Bear Lake Coffee Co. Adds Another Licensed Q-Grader (aka Coffee Jedi)

Last week, something legendary happened at Bear Lake Coffee Co.

Our Director of Coffee, Caleb Walker, officially became a Licensed Q-Grader—a major accomplishment that places him among an elite group of sensory experts in the specialty coffee world. Only about one in a million people on the planet hold this credential.

Caleb’s journey spanned 8 intense days and included 20 separate exams—covering everything from sensory evaluation, cupping, and triangulation to green grading, roasting, and written testing. You're tested, retested, and pushed to your limits—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

One of my favorite moments last week was when Caleb told me how hard it was to explain to his mom what he’d been doing all week. He said, “She doesn’t exactly understand why I’m in these exams… so I told her, ‘I’m at Coffee Jedi School.’”

That comment made perfect sense to me. As a lifelong Star Wars nerd, I realized just how true that comparison really is. The exams involved in becoming a Q-Grader are like the Jedi Trials of coffee! Caleb’s journey mirrored the Jedi path:

• Trial of Skill: Cupping calibration and sensory precision
• Trial of Courage: Staying calm and focused under pressure during blind triangulations
• Trial of the Flesh: Enduring palate fatigue and mental exhaustion over long days
• Trial of the Spirit: Overcoming setbacks and pushing through doubt
• Trial of Insight: Seeing beyond flavor notes—understanding a coffee’s full story and origin

And, like a true Coffee Jedi, Caleb emerged from it all with focus, humility, and heart.

I’m proud—not just because of the certification itself but because of what it represents: dedication, excellence, and a deep love of the craft. At Bear Lake Coffee Co., we’re doubling down on our commitment to quality, education, and the pursuit of the top 1% of coffee in the world.

Together, Caleb and I are working every day to bring you exceptional, rare, and sustainable coffees that are doing good in the world. Our Q-Graders’ Choice Coffee of the Month is a reflection of that mission—curated with care, calibrated with intention, and shared with heart.

Want to hear the stories behind the beans? Tune in to Bean to Cup, where two coffee nerds (aka Coffee Jedis—that’s us!) share what we’re tasting, what we’re chasing, and how we’re sourcing extraordinary coffees just for you, and celebrate other people doing cool stuff across the coffee universe.