This was my first visit. I was one of the first few customers in the morning, and the staff was warm and welcoming. I ordered a Biscoff cream latte and it was amazing. The vibe of the place was very modern and inviting. The price point could be a the high side, but nothing crazy. You definitely get what you pay for this is the best coffee I've ever had. 10 out of 10 definitely recommend. read more

I've came to this cute little coffee shop twice now. Their banana matcha lattes and banana cream coffee is sooooooo good! The banana foam they make here is top tier and is like no other. You could tell they use ingredients and can even taste the fresh bananas. They also put I believe crushed candied nuts on top which is a nice little treat. I also love the fact that they have the option to do regular coffee or Vietnamese coffee as the base. I don't know about you but I LOVE VIETNAMESE COFFEE ! So creamy, STRONG, and delicious!! The coffee shop is also really clean and cute with lots of tables and a sofa you sit and relax on while you enjoy your drinks. I can't wait to come back again and try all their other drinks! read more

honestly this place is mighty overrated but that's probably because sd has no actual cafes that are comparable to la & oc cafes and i'm spoiled with only that. i come here whenever home in sd, and each time i hope that the drink will blow my best and yet it doesn't. i think this is definitely one of the better options in sd for matcha but the bar isn't really that high. parking is an absolute pain--small, tight lot with barely any spots. their coffee definitely tastes better than their matcha which i think has no matcha taste at all & is super watered down. it's better to make your own matcha at that point, which i do as an alternative to going here for a fix, or even mixing my own matcha with a drink from here. customer service is always good and friendly whenever i come. they expanded the space so there's more seating with outlets and spaces to study. it is pretty loud with the barbershop literally right next to you, the music they place, and the conversations people have because not everyone is studying, but i've seen it busy with students. as an avid la cafe studygoer, i wouldn't come here myself to study but there's obviously an abundance of people for a reason. the rating is more so for the drinks. overall, it's a decent place to go if you want to get matcha or coffee and you're not looking to have an absolutely amazing drink but rather to just have your fix of caffeine. id probably continue to go here whenever i'm back in sd if i'm lazy to make my own matcha or coffee but that's only because this is a very short drive for me. read more

The matcha here is pretty good! I ordered it half sweet, but I wish I had gotten it at the original sweetness--that one's on me. The matcha itself was strong, just how I like it. The only downside is that parking can be a bit difficult, but it's still worth trying! read more

Second time back to try out another drink option...And maaan was I glad I did. I ordered the coconut matcha cloud. I love matcha and this drink was on a next level it was sooo refreshing, light yet smooth and creamy but with no dairy. At first sip, my mind was blown. I had to go and mention to the baristas how satisfied I was with the drink. This is going to be my go to drink every time. Also, the baristas were very pleasant and accommodating. I was told to let them know if I needed adjustments.....I had no complaints...I was a satisfied customer :) read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Coconut cloud matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Um WOW! This is for sure my favorite matcha spot in SD. When you pull up, you might be a bit confused since it's connected to a barber shop. Never fear, they're two distinct businesses and the cafe has its own space with tables and couches to lounge on. I have tried their Salted Cream and Biscoff Cream Matchas. Of the two, the Salted Cream is my fav! I'm very picky about my salted creams. I love a thicker consistency and a forward flavor. Essntl delivered on both fronts! If you're a fan of Biscoff cookies, this cream was a dream! It tasted just like the cookie with notes of caramelized brown sugar and cinnamon. Ok, onto the actual matcha. Another WOW is needed. It's strong, creamy, and has a lot of depth in its flavor profile! A bit on the earthier, nuttier side for sure. No notes! read more

