How Q Graders Assess Coffee Quality at Origin

As consumer demand for specialty coffee sourcing continues to grow, operators need more than just a supplier, they need a partner with direct industry expertise and origin insight.

At Canterbury, we work closely with producers and global coffee partners to help cafés, restaurants, offices, and retailers deliver exceptional coffee experiences backed by our green sourcing and quality assurance programs. Explore our coffee offerings today.

At the Golden Cup Coffee Competition Central America and Mexico in Lima, Peru, our Q Grader and Manager of Coffee Sourcing and Innovation, Tim Cole, served as a judge at this year’s final. The event marked his second trip to origin and his first visit to Peru.

Reflecting on the experience, Cole described it as both professionally rewarding and highly collaborative.

Being invited to judge the Golden Cup competition this year was a truly exciting and humbling experience. The competition brought together an international panel of coffee professionals, including cuppers from across the global supply chain.

Tim Cole

Manager of Coffee Sourcing and Innovation at Canterbury Coffee

For Cole, one of the most valuable aspects was cupping alongside members of the co-operatives. “They shared their perspectives on the coffees we were tasting and explained why producers chose to submit them, which added important context and insight throughout the judging process.”

Across two days of blind coffee evaluation, Cole assessed each sample based on taste, aroma, and overall cup characteristics. The competition featured both Full Container and Micro Lot coffees, providing a broad view of quality across different production scales.

“There were some truly wonderful coffees from both categories,” says Cole. “In a few cases, a Full Container Lot actually cupped better than some of the Micro Lots on the table, which was very exciting to see.”

The experience reinforced an important industry shift: exceptional coffee quality is no longer limited to small-volume lots. Producers and co-operatives across larger-scale farms are continuing to elevate quality standards, consistency, and traceability.

Coffee competitions like the Golden Cup deepen our understanding of coffee quality across both large-lot and micro-lot coffees. “They also create a rare opportunity to engage directly with producers and co-operatives,” says Cole. “Overall, it was a great experience, and we’re looking forward to participating in similar events in the future.”