Episode 39

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Published on:

26th Sep 2025

Epsiode 39: An Update on CVA and Q-Grading

In this short episode, we look at news from April about a massive change in the structure of how Specialty Coffee is graded and some criticisms from industry insiders.

Here’s a great introduction to the 9-Point Hedonic Scale.

The @specialtycoffeeassociation Coffee Value Assessment is meant to give professionals a fuller language for describing quality, a language that potentially meets the market at a number of points of contact.

We’ve previously covered the Coffee Value Assessment and Q-Grading on Dialed In.

The Coffee Sensory & Cupping Handbook by @mariofernandezalduenda and @petereodesic is an essential resource for understanding sensory science as it relates to coffee.

A study based on affective testing found that coffee drinkers’ taste preferences can be correlated not only to flavors discovered in descriptive analysis, but also the the object TDS numbers of each brew.

Shoutouts

@itsjustcoffeepodcast

@elvioscoffee


Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.com

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About the Podcast

Dialed In: A Coffee Podcast
Dial In your coffee game! A podcast by two coffee lovers for coffee lovers. Wade Reed and Aaron Pascucci approach coffee and its culture from a different angle - grab a cup and join us!
Dial In your coffee game! A podcast by two coffee lovers for coffee lovers. Wade Reed and Aaron Pascucci approach coffee and its culture from a different angle - grab a cup and join us!

https://levelupwny.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">levelupwny.substack.com
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Wade Reed