AN industry leading qualification in the coffee industry, held by only 35 people in the UK and 3,500 world wide, has been gained by the co-founder of one of York's independent artisan roasters.

Laurence Beardmore, who acquired York Coffee Emporium, in Nether Poppleton, with his wife and business partner, Philippa, in 2011, has qualified to become a Q Grader.

The qualification is the the coffee industry equivalent of a professional sommelier wine taster , and involved Mr Beardmore passing tests held in Harrogate and in Tolentino, Italy.

In gaining the Q Grading qualification, which lasts for only 36 months, Mr Beardmore had to pass 20 rigorous tests, including a combination of grading, cupping, scoring, olfactory, gustation and other sensorial challenges, including identifying different faults placed into coffees from throughout the world.

He said: "It really is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but, for our industry, it is a marvellous system and an indication of high-level expertise as the tests sort out those who have genuine coffee expertise and those who do not.

"The system is crucial for developing the industry as the supply chain from growers to baristas is changing as people adopt different roles within it – such as cafes who roast their own coffees – and the system ensures that there are uniform levels of expertise throughout the industry.

"I felt it was important to gain the qualification as part of our commitment to professionalism, top quality and consistency in all we do so our customers can have total confidence that coffees are as we describe them and that we sell only the very best.

"We are employing an additional coffee roaster soon and they will be put through exactly the same training so we have top-class expertise throughout the company as we continue to grow."

York Coffee Emporium, which has eight staff and 200 regular customers across the UK, imports, hand-roasts and blends coffees from around the world as well as sourcing and selling speciality teas and hot chocolate to cafes, restaurants, hotels, visitor attractions, businesses and large coffee companies. The business also supplies wholesale buyers and individuals through its e-commerce site and sells La Cimbali coffee machines and equipment and provides barista training.