The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI)

Overview

The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) (Coffee quality Research Institute) is a nonprofit organization working internationally to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it. CQI provides training and technical assistance to coffee producers and other individuals in the supply chain to increase the value, volume and sustainability of high quality coffee production. CQI also works toward building institutional capacity in coffee producing countries by creating systems and infrastructure that encourage a focus on quality that leads to higher farmer incomes.

History

Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world and more than 125 million people rely on its production for their livelihoods. Our industry faces a challenge because many of these people are small to medium-sized coffee farmers who are struggling to earn a sufficient income for their families.

The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) (Coffee quality Research Institute) is working to address these issues by staying focused on quality. We believe quality is the most important variable affecting price and subsequently the livelihoods sustained by that price. Stable and prosperous coffee communities translate into a sustainable supply of quality coffee for the industry.

While we have a very human agenda, CQI (Coffee quality Research Institute) solutions are economically driven and provide an innovative and highly efficient approach to sustainability. At the core of our efforts, is a commitment to training and education, providing coffee producers with the tools they need in order to compete in the world marketplace. We've created a market platform that improves on existing trading practices and increases transparency so that farmers can be rewarded for their quality efforts.

To ensure our solutions continue long-term, we are also working to develop a new generation of global leaders. This integrated approach elevates quality at all levels of the value chain so that everyone benefits. CQI is the only organization working collaboratively with producing and consuming countries to create the institutional changes that can build a more sustainable marketplace.

With a board and staff with over 450 years of combined experience we are committed to improving the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it.