everyday, I realised pretty quickly that I wanted to learn more about the process of creating the coffee I was packing. I then moved onto operating the coffee grinders before moving into a coffee roasting position, which gave me an even deeper fascination with the creation of our coffee; I evolved from there into my current role. As a roasting and coffee specialist, I now look after everything from the logistics management and planning of the 10,000 tonnes of green coffee coming into the business each year to developing our customers unique roast profiles and tasting and quality assessing all of Lincoln & York’s coffee.
I’m really proud that during my time at Lincoln & York I’ve become one of only 134 coffee Q Graders in the UK – passing all 20 exams first time. The studying and exam period was intense and at times, I thought ‘what have I done?’. But now, I can’t imagine doing anything else and have the brilliant job of working with the coffee team, developing unique blends for our customers and delivering them to Lincoln & York’s high standards. From quality assessing at every stage of the journey, to the peace of mind that our contingency roastery brings, it’s great to be able to reassure our customers that their needs will always be met and I’m as interested in the world of coffee today as I was all those years ago.
Chris Tough, Coffee Buyer
I have been working in the coffee industry for seven years now and have been a qualified Q Grader for just over four of those years. My original role at Lincoln & York was in the marketing team, which was where I fell in love with coffee, having worked closely with the coffee team and Q Graders in my marketing role, when an opportunity arose within the coffee team I jumped at the chance.
As everyone says, the Q Course involved a lot of studying, (after only being in the role 9 months), but I really enjoyed the process of learning to appreciate and understand coffee at a deeper level and it’s really satisfying to now be able to impart some of this knowledge to our customers.
Today my role involves quality testing our coffee from green beans to finished blends to ensure our quality is consistently high and I’m lucky enough to travel the world on origin trips to coffee farming countries including Brazil, Peru and Colombia. As a buyer my role also includes building and maintaining relationships with multiple coffee suppliers around the world, agreeing contracts and pricing for around 10,000 tonnes of green coffee a year and advising our customers on market conditions and the optimal time to buy in a fast-paced, volatile coffee market.
I love that no two days are the same in this role and experiences like origin trips never get old. The coffee industry is constantly evolving, which means there’s always more to learn, experience and taste!
Tom Hirst, Coffee Buyer and Taster
After leaving college I began working as a bartender and mixologist and developed and interest in drinks and the study of flavour profiles. Deciding to step away from my bar role, I began working part time in my Dad’s business, fitting home security systems. I knew this role wasn’t really for me and looking back I definitely thought of it as a job rather than a career. So, when I discovered the opportunity to become a Trainee Coffee Buyer and Taster at Lincoln & York, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to turn my passion for flavour creation into a career.
I rapidly upskilled myself, reading every book on coffee I could get my hands on, and passed 19 out of 20 Q Grader exams first time. Now that I’m a registered Q Grader, my role covers the full spectrum of tasting and buying. As well as quality checking our coffee and working with our customers to create their blends, I also host events to educate customers on their blends and the process of ‘cupping’ and quality assessing coffee. I support Chris with the negotiation of contracts, liaise with suppliers and advise customers on current market conditions and educate them about their blends.
I’ve worked in the coffee industry for just over three years now and love working alongside other coffee experts including Chris and (other) Tom in the team. They’re definitely role models for me and I enjoy learning alongside them. Going for coffee on the high street with friends and knowing we’re the experts behind it is rewarding and I love that we’re the unsung heroes, working behind the scenes to create the coffee that brands become well-known for.
Think you need a Q Grader?
For brands looking to level-up their coffee offering, our Q Graders are on hand for everything from blend matching to bespoke creations. So if you think you need the help of a Q Grader and would like to work with the experts at Lincoln & York, get in touch.
