NJ MOCHA MARATHON CHALLENGE
100 DAYS. 40+ CAFES. A $1000 GRAND PRIZE!
THERE ARE 40 BLACK OWNED CAFES IN NEW JERSEY. OVER THE NEXT 100 DAYS
WE WILL VISIT THEM ALL!
HOW IT WORKS | NEW THIS YEAR | OUR MISSION | PRIZES | MEET UPs | FAQs
HOW IT WORKS
1. JOIN THE CHALLENGE
Register any time during the 100-days (Nov. 21 - Feb 28) to become an official NJ Mocha Marathon Challenger.
2. VISIT THE CAFES
Explore New Jersey’s Black-Owned cafes using your cafe guide. Go alone, bring a friend, or join us for a free meetup.
3. SIP & WIN
Check-in when you visit the cafes to earn points and win prizes.
NEW THIS YEAR
OUR BIGGEST GOAL YET: 200 CHALLENGERS
Last year 125 people participated in the NJ Mocha Marathon Challenge. This year we will get 200 people to join us in supporting Black-owned cafes across New Jersey.
A NEW CHECK-IN SYSTEM
A simpler way to submit cafe visits, upload photos or receipts, and track points.
$1,000 GRAND PRIZE
We’re raising the stakes with a $1,000 grand prize.
NEW CAFES
Some cafes have closed their doors since our last challenge, but new and amazing spots have opened - and we will try them all,
OUR MISSION
Last year, the NJ Mocha Marathon Challenge mobilized over $20,000 in spending at Black-owned cafés across New Jersey—and we're just getting started! Cafés are more than places to grab a cup of coffee; they're community gathering hubs that create jobs, provide welcoming and safe spaces, and bring someone's dream to life. Through this challenge, we're not only putting our dollars behind these small businesses, but we're also building connections, too. From our café meetups to discovering new favorite spots and meeting people along the way, we're creating community one cup at a time.
MEET UPS
Meet ups are free. Dates, times, and locations subject to change.
NOVEMBER
27 Friday
DECEMBER
12 Saturday
23 Wednesday
JANUARY
7 Thursday
23 Saturday
FEBRUARY
13 Saturday
28 Sunday
PRIZES
THE $1,000 GRAND PRIZE
The FIRST challenger to visit all participating cafés and attend at least 2 official Mocha Marathon meetups will take home $1,000!
Grand Prize Rules:
You must be a registered NJ Mocha Marathon Challenger.
You must personally make a purchase at every participating café. Purchases made by friends or other challengers do not count.
You must submit proof of each visit and purchase by uploading a receipt through the official challenger check-in portal.
Each café must be visited at least once. Multiple visits to the same café cannot replace visits to other participating cafés.
You must attend at least 2 official Mocha Marathon meetups. Attendance will be verified.
All visits, purchases, and meetup attendance must take place within the official 100-day challenge period.
The first challenger to complete all requirements and have their submissions verified wins the $1,000 grand prize.
Receipts must clearly identify the café and purchase date. Organizers reserve the right to reject incomplete or unverifiable submissions.
Organizers will verify all submissions and make the final determination of eligibility and the winner.
OTHER PRIZES
Throughout the challenge, challengers will have opportunities to win:
Free coffee, treats, gift cards, and more from participating cafés and businesses.
Free Town Social Tour
One month of free Town Social membership
Merch
HOW TO EARN POINTS
1 Point
Visit a participating café (photo required)
2 Points
Discover a new Black-owned café not listed in our guide:
Spend more than $20 in a single café visit (receipt required)
Attend an official meetup
All café visits and purchases must be submitted through the challenger check-in portal. Receipts are required to earn the spending bonus, and newly discovered cafés must be submitted for verification.
TURN YOUR POINTS INTO PRIZES!
Your points accumulate throughout the 100-day challenge. Once you reach a milestone, you unlock that reward—and your points keep growing toward the next one!
10 points: 1 FREE month of Town Social membership
20 points: FREE Town Social Tour
30 points: Merch
40 points: Café freebies (details coming soon!)
KEEP EXPLORING. KEEP SUPPORTING. KEEP EARNING!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the NJ Mocha Marathon Challenge?
It's a 100-day challenge (November 21, 2026 - February 28, 2027) celebrating and supporting Black-owned cafés throughout New Jersey. Explore new places, support local businesses, meet fellow coffee lovers, earn points, and win prizes along the way!
2. Who can participate?
Anyone who wants to explore New Jersey's Black-owned cafés and support local businesses! You do not have to live in New Jersey to participate, but you must be able to visit participating cafés.
3. Do I have to register?
Yes! You must be a registered NJ Mocha Marathon Challenger to earn points, unlock rewards, and qualify for the $1,000 grand prize.
4. When does the challenge take place?
The challenge begins November 21 and runs for 100 days. However, all points must be earned on or before February 28. Be sure to complete your visits and check-ins before the deadline!
5. How much does it cost to participate?
Your entry fee is a ‘proud-to-pay’ contribution, amount of your choice, due at sign-up.
CAFÉ VISITS & CHECK-INS
6. How do I check in after visiting a café?
Use the official Challenger Check-In Portal to submit your visit. Select the café, enter your visit date, and upload a photo or receipt as proof of your visit.
7. Do I have to make a purchase when visiting a café?
For the grand prize, a purchase is required at every participating café to qualify. Otherwise, we encourage you to go and explore all of the cafes whether you are spending or not.