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I came here to celebrate my birthday (without telling them haha!) & when we first walked in there were maybe only 2 tables occupied. One of the workers saw me and said "welcome back!" I was still surprised that she remembered me!! It's been a while! I was hoping that they still had the coconut cream on the menu because I love COCONUT Vietnamese coffee. But sadly, I think I came a few days too late. I decided to just get my usual! Iced Banana Cream Vietnamese Coffee! The cream foam was smooth and fresh, delicious. The coffee was strong, remember if you want it to be even more bold-- request no milk added. My mom had the Iced Ube Cream Vietnamese Coffee with Whole Milk. She enjoyed the flavor and the boldness of the coffee. The Ube flavor was very prominent and had a delicious taste which complimented the coffee. Later on, my brother requested an Iced Lychee Lemonade with Matcha, Less Sweet. The matcha color was there but the flavor of the lychee lemonade was so strong, you couldn't taste the matcha. I think, the lychee lemonade on its own is quite delicious!! But a little too sweet still. I liked that they gave actual pieces of lychee in the drink, and they topped the drink with a dehydrated lemon slice. It was very cute. They also expanded the space from the last time I came. It looks very modern and bright. The chairs are wood, but very comfortable. And now, after you order, they give you little pagers that vibrate and beep when your drink is ready. Overall, a very lovely space to come and sit to enjoy coffee! Take your time when drinking Vietnamese coffee, it has a lot of caffeine! Prices range from $7-9! read more

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I wish I had enjoyed my experience at ESSNTL Coffee more ): The shop is very interesting as it is partially inside a barber shop. We waited about 45 minutes between waiting in line to order and then waiting for our drinks. They were pretty pricey and just did not have a lot of flavor. I got the banana cream matcha and it did not taste like much. read more

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I had seen this place a few times while searching up places to eat around the area but I never had the chance to try it out until recently. The parking lot in this area is pretty small and Alforon, a pretty popular middle eastern restaurant, is also located here which doesn't help. I'm sure if I came during the week that it would be packed since it's near SDSU but luckily when I came on a Sunday afternoon it was pretty empty. The interior of the place is shared with a barbershop but it is still open and modern. There are definitely some seats available for you to work and study if need be. For drinks I went with a salted Vietnamese coffee and my partner went with the cookies and cream matcha. I was pleasantly surprised at how good both drinks tasted. The salted cream Vietnamese coffee was very strong but still had a complex flavor that wasn't overly sweet or salty. It was comparable to other Vietnamese coffee places I've tried in LA/OC. The matcha drink also had a prevalent earthy flavor and I could actually taste the matcha which I can't say for many other places I've been to in San Diego. Unfortunately the matcha here isn't affordable( around $9) but at least the quality matches the price. Many other places that do sell matcha might be cheaper but oftentimes you can barely taste the matcha. As for the coffee, it was more in line with other coffee prices. For a place that I came to on a whim, I was really happy I visited and would definitely recommend their drinks! read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Cookies & cream matcha, salted Vietnamese coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I've heard about this spot for a while. I was in the area and finally had a chance to check it out -- here was my experience. AMBIANCE Parking: Small lot + street parking--might take a minute, especially during peak hours. Seating: Decent amount of seating for a coffee spot. Good for studying, catching up, or just vibing for a bit. Vibes: Welcome to Mid-City! Not the most flashiest place of San Diego but an essential local gem. The spot itself is welcoming with the busy sounds of a coffee place and hip hop music. Lowkey, modern, and very much a college-area crowd (near SDSU). It's connected to a barbershop, which gives it a unique feel--kind of like a community hub. Not super aesthetic-heavy, but it's got personality. FOOD / DRINKS Cinnamon Crunch Matcha (Recommend) This was the move. You get that real matcha flavor--earthy, slightly umami--but balanced out with sweetness and texture from the cinnamon crunch. It's creamy, layered, and honestly feels more elevated than your typical matcha latte. SERVICE Angeline was great -- friendly and attentive without being overbearing. TL;DR OVERALL 4 Stars. Good flavors, good choices, and a pleasant experience. It's a solid matcha spot! A little on the pricier side, but the quality shows. If you're into creative matcha drinks or want something different from your usual coffee run, this is definitely worth checking out. #RepresentAZN TIPS * If you're a matcha person, this spot should be on your list. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Wooo!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

