Emma Sage Joins the Coffee Quality Institute as Technical Services Manager

Emma Sage. Photo courtesy of CQI.

The Portland, Oregon-based Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), operator of the Q Grader professional certification program, has hired Emma Sage as technical services manager.

Sage comes to CQI from the Specialty Coffee Association, where in her capacity as science manager she helped lead the revision of the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel, among other membership-driven projects. Her background includes involvement in numerous research projects in plant physiology, biology, ecology, enology, and climate change science.

“Emma brings the rare combination of having both a deep scientific background and an extensive knowledge of coffee, both as a product and an industry,” CQI Executive Director David Roche said in an announcement of the appointment today. “She will be a great addition to our team of experts, and we are so happy to have her at CQI.”

According to CQI, Sage will support CQI projects and programming, research and development, and product innovation, while also keeping close involvement with CQI’s latest certification initiative related to post-harvest processing, Q Processing.

“I am enthusiastic to put my years of academic and ‘book learning’ to use toward CQI’s mission,” Sage said. “I look forward to seeing CQI continue to thrive as we expand our technical services and scientifically founded program offerings. I am excited to work with this talented team, who is dedicated to improving coffee quality and the lives of people who produce it.”