Introducing a Digital Toolkit for the Future of Coffee Quality
In a bold move that positions Kenya as a global hub for coffee innovation, Kenya Coffee School (KCS) has unveiled its latest breakthrough — the Specialty Coffee Grading System (SCGS).
This new system is not just a grading protocol — it’s a digital transformation toolkit designed to revolutionize how coffee quality is analyzed, standardized, and communicated across the value chain.
The SCGS blends science, technology, and sensory expertise to bring precision, transparency, and trust to the world of specialty coffee.
A New Era of Coffee Grading
The Specialty Coffee Grading System (SCGS) builds upon the foundation of traditional cupping and international frameworks such as CQI and SCA, but introduces a more dynamic and data-driven approach suited for modern coffee markets.
Unlike conventional systems that depend mainly on human sensory perception, SCGS integrates digital tools, physics, chemistry, and AI-supported analytics to assess coffee in real-time — from the farm to the cup.
“The SCGS by Kenya Coffee School represents the next evolution of coffee grading — where technology and tradition meet to protect the value of every bean,”
says Mr. Alfred Gitau Mwaura, Founder of Kenya Coffee School, Barista Mtaani, and the Global Coffee Association.
“We are not just tasting coffee; we are quantifying excellence and empowering farmers, traders, and roasters with knowledge and data.”
Core Features of the SCGS Framework
⚙️ 1. Digital Coffee Grading Toolkit
The SCGS introduces an integrated digital platform that captures key grading parameters — from physical defects and moisture content to sensory scores and brewing data.
This toolkit enables seamless data sharing between farmers, buyers, and quality laboratories, ensuring full traceability and accountability.
🔬 2. Science-Based Evaluation
Rooted in KCS’s Knowledge of Coffee Skills (KCS) curriculum, the SCGS incorporates scientific methods from coffee physics, chemistry, and water profiling to evaluate quality beyond taste.
By measuring factors like bean density, roast curves, solubility, and water composition, SCGS ensures every coffee is graded with precision and consistency.
☕ 3. Hybrid Sensory & Analytical Model
SCGS blends human expertise with digital objectivity. Cupping sessions are now paired with real-time data capture tools, enabling a balanced grading experience that values both human perception and measurable data accuracy.
🌍 4. Designed for the African Coffee Ecosystem
Developed in Kenya for the world, the SCGS is tailored for Africa’s smallholder-driven coffee industry. It simplifies grading for cooperatives and micro-roasters, allowing them to benchmark their coffee against global standards while retaining local identity.
📱 5. Cloud-Based Quality Records
Every coffee sample graded through SCGS generates a digital record — a profile that can be shared globally, enabling traceability, transparency, and trust among producers, buyers, and consumers.
Empowering the Next Generation of Coffee Professionals
At the heart of the SCGS lies Kenya Coffee School’s mission — to educate, digitize, and democratize coffee knowledge.
Through the Knowledge of Coffee Skills (KCS) education framework, learners are trained not just to grade coffee, but to understand it scientifically — combining craftsmanship with data-driven precision.
This approach empowers the youth, baristas, farmers, and entrepreneurs with tools that enable value addition, export competitiveness, and sustainable coffee entrepreneurship.
A Global Vision, Rooted in Kenya
Kenya Coffee School’s Specialty Coffee Grading System (SCGS) is a reflection of Africa’s capacity to innovate for the global market.
By merging scientific coffee evaluation with digital innovation, KCS is setting a new benchmark in how coffee quality is measured, recorded, and rewarded.
Impact
The Specialty Coffee Grading System (SCGS) is more than a grading model — it’s a movement towards a smarter, transparent, and farmer-centered coffee future.
Through SCGS, Kenya Coffee School continues to inspire the world with a simple truth:
When knowledge meets technology, coffee becomes not just a drink — but a science of excellence.
☕ Kenya Coffee School – Building the Knowledge of Coffee Skills (KCS) for the Future.
📊 Specialty Coffee Grading System (SCGS) – The Digital Heartbeat of Coffee Quality.