CBI Approval Standards & Application for Artisan 3rd Wave Coffee
To apply for CBI Approval, please complete the application form below. Your submission serves as your electronic signature and confirms your agreement with all CBI Freshness Standards, Code of Conduct, and Artisan Third Wave Core Values outlined on this page.
Why Should this Concern Me?
Historically, there have been two main species of coffee plants for commercial use. Arabica and Robusta. Arabica has long been regarded as the superior species—the preferred choice—while Robusta was relegated to utilitarian uses such as instant coffee or coffee extracts because it simply didn’t taste as good.
Recently, however, there’s been a movement to artificially inflate Robusta’s quality scores through a new "CVA scoring system". That’s like putting a Michelin star on McDonald's.
The key issue is that nobody asked for this change. The new scoring system shifts from objective standards to subjective personal preferences, which conveniently lets low-quality coffees score much higher than they would have before. The CVA artificially inflates the perceived value of bad coffee and helps large corporations market cheap beans as “high quality.” Coffee didn’t get better — the scores just got higher.
In protest of this biased scoring system, we ask that all coffee shops seeking CBI Approval pledge to purchase coffee from 3rd Wave Artisan roasters who use specialty-grade 100% Arabica coffees scoring 80 points or higher in the old system.
You also agree to sell fresh coffee only, which is what makes 3rd Wave Artisan coffee different from grocery store coffee with roasted on dates rather than expiry best before dates.
By making this pledge you will be put on a list so that consumers can easily identify who are the true 3rd wave coffee businesses versus the pretenders.
Making Your Pledge of Allegiance to Artisan Third Wave Coffee
By applying for CBI Approval, the owner, operator, and/or manager pledges that the business:
- Is owned and operated independently—not a franchise or large corporation seeking to whitewash or greenwash their brand.
- Freshness, transparency, and craft.
- Ethically sourced, high-quality 100% Arabica beans only—not flavoured, pre-ground, or Robusta, with a minimum 80+ points.
- Service grounded in knowledge, professionalism, speed of service, friendliness, and a humble, customer-first attitude that is with an attitude that is community needs focused.
Coffee Shop Specific Checklist
- All coffee must be clearly labeled with roast dates and tracked internally.
- Grind-on-demand: coffee must be ground immediately before brewing (no pre-ground, stale coffee).
- Use independent roasters who align with third-wave ethics, not franchises or large corporate roasters.
- Avoid expired, flavoured, or stale offerings—quality must be measurable and consistent.
- No re-steamed or reused milk.
- Purge the steam wand before and after each use.
- Serves all coffee within 3–30 days post-roast (± based on taste).
Roaster-Specific Checklist
- Roast dates printed on all bags.
- Optional: harvested green coffee date.
- Internal tracking of roast batches.
- Cupping and calibration for every production run.
- Use green coffee from the current crop cycle.
- Ethically sourced, high-quality Arabica beans only—no additional flavours, pre-ground, or Robusta. All coffee meets a minimum 80+ points.
What the CBI Approval Represents
The CBI Approval helps customers easily identify cafés, roasters, and coffee-serving establishments that uphold the highest standards of freshness, sourcing, skill, and hospitality. Approved businesses are independent, transparent, and community-minded—offering genuine artisan 3rd Wave Artisan coffee experiences grounded in respect, professionalism, and third-wave values.
This approval system objectively quantifies freshness, quality, and roasting-skill standards, while still giving each business the freedom to express its own style and flavour philosophy.
It’s similar to how fine-dining restaurants might each create their own take on a high-end burger: every version tastes unique, yet they all share the same foundations—freshly ground, high-quality beef, artisan buns, and meticulous craft. The CBI Approval works the same way: personal expression is celebrated, but freshness, craftsmanship, and integrity are non-negotiable.
Continuous Commitment & Enforcement
- Approval is continuous, not time-bound.
- Businesses must maintain freshness standards, transparency, service quality, and responsiveness to feedback.
- Spot-checks may occur randomly or in response to complaints.
- CBI may revoke approval if:
- Freshness windows are repeatedly violated.
- Customer service or professionalism fails consistently.
- Badge misuse or misleading claims are observed.
- Final decisions are made by a peer-led committee review process.