Points are awarded by trained Q-Graders in a standardized cupping across ten criteria: aroma, flavor, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, uniformity, clean cup, sweetness, and overall impression. 80+ is specialty, 85+ is excellent, 90+ is outstanding.

What does the 80-point SCA score mean?

Points are awarded by trained Q-Graders in a standardized cupping across ten criteria: aroma, flavor, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, uniformity, clean cup, sweetness, and overall impression. 80+ is specialty, 85+ is excellent, 90+ is outstanding.

Why that is

The SCA scoring system is the standard used to make coffee quality comparable worldwide. It works similarly to the 100-point scale for wine—just more strictly standardized.

The ten criteria in detail:

1. Fragrance/Aroma — Smell of the dry and wet coffee.
2. Flavor — Taste on the tongue and palate.
3. Aftertaste — Taste remaining after swallowing.
4. Acidity — Brightness and quality of the acid (not quantity).
5. Body — Mouthfeel, texture, weight on the tongue.
6. Balance — How harmoniously do all elements play together?
7. Uniformity — Are all cups in the cupping identical?
8. Clean Cup — Freedom from off-flavors.
9. Sweetness — Natural sweetness of the coffee.
10. Overall — Cupper’s overall impression.

Each criterion is scored on a scale from 6–10 (in quarter points). In addition, points are deducted for defects—off-flavors like fermentation, mustiness, or earthiness.

What the points mean:

Points	Classification	Share worldwide
90–100	Outstanding	Under 1%
85–89.99	Excellent	~5%
80–84.99	Very Good (Specialty)	~10%
Below 80	Commercial Grade	~85%

Who evaluates? Q-Graders are certified coffee sensory experts who have passed a demanding exam by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). The training takes a week, and the exam includes 22 individual tests—from triangulation tastings to acid identification to sensory calibration.

Limits of the system: The evaluation is done on green coffee that is freshly roasted. An 85-point coffee, poorly roasted or brewed incorrectly, won’t automatically taste good. The points show the potential—not the result in your cup.

In practice at Green Wall Coffee

At Sophienstraße 27, we use coffees scoring 82 points or higher. The score isn’t on our menu—what counts is the taste in the cup. But the SCA score helps us when sourcing: it guarantees a level of quality we can build upon.

Related questions

• What is specialty coffee?
• What is cupping and how does it work?
• What does “Cup of Excellence” mean?

Stop by Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.