Foreword

In recent years, quality of coffee has assumed greater significance with the world coffee market becoming liberalized and increasingly competitive. As in case of all food products, quality of coffee is assessed by means of outer physical appearance and intrinsic properties. The intrinsic quality of coffee is dependent on the genetic makeup of plant material and the surrounding environment under which it is grown. Proper crop husbandry practices and the processing techniques both at estate and curing works level would only help in preserving the intrinsic quality of coffee. Cupping is employed for assessing the intrinsic quality of coffee, in which the aroma and taste parameters are evaluated systematically, by employing a series of steps like roasting, brewing and sensory evaluation. Cupping is a highly skilled job, which requires professional approach and dedication.

Today the coffee industry is in dire need of professionals who are well versed in developing and evaluating the quality of coffee at every stage. To this end, the Central Coffee Research Institute (a unit of Coffee Board of India) has introduced a Post Graduate Diploma in Coffee Quality Management. This nine month course would help the students to acquire scientific knowledge about coffee cultivation, market related aspects of the industry and finally the required technical skills for coffee quality evaluation. It is hoped that this course will draw candidates not only from the coffee industry but also from outside, to equip themselves with the necessary skills for exciting career prospects in the coffee industry, in the years to come.

About CCRI

Central Coffee Research Institute, the head quarters of the Research Department of Coffee Board. is a premier institute dedicated to coffee research in India since 1925. Located in the heartland of coffee growing region in Chikmangalor district, the institute has excellent facilities for research and manpower training. Since its inception, research is being carried out in the disciplines of plant improvement and biotechnology, crop management. plant protection and post harvest technology. The institute has well equipped laboratories and a central library with a rich collection of books and periodicals on coffee and other plantation crops.

Besides, there is a well established training centre which conducts regular training programs for estate managers. supervisory personnel and extension officers of the Coffee Board. Recognised by U N D P and FAO, this centre imparts training to foreign nationals as well.

About Quality Control Division

The Quality Control Division established during 1966 at the head quarters of the Coffee Board in Bangalore, has been actively involved in upgrading the quality of Indian Coffee in the cup.

The division is playing a vital role in the development and implementation of quality standards for Indian Coffee, and also in creating overall quality awareness among growers / curers /traders etc., through training programmes. The quality control division has a state-of-the-art laboratory facility for coffee quality testing.