8. Can I visit the same café more than once?
Absolutely! Every qualifying visit counts, even if you've visited that café before. You can earn 1 point for every visit, and you can earn the $20 spending bonus again whenever you spend more than $20 in a single visit.
9. What if I visit a café and forget to check in?
We recommend checking in as soon as possible after each visit so you don't lose track of your progress. You'll need to submit the required proof through the official portal for your visit to be counted.
10. What if I find a Black-owned café that isn't in the official guide?
We love discovering new businesses! Email us with the café's name and location. We'll review your discovery and reply to confirm whether it qualifies. Once approved, you'll receive 2 bonus points.
11. Do newly discovered cafés count toward the $1,000 grand prize?
No. The $1,000 grand prize is based exclusively on the original participating cafés listed in the official guide at the start of the challenge. Newly discovered cafés are a great way to earn points, but they will not be added to the grand prize checklist.
12. What happens if a café on the original list closes?
If a participating café closes during the challenge, we'll remove it from the grand prize checklist. This will not prevent challengers from completing the challenge or qualifying for the grand prize.
POINTS & REWARDS
13. How do I earn points?
There are four ways to earn points:
Visit a participating café: 1 point
Discover a new Black-owned café not listed in our guide: 2 points
Spend more than $20 in a single café visit: 2 points
Attend an official meetup: 2 points
14. Can I earn multiple types of points during one visit?
Yes! Points can be combined. For example, if you visit a café that's not in our guide and spend more than $20, you can earn:
1 point for your café visit
2 points for discovering a new café
2 points for spending more than $20
That's 5 points in one visit!
15. How do I earn the $20 spending bonus?
Spend more than $20 in a single visit at a participating café and upload a picture of your receipt through the check-in portal. Your receipt must clearly show the café, purchase date, and total. Spending exactly $20 does not qualify.
16. Can I earn points by visiting the same café repeatedly?
Yes! Every qualifying visit earns 1 point. You can also earn the 2-point spending bonus each time you spend more than $20 in a single visit. There's no limit on repeat visits.
17. Do my points expire when I claim a reward?
Points accumulate until you reach 40. Once you complete the 40-point reward cycle and unlock all four rewards, your reward points reset to zero so you can start earning again!
18. Can I earn the rewards more than once?
Yes! There's no limit to how many reward cycles you can complete during the challenge. Keep visiting cafés, attending meetups, and supporting local businesses to earn more rewards.
19. What are the reward milestones?
10 points: One FREE month of Town Social membership
20 points: FREE Town Social Tour
30 points: NJ Mocha Marathon merchandise
40 points: Café freebies (details coming soon!)
20. Do my grand prize visits reset when my reward points reset?
No! Your reward points and grand prize progress are tracked separately. Reaching 40 points resets your reward points, but your progress toward visiting every original participating café does not reset.
21. How do I know how many points I have?
Your submitted visits and points will be reviewed and tracked by the challenge organizers. Keep an eye on your email and official challenge updates for progress information.
22. When is the last day to earn points?
All points must be earned on or before February 28. Visits, purchases, discoveries, and meetup attendance after that date will not count toward challenge rewards.
THE $1,000 GRAND PRIZE
23. How do I win the $1,000 grand prize?
The FIRST registered challenger to visit every participating café on the original official list, personally make a purchase at each location, submit proof of every purchase through the check-in portal, and attend at least two official Mocha Marathon meetups will win $1,000!
24. What are the requirements to qualify for the grand prize?
You must:
Be a registered NJ Mocha Marathon Challenger.
Personally make a purchase at every café on the original participating café list.
Upload a receipt for every café purchase through the official check-in portal.
Visit each original participating café at least once.
Attend at least two official Mocha Marathon meetups.
Complete all requirements within the official challenge period.
25. Can I use someone else's receipt?
No. Each challenger must personally make their own purchase. Purchases made by friends, family members, or other challengers do not count toward your grand prize eligibility.
26. Does spending more than $20 at every café help me win the grand prize?
No. There is no minimum purchase amount for the grand prize. You must make a purchase at every participating café, but spending more than $20 is only necessary to earn the additional 2 bonus points.
27. Do newly discovered cafés count toward the grand prize?
No. Only the original cafés listed in the official guide at the start of the challenge count toward the grand prize. Newly discovered cafés can earn you bonus points, but they do not change the grand prize checklist.
28. What if a café closes during the challenge?
If an original participating café closes, it will be removed from the grand prize checklist. You will not be penalized, and the café's closure will not prevent you from qualifying.
29. What if two challengers finish at the same time?
All submissions will be reviewed and verified by the organizers. The winner will be determined using the official check-in records and verified completion times.
MEETUPS & COMMUNITY
30. Are meetups mandatory?
No. Meetups are not required to participate or earn regular café visit points.
31. Do I have to attend every meetup?
No! Come when you can. Every official meetup you attend earns you 2 points and gives you another opportunity to connect with fellow challengers.
32. Can I bring a friend to a meetup?
Absolutely! We love seeing new faces. Just remember that only registered challengers can earn challenge points and qualify for challenge prizes.
THE LITTLE DETAILS
33. What if I upload the wrong photo or receipt?
Contact the challenge organizers as soon as possible. INFO@TOWNSOCIALNJ.COM We'll review the situation and let you know whether your submission can be corrected or resubmitted.
34. What if my check-in or points aren't showing up?
Don't panic! Submissions may need to be reviewed before points are awarded. If something looks incorrect, contact the organizers with your name, email address, and visit details.
35. What if I have a question that isn't answered here?
Reach out to the NJ Mocha Marathon Challenge organizers. We're happy to help!