Frequently Asked Questions
Please take a gander below, if you can't find an answer to your question, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 858-768-1786, or write us at [email protected].
- Q: What is a TNT, or SDTNT? A: TNT stands for Thursday Night Throwdown, which is also known as a Latte Art Competition. Occasionally to accomodate our venue host, we'll hold these on Tuesdays. SD stands for San Diego. You'll see similar TNT modifications for Orange County (OCTNT), and L.A. (LATNT).
- Q: Do TNTs or SDTNTs cost anything to attend, or are they just for Baristas? A: No, they do not cost to attend. They are open to the public. However, we do offer a raffle of local coffee and SWAG (Stuff We All Get like t-shirts, mugs, etc.) That helps to keep these events going, so we encourage everyone to partake. These events do get loud and crowded, so it is up to your discretion whether this event is right for you and your guests. Other refreshments and food besides coffee tasting flights are available during the course of the evening.
- Q: I'm a Barista, how do I sign up to compete at a SDTNT? A: Barista sign-ups start at 6pm and go to 6:45pm. There is a $5 buy-in. The competitions are bracket style where winner takes all. That's all cash buy-ins and prizes provided by local friends of coffee as well as local and national sponsors. Often times food is available during sign-ups, so you have time to grab a bite before competing. Many Baristas come from neighboring cities, or are coming from a long shift and come hungry, so we're happy to oblige. Food, if provided, is generally in the $10 range to keep it accessible to all.
- Q: What can I expect from the SDCN as a Venue Host for a SDTNT? A: First, you can expect a lot of traction in nationally respected publications such as Barista Magazine and more, in addition to the photos shared by guests and the professionally produced video recap shared after the event, we'll design and distribute event fliers, and produce a video invite shared across all our social networks and the broader San Diego community. Be prepared for 100-150 people with standing room only. And Be prepared to realize that many of these people just discovered your location through this event and will be returning to enjoy coffee at your cafe.
- Q: What is there for home enthusiasts who can't make it out on a week night to the SDTNTs, or drink coffee after noon? A. Good question. Local coffee blogger and founding member, Jessica Percifield, is now hosting the SD Coffee Club, which meets once a month on Saturday mornings at roasters and cafes all over San Diego County. Each meet-up will have a short educational or tasting component. In addition, if you like brewing coffee at home, join the club's coffee subscription service and receive a bag a month from a different local roaster. It's a great way to get to know who is crafting fresh locally roasted coffee in San Diego. Beyond that, the SDCN will be curating up to 4 social/educational ticketed events per year to take place on weekend mornings, so stay tuned!
- Q: Are you a non-profit trade organization? A. The SDCN is a social enterprise consisting of 3 founding members. A social enterprise is a for profit entity that exists for people, planet and then profit in that order. Our people are, you, our community, those that we want to benefit from the commitments of our mission as we elevate San Diego's coffee culture together. This means seeking to support Baristas in the community who want to make coffee a career by offering scholarships for BGA and SCAA certification courses. Also, we collaborate with coffee venues to make events and educational opportunities alike accessible. Working within our specialty coffee network makes our dedication to the planet easy in that specialty coffee is involved in sustainable coffee sourcing practices for people and planet. For this reason, we're proud to elevate roasters and cafes selling specialty coffee not just because the coffee is local and fresh, but because it is being sold by a company that has given sustainability priority in their sourcing model.
- Q: If I buy my Membership in April, does it end in April of the following year? A: Yes. A membership renewal reminder will be sent to your member email reminding you that your membership anniversary is approaching and will expire on the last day of the month. Please renew before the 1st of the month following, so in this scenary, May 1st. A 5 day grace period (calendar days) will exist before member benefits end. After the 5 day grace period, your member benefits will end. Upon reinstatement, your anniversary date will change to the date of renewal. For Sustaining Members, this grace period is 10 calendar days. After which time, there is no fee to reinstate if the ad space is still available. Because ad space is limited, and we may have a waiting list. Allowing a lapse in Sustaining Membership is strongly discouraged.
- Q: Who can be a Sustaining Member? A: In truth, all our members help sustain and further the mission of the SDCN. Sustaining Members are local, regional and national sponsors who want to further the mission of the SDCN in a monetary capacity. These are friends of coffee, which may or may not have a coffee related business. For Local Cafes and Roasters, we offer our Cafe and Roaster Memberships (rolling out soon).
- Q: What criteria do you use to define "Local" Cafes and Roasters? A: Great question. Local Cafes are those that are locally owned and operated that serve Specialty Coffee. Local Roasters by definition must have a local roasting operation on the ground in San Diego County with a focus on Specialty Coffee (or Craft Coffee).
- Q: What is specialty coffee? A: This is coffee that is defined best by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). We work with local coffee roasters and cafes who aspire to this standard with the coffee they roast and serve.
- Q: What's so "special" about specialty coffee? A: Simple. It involves more concious engagement at every step of the process from farm to cup with concern for sustainability. Some roasters are more hands on developing direct relationships with Farmers, and others work with trusted coffee traders to help them source a more conscious bean.
- Q: What is sustainability? A: We like this definition: A process that can go on indefinitely; environmentally, socially and economically (via CafeVirtuoso.com).