If you love strong Vietnamese coffee, this is your spot. We tried the banana cream and salted cream last week, and came back again for the ube (plus another salted cream because I'm obsessed now ). The coffee is strong in the best way, and the cream smooths it out perfectly. The salted cream is THAT drink. I can't stop ordering it. Already planning my next visit. It is located in a small shopping strip. Parking is limited but there are street parking. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Salted cream and banana cream coffees - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Walking in is a bit confusing at first since you see a barbershop on the right before noticing the coffee counter, but it's actually a pretty cool shared space once you realize it. I ordered the Salted Cream (straight) Vietnamese Coffee and the Ube Cream Matcha. They give you a pager upon ordering. The wait was longer than expected, more than 15 minutes for the 2 drinks. They were busy though, so that's a good sign. Both drinks were pretty good. The coffee was strong and flavorful, and the matcha had a bold matcha taste (which is rare these days). It gave me a good caffeine boost compared to other spots. It's not a bad place to lounge, especially if you're waiting on someone getting a haircut, but parking is limited since the lot is small. Service at pickup was a bit strange. When my pager went off, I went up to the counter but none of the 4 employees acknowledged me. I stood there for awhile with the pager still going off and eventually had to ask if I should just grab the drinks myself, which would've meant reaching behind the counter. That part felt awkward. Still, their drinks alone make it worth the visit. read more

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This place is located in a plaza next to their barber shop. They have parking but can be hard to find since it's shared by other businesses. First walked in and the place was pretty spacious, clean and minimalist decorated. I ordered the double matcha latte unsweetened and my boyfriend ordered the Vietnamese coffee with salt cream top. The wait was around 10 mins and when we pick up our drinks I knew my drink wasn't gonna be my liking. The matcha drink was super super grainy, you can literally see balls of matcha clumps. The taste of the matcha latte wasn't strong and earthy, to me it tastes very watery even though the color was a deep green which was weird. My boyfriend's drink on the other hand was very good. Loved the strong coffee taste with a hint of saltness/ sweetness of the cream top. Overall definitely their coffee is way better than the matcha. I think their matcha drinks aren't mix well and they water it down too much. And for the matcha latte was $10 which in my opinion way overpriced and was not worth it at all. Only the coffee saved this place if we ever come back. I think we ended up paying total $19 for two drinks. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Vietnamese coffee with salt cream & Double matcha latte (super grainy/clumpy) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

ESSNTL is a combination business across two suites in a small plaza of the Rolando neighborhood. The left side was the coffee shop, and the right side was a barber shop. There were limited parking spaces out front so I parked on a side street and walked over to buy a drink. The lounge area had about six tables and a sofa where customers could hang out and enjoy their order. A small line was ahead of me, however after I placed my order, the queue stretched nearly to the entrance. Cream coffees, matcha, and lattes were the main categories. Some baked goods were on display in a case at the service counter, but the selection was limited by the time of my afternoon visit. I selected an Iced Hojicha Latte with Banana Cream. The roasted green tea with milk had a nuttier flavor with less caffeine. The banana cream added sweetness that wasn't overpowering. Judging from the time I was there, they could have used more seating. No one was getting their hair cut despite the fairly large barber setup. Perhaps management may consider reconfiguring the space allocation to allow for a larger coffee shop and a smaller barber area. There was also no public restroom available which I found puzzling because if you want customers to stay on-site, then access to a restroom is important. My experience at ESSNTL Coffee was between a three and a four star level. read more

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I hadn't had a matcha in so long and this hit the spot. I loved the subtle earl grey flavor. The drink was nice and creamy and the inside of the shop was very aesthetic. Could be a cute place to work remotely. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Earl Grey Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

ESSNTL COFFEE @ EL CAJON Parking is available right out front, though it's very limited since it's shared with a small complex of other businesses. The location is super convenient extremely close to SDSU and right next to the Aztec smoke shop. I had only heard about this place because my roommate comes here every single day (and I'm not exaggerating). She's always coming home with one of their drinks and raving about how good they are, so I finally had to try it for myself. My friend and I came around 9 AM and luckily were able to find a parking spot. When you walk in, half of the space is actually a barbershop, which I thought was really cool and unique. I loved the aesthetic and overall vibe, it was clean, modern, and just a great environment to be in. The staff were extremely friendly and super patient while I asked a lot of questions about the drinks. I ended up trying the cookies and cream matcha, and it was honestly perfect. It was creamy, flavorful, and had a strong matcha taste that I really appreciated. I loved it. I would definitely come back to try their regular coffee with cookies and cream. Overall, the vibe, drinks, and service were great, and this is definitely a spot I'd stop by again. read more

