SCA Barista Foundations

The San Diego Coffee Training Institute (SDCTI)'s mission is to empower and elevate vulnerable populations to self-sufficiency through the advancement of coffee. 

We are an SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) Certified Campus offering paid courses for individuals working in the specialty/craft coffee industry who wish to become SCA Certified Baristas and Coffee Roasters, as well as various courses and one-on-one education to improve overall skills and understanding for devoted coffee enthusiasts.

SDCTI is the first SCA campus in San Diego and the only one in the country that is also a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. One hundred percent of the tuition fees paid by students taking any of our offered courses are used to fund the programming costs for students from various vulnerable and at-risk populations in the San Diego area, including youth aging out of foster care, homeless adults and teens, and individuals recently released from incarceration. 

In addition to immersive coffee education and highly-regarded SCA certifications for these marginalized populations, the non-profit program also assists with job placement, through our strategic partnerships with other local community organizations, and supplies each of these individuals with general workforce skills that help them retain employment in the coffee industry or any hospitality-related industry.