Guidelines for Participants in Q Grader Course

CQI supports the development and creation of a professional environment during these courses.
For the purposes of the course running smoothly and for health reasons we ask the participants to
follow these guidelines during the course:
• Personal hygiene – please be sure you are practicing healthy dental hygiene and washing
your hands frequently during the cuppings, especially after green grading and after lunch.
• Be courteous to other cuppers. Give space as needed.
• No lotions, perfumes, creams are to be used before or during the course.
• No smoking until lunch breaks. Wash hands and face thoroughly before returning to the
testing environment after smoking.
• Please be sure to read the instructions and understand how to use and complete the forms. If
you don’t understand please ask your instructor to repeat the instructions.

• Cupping protocols during this course are precise. In your own cupping lab protocols may be
different.
o Fragrance evaluation – your instructor will review with you
o Full cup water pouring (not halfway then wait stir and continue pooring)
o 4 minute extraction
o Rinsing spoons between tastings
o Breaking the cup a certain way to deter over extraction, and only breaking it once.
o Visiting the cup hot, warm, cold temperatures

• Testing Rules, cheating policy are as follows:

o Silent work in all tests.
o Cell phone use is prohibited.
o Each test is an individual test, no group work.
o You will be responsible for determining how to address that defect on your sheet.
The instructor will not tell you how to score.
o NO cheating or sharing of answers. 2 violation warnings, 3rd violation dismissed
from class. 1st (verbal), 2nd dismissed from test, 3rd dismissed from course.
o Immediately after you finish taking the test you should leave the room without any
comments or signals.