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Visited the Essntl Coffee booth at the farmers market and had a really great experience. Kevin was super friendly and easy to talk to, which made the whole stop feel welcoming. We tried the Biscoff cream coffee and it honestly exceeded expectations--really well balanced. It had a strong coffee flavor with a nice caffeine kick, but didn't lean too sweet or overly bitter. You could actually taste the coffee without it being overpowering, and the Biscoff added just the right touch. Definitely one of the better drinks I've had from a market vendor. Would I drive 30+ mins to go to their store? Sure. There's plenty to do around the area too. read more

The lavender and sakura matcha here is amazing! A little big on the pricier side but the drinks are very high quality and the vibes inside are very nice. Quick and efficient, I would recommend to anyone needing a quick drink. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Lavender and sakura matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

- small plaza with few parking spots but on a Saturday afternoon we were able to get one! - huge space connected to a barber shop, lots of seating (1) biscoff cookie butter matcha ($8.62): 8/10 - this was yummy! Loved the combination of flavors especially since it wasn't as sweet as I thought - there's a cookie butter foam with crumbles and some cookie butter spread around the cup, those I think are the main sugars to sweeten the drink - matcha was slightly slightly grainy and not as strong as I would personally like but overall a delicious drink! I'd be back to try their other flavors! read more

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Came here to get the iced banana matcha latte as I've been super into those lately and I think the drink was good but not sweet enough for my liking, so if you prefer your matcha lattes less sweet this is the perfect place! The shop is super cute and is connected to a barber shop. Seems like it would also be a good place to study at. read more

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Inside, the cafe is connected to the barber shop next door. There is quite a good amount of open space & some tables to enjoy your drink. The baristas were quick to take our order & get our drink out very timely. The drinks themselves were very pretty, but we would only come back for the coffee & not the matcha! * Earl Grey Matcha - 7/10 (it tasted like earl grey milk. the earl grey flavor came through but you don't taste the matcha at all. if we closed our eyes we would've thought it was an earl grey latte) * Banana Cream Coffee - 8.7/10 (i like how their coffee is quite strong, mixed with the banana cream is so delicious. the cream is definitely on the sweeter side, so i would ask for the drink to be less sweet. the banana flavor really shines through & the toffee bits add an addicting crunch. there is more cream then i would prefer, but the coffee here is really yummy) read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Earl Grey Matcha & Banana Cream Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I randomly came upon this coffee shop. I ordered the biscoff cream matcha and it was so goood!!!! The matcha was the perfect color and flavor. The biscoff was subtle and gave the perfect amount if sweetness to the drink. This will definitely be my go to place for matcha! read more

Yes! Love the name ESSNTL Coffee, very much correct. I visit this place monthly if anything biweekly, it's very much essential. They offer specialty coffee, matcha drinks, teas, and seasonal drinks that rotate, plus a space that's really built for people to sit down and get work done. Parking was not difficult for me at all, there were plenty of open spaces despite the cafe being completely full of college students and people working. Service was amazing, the employee was super bubbly and welcoming. I was curious if they were offering their spring menu as advertised on Instagram because I didn't see anything on the main menu or on the flyers posted around the store. There's a lot of seating and the place offers kind of a mid century, concrete aesthetic with the interior decor. After ordering you're given a buzzer that rings when your drink is ready so you don't have to stand around at the counter waiting. I love this because it clears the space for people ordering and looking at the menu. Let's talk matcha. I got the blooming jade which is a jasmine tea topped with their signature matcha cream foam. The price... scary. For tea and matcha foam I wasn't expecting it to be almost $9, and with tip you're easily in double digits. They do have a rewards system though, I think you get something after 5 visits. My drink came out in about 5 minutes which was pretty quick considering how busy they were. I tried each part on its own first. The tea was crisp, refreshing, lightly floral and sweetened perfectly. The matcha cream was a little on the salty side but the matcha flavor was there. I mixed a little bit of the cream into the tea and the whole drink shifted in a weird way. It turned into this floral but almost musty, slightly metallic flavor. The best way I can describe it is like entering a public restroom situation where you get floral and maybe a hint of coconut from the soap but then this sudden musty note hits. It was strange and honestly not enjoyable. I really tried to like it. I'm guessing it might be from the cream being pre made since matcha can oxidize quickly. I kept drinking it until it was about halfway and then fully mixed everything together. Once it was fully combined the drink actually transformed into a creamy matcha that was way more enjoyable. I think at first the jasmine tea and the cream were sitting in separate layers so the flavors clashed instead of blending, but once everything was fully mixed it balanced out a lot better. Overall I'll still be coming back because this place is genuinely one of my go to spots and I love the space and the effort they put into their drinks. This one didn't fully hit for me but I'm still excited to try more of their seasonal menu. read more

