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    ESSNTL Coffee

    4.3 (182 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Recommended Reviews - ESSNTL Coffee

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    Seating area
    Karen F.

    Essential Coffee in El Cajon is such a cute spot! This was my first time visiting and I was pleasantly surprised by how adorable the inside is. The decor is so cute, the seating is super aesthetic, and the whole vibe makes it such a fun place to stop by. Their matchas were SO good! We tried the Banana Cream and Cookies N' Cream matchas, and both were delicious. The matcha flavor wasn't overpowering, and the cream wasn't overly sweet, it was the perfect balance. The staff was super friendly, and our order came out quickly. Definitely recommend