Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us if you have a question that is NOT answered here — we may put it online for future visitors.
What is your return policy?
All Surf City Coffee Company Products are 100% Guaranteed! If any Surf City Coffee Company product fails to meet your expectations, we will replace it or refund the full cost of the product within 30 days of the purchase date. To return a product you purchased from our online store, contact us or call us at 888-773-3833. Go to our Policies page for more details.
How can I check on my Order Status?
If you have created an account with us, you can check your order status by clicking “My Account” at the top of any page on our website: simply login with the email address and password you used when you created the account. If you elected not to create an account, you will still have received a confirmation of your order via email. Please keep this receipt for your records and reference. If you have any subsequent questions regarding your order, please contact us and refer to the order number on the confirmation email.
How can I verify that my online order went through?
If you saw a confirmation screen after you clicked “Submit order” then your order went through. If you provided a valid email address, you should also receive an order confirmation via email. We can check on your order if you e-mail us with your last name and order number or order date, or you can log into your account by clicking the “My Account” link on any page. From there you can view your order history.
My order went through, but I made a mistake. How can I correct it?
Please contact us immediately by telephone at 831-462-2305 and leave a message if necessary, or you can send us a message and include your last name, order number, and how you would like to change your order.
How can I find out exactly when to expect delivery of my Surf City order?
We can track your order if you send us an e-mail and include your last name and order number.
How can I reduce shipping costs when ordering from Surf City online?
Consolidate your orders and mitigate the handling fee. Many customers order two-three pounds of coffee to offset shipping costs and to ensure that they don’t run out of coffee. If you are interested in reselling or purchasing larger quantities of our products, please contact us. We’d be happy to discuss alternative pricing and delivery. Please see our Policies page for more information on our shipping rates and policies.
How is Sales Tax calculated?
Surf City Coffee Company collects applicable state and local sales tax for orders shipped to California or as required by law in the ship to state. The sales tax amount is estimated at the time you place your online order. The actual sales tax will be calculated and your order total adjusted accordingly when your order is processed by our backend order processing system. You will be notified of the exact amount charged to your account in the order confirmation.
Is it safe to use my credit card on SurfCityCoffee.com?
We make every effort to ensure that your ordering information, including your credit card number, is protected while you are on our site. Our Web site uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption so that your personal information cannot be read as it passes over the Internet. You can tell you are using the Secure Socket Layer encryption when a gold or blue padlock appears in the corner of your Netscape or Microsoft browser. SSL keeps others from seeing your personal information by scrambling it so that only your Web browser, and the server of our Web site, can decipher it. In addition, your online password adds another layer of security to your guest profile. These measures make it very unlikely that your credit card information will be compromised online. However, in the event of an unauthorized use of your credit card, notify your credit card provider or issuing bank in accordance with its reporting rules and procedures. You are protected by regulations that cover credit card purchases and limit your liability to a maximum of $50 in charges.
We do NOT store your credit card information for your security.
If you prefer not to order online, please call us at 831-462-2305 to place your order. We are happy to help you over the phone.
Do you share my personal information?
Surf City Coffee Company is committed to maintaining your privacy. We will absolutely NOT share your personal contact information with anyone without your expressed permission. Surf City Coffee Company maintains customer data primarily for order processing and order reference purposes. Customers may request deletion of account information from our files by calling Customer Service at 831-462-2305. Please see our Policies page for more information.
What’s the advantage to creating an account?
When you login with your username and password, it saves you time on the checkout process. Our system will automatically fill-in the check out form (except for payment information). We will occassionally send announcements and special offers to our registered customers. In the near future we plan to offer online order status and order history capabilities. These features will only be available to registered customers.
Do you offer wholesale pricing?
Yes, Surf City Coffee Company does offer wholesale pricing to qualifying accounts. If you are interested in reselling our products, please contact Dan McCourt at: 831-685-8611 or dany@surfcitycoffee.com.
What’s the best way to store fresh coffee?
Once roasted, coffee begins to lose its flavor as soon as it is exposed to air and moisture. We recommend buying your coffee at least every other week. Sore it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place and grind it just before brewing. You can learn more about how to brew, taste, and store coffee in our Coffee College.
What is the best way to brew my Surf City Coffee?
Please visit the Brewing Techniques section of our Coffee College. There you will find “10-Steps to Brewing the Perfect Cup” and much more.
Which type of grind should I use?
We recommend you always purchase whole beans and store them whole until you’re ready to brew a pot. When it comes to grinding, it really depends on your brewing technique (auto-drip machine, French press, espresso, etc.), the type of bean/roast, and your personal taste. There are lots of useful guidelines and recommendations in our More Tips section of the Coffee College.
How is coffee roasted?
The whole process is described in detail in the Roasting section of the Coffee College.
Where are your stores?
We currently have one physical store. It is located in Aptos, CA. Aptos is a coastal community between San Jose and Monterey. There are online directions, maps, photos, and more on the Our Stores page. If you’re in the area, please stop by and join us for a cup.
How long have you been in business?
Surf City Coffee Company was founded in 1993 in Aptos, California. We began our business with our first retail store in Aptos.
Where does Surf City Coffee get the coffee beans?
We purchase our coffees directly from a high-end coffee importer. During our formative years we outsourced our coffee offerings from well-established roasters. We felt we needed to better control our coffee quality, so we purchased our first Diedrich roaster and brought-in the best Roast Masters we could find. The rest is now history. We have the experience the equipment and the know-how to roast only the finest arabica coffees available.
Who owns Surf City Coffee Company, Inc.?
We are proud to say that we are employee owned. The founders are Daniel and Suzanne McCourt. Mr. McCourt serves as the President and CEO.
How many employees are there?
Approximately 30 between our retail store, warehouse/roasting facility, corporate, and website/online store.