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I had been hearing lots of things about ESSNTL coffee and finally gave it a visit when I was in the area. It is adjacent to a barbershop so if I was going to get my haircut, I'd probably come here due to its convenience to a cafe. This place isn't really one for studying and more so for grabbing and going. I decided to get a banana hojicha drink since I've been seeing a lot of the matcha banana drinks going around. The drink itself also comes with housemade toffee bits. I thought the hojicha and banana combo worked well together. I think the drink was around $8. The banana portion didn't taste like the artificial banana, which I appreciated. I did find it to be a bit on the sweeter side so I am wondering if there is a way to adjust sweetness. Overall, it is a solid spot in the SDSU area. I'd come to try their Vietnamese coffees since those look delicious as well. Staff here is friendly, though spots are limited in this plaza. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Banana Hojicha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the banana matcha latte and it was solid with high quality matcha! My bf got the cookies and cream viet coffee and couldn't finish it because of how thick and sweet it was. They did have a latte version, so that would probably be less intense. The spot was still a work in progress as we did come around their grand opening time. There was still construction going on inside to expand the space, but once it's finished, it seems like a nice spot to work at. Staff was very friendly as well! read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Banana Matcha & Cookies & Cream viet coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently stopped by this new spot and was pleasantly surprised. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but once you step inside, it's a completely different experience. The space is beautiful, with lovely decor and plenty of room for tables and seating. They have menu displays with pictures, pastries on display, and so many tempting options to choose from. I ordered the Biscoff iced coffee and it was absolutely phenomenal -- truly to die for. The prices are reasonable, too. I went back a few days later to try the matcha, which was good, but my favorite is still the Biscoff. You definitely need to come check out this new spot! The service is also a 10/10 very friendly and polite. read more

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My first time trying ESSNTL Coffee was during the Taste of College event. At that time, I got the cookies n cream coffee, and my best friend got the banana coffee. We both liked the banana coffee best because it was just a little more sweeter. So anyways, I recently stopped by to pick up some coffee for myself, and my best friend, and I got two banana coffees, one with oat milk. We both enjoyed our drinks, and the lady helping us at the counter was more than helpful. I appreciated her informing us that the banana cream foam was made with dairy, because we had gotten a milk substitute. The coffee shop is connected to a barber shop, which is really cool because it makes the atmosphere feel like a third space where you can actually hang out in. There is parking, however, the lot isn't the largest. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Banana Cream Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Love their drink menu, concept shared with the barber shop & the most recent expansion. The vibes are always vibing and I'm most excited about their addition of WiFi! Service is always personable and can't complain. read more

Essntl Coffee is located in the corner of the shopping mall, sharing a parking lot with other businesses. The cashier/barista was super nice and recommended the cookie butter matcha; which by the way was not on the menu yet. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint- it was a 10 out of 10. The matcha has a cookie butter and matcha foam and the cup is drizzled with a cookie butter sauce. So good and the drink size was bigger than I expected. When you walk in you will see a simple, clean designed coffee house. Walk past the tables to the back where you will find the cashier. Place your order, have a seat and your drink will be ready fast. read more

