Brew experts needed

 brew experts needed

Nick Iluzada

Despite what your friend who rejects anything other than a single-origin pour over would have you believe, becoming a coffee expert isn’t easy—and that’s a problem for Wall Street. Starbucks may be on every corner, but coffee graders who evaluate quality for the commodities market are in short supply at the New York Stock Exchange because the test to become one is so tough, the Wall Street Journal reports: Aspiring graders must pass a three-stage test, and if they fail at any point, they must go back to square one. It includes a written portion on the rules, a three-hour grading test, and a final part months later that involves tasting coffee in front of proctors to detect defects. Only 5%–8% of test-takers pass. For comparison: 64% pass California’s famously tough bar exam. And to even be allowed to take the test, which kicked off Monday for this year, applicants must have at least five years of experience in the coffee industry. Being a barista—no matter how hip—is not enough.