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    ESSNTL Coffee

    4.4 (154 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Recommended Reviews - ESSNTL Coffee

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    Mai H.

    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.

    Sammy B.

    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.

    Salted Cream & Biscoff Cream Matchas
    Allison P.

    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!

    Cookies & cream matcha, salted Vietnamese coffee
    Eugene C.

    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!

    Wooo!!!
    Leland S.

    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.

    Salted cream and banana cream coffees
    Dary P.

    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.

    Earl Grey Matcha
    Jordyn S.

    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.

    Vietnamese coffee with salt cream & Double matcha latte (super grainy/clumpy)
    Joycee K.

    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.

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    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.

    Elisa N.

    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.

    Lavender and sakura matcha
    Eleanor C.

    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.

    Interior - Lots of space and seating
    Michelle W.

    - 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!

    Menu 4/2026
    Jenifer B.

    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.

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    Ask the Community - ESSNTL Coffee

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