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First off so glad they're a nice matcha place close by now! And they have a parking lot so yay!! They're pretty busy! Wait can be a bit but it's ok I walked my dog around the block and visited nearby places. It's so cute and aesthetically pleasing here. Very simple. So many drink options with unique combos. I got the hojicha and it was really good!! I'd get this again. I got my man the matcha with banana cream foam as I've been dying to try this. This one was ok to me. The banana flavor was very light and the matcha flavor also seemed faint for us. I got my mom the special biscoff cookie coffee for my mom. Presentation for all were so cute! I didn't try the cookie coffee since I do not drink coffee. I will say that ALL of the staff are SO kind and SO attentive. So 10/10 on service. I'll definitely come back to try the other matcha and hojichas! read more

I have to admit... I'm a bit of a coffee snob. Some might even call me boujee. I'm always on the lookout for great Vietnamese coffee here in San Diego. Most of the time, I end up driving nearly two hours to Orange County just to get my fix at places like Da Vien, Viland, and Phin Smith. Today, I decided to try something new. A friend recommended ESSNTL Coffee after tasting it at a Tết Festival over the weekend. Vietnamese coffee, when done right, is strong, bold, and layered -- deep, complex flavors that can be sweet, refreshing, savory, and earthy all at once. From the first sip, I could immediately taste the difference compared to many other coffee shops here in San Diego. I ordered the Salted Cream Vietnamese Coffee, and it did not disappoint. Now, I wouldn't quite put it on the same level as Da Vien, Viland, or Phin Smith -- but for San Diego, it's definitely good. The space is open and modern, sharing half the location with a barbershop -- which actually gives it a cool vibe. The WiFi is solid, and I had the chance to meet the owner, which always makes the experience better. Only small suggestion: maybe offer smaller straws. When the coffee is this strong, you want to sip it slowly and enjoy it. Overall, it's a solid spot and worth checking out. If you're near SDSU, give ESSNTL Coffee a try. I'll be back. read more

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We had Signature Salted Cream Coffee Banana Cream Hojicha Five stars for the coffee. It has a deep brewed taste without being over roasted or burnt. The banana cream on the hojicha tasted like medicine instead of banana. Very artificial. The hojicha didn't have the roasted green tea taste. Parking in the complex is so bad that cars would block other parked cars rendering you unable to get out. Street parking is also scarce. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - signature salted cream coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Best place ever! And conveniently near me! I love that they transitioned to the buzzers because there was one time someone took my drink. I recently had a huge order for work and the cashier was very patient and positive. I had my son with me and someone helped bring my drinks to my car. This happened twice, which shows how the staff always are willing to help in anyway they can. I am bummed about no egg foam coffee tho. They also expanded their space and it's nice especially since there is a college near by and they can come in and study. read more

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This place popped up on my IG timeline and I bookmarked it to try. Came down on a Sunday morning and ordered the Hojicha Einspanner (its perfection) and Ube Cream Vietnamese Coffee (strong coffee) and YUM!! The Ube cream had a weird texture but the flavor was good. Minimalist decor, beautiful seating area and I was pleasantly surprised to find it attached to a busy barber shop- what a genius concept! read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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First, let me start off by saying that it is NO easy feat to run a small business. I hate not writing a great review, but I also want to give fair input. 1) The Good: The staff was kind and welcoming. The coffee shop is an extension of the barber shop next door, which I'm sure runs a great community. I love that they have opened a coffee shop to serve the community even more. 2) What We Ordered: *Strawberry Matcha: 4/5 *Banana Latte: 2/5 First, let me start by agreeing with other reviewers saying it takes a long time: we waited 33 minutes for our drinks. The staff was kind and thanked us for our patience, and I was not in a rush. But our 15 minute parking -- some of the only ones available in the lot -- might beg to disagree. I was pleasantly surprised with my matcha; it was a bit sweet, which complemented the strawberry syrup well. The syrup was skimped on, however; I finished it way before finishing my drink. I don't agree with other patrons saying this is the "best matcha in San Diego", but I do appreciate that they hand-whisk each matcha, which adds authenticity. My husband really did not like his latte. They were out of their Vietnamese coffee which seems to be their whole focus, and the espresso-driven substitution was very imbalanced with the toffee topping and banana cream. It just wasn't sweetened enough to complement the flavor of the add-ons. I enjoyed the toffee crunch, though! 3) Ambience: 1.8/5 The space looks really cool and trendy online: a lit back wall, cozy seating with white chairs and tables. In person, though, it felt empty and not the cleanest: the white floors near where we sat, in the back, were scuffed with tape and shoe marks. Maybe because we came the day after their opening they didn't have time to clean up completely, but I just wanted to note it. The worst part was the music blasting throughout the space. Between the barber shop and the café area, they have two DIFFERENT loud, thumping, new hip-hop / TikTok beats. Maybe play the same song throughout the whole space? People come to cafés to enjoy the environment: chill, work, study, or talk with friends, NOT be drowned out by competing music that weighs down the clean aesthetic you're going for. Aside from two groups, both of which had on huge headphones to drown out the noise, I noticed every other group try to sit down and talk, only to get up and leave. Perhaps this was from the short parking limits, but I've never seen people consistently leave a café so quickly, versus other matcha / coffee spots where you just PRAY you'll get a seat. All in all, this is an okay spot for sweet boba shop-type drinks (not for the serious coffee head), and I'm not here to talk you out of trying it since so many others here seem to love it, but there are so many consistently excellent matcha / coffee spots with an inviting ambience in our city otherwise. read more

Came back and tried their cold brew with a salted cream top. Got the salted cream coffee with almond milk for my partner as well. The cold brew was strong and not bitter but didn't really have any distinctive flavor. The salted cream top isn't sweet at all which I was surprised by so the whole drink was not sweetened. Good if that's what you're looking for but still want the richness of the cream. My partner thought his was just ok but more because of the almond milk which did make it distinctly different than a normal Vietnamese coffee. Also really pricey at $8 since it's a $1 upcharge for the almond milk. read more

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The staff was out of this world. They were personable and outstanding. We left with earl Grey matcha and batista's choice! I cant wait to come back to try more drinks! read more

This a very cool new Vietnamese shop. They are just getting underway, so their menu is limited. However, they do offer a nice line up of espresso based beverages. That being said, I had an iced coffee with milk and no sugar. I wanted a touch of cinnamon, but they did not have any yet. I ordered the "Pure Black" and had them add the milk. The iced coffee was pretty good. It did have a slight bitter after taste however. The young ladies working the shop while I visited were both very nice. The shop is split with a barber shop, although it has its own entrance. There's a small parking lot out in front. They offer some seating along the walls. As the days progress, there will be more to come according to one of the owners. More beverage and eats will be added to the menu. read more

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My wife and I got the Viet egg coffee and Salted Cream coffee. We really enjoyed the drinks. I liked how sweet and rich the egg coffee was and my wife thinks that the flavor of their salted cream blended really well and the amount of saltiness was perfect. We got oat milk substitute so it came out to be around $7 per cup, which is kinda pricey but I definitely would want to come back here and try their Banana cream coffee. Their coffee place is right next to the barbershop and it's compact so there's a limited amount of tables and seats. If they're busy you might have to stand. read more

ESSNTL Coffee - Salted Cream coffee (Left) and Viet Egg coffee (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Unfortunately, I missed the Grand Opening of Essntl Coffee on July 14th, where you can meet the owners and sample their amazing Vietnamese coffees. It's exciting to have a NEW Vietnamese coffee shop in the College Area! CONGRATS!! Luckily, I had an opportunity to join the celebration by taking advantage of their Grand Opening Discount which ends July 28th. The coffee shop was easy to get to but did notice the limited parking spaces. It's awesome that it's right next door to the Essntl Barbers...great concept. Inside, the staff was very friendly and vibes pretty cool. I ordered the Vietnamese egg coffee to help get over the hump of the week. It took a bit to make it fresh which is worth the wait. Luuuved it!!! Overall, a nice minimalist spot with great customer service and reasonably priced crafted espresso! It's E-SSENTIAL for the Yelp Community to try it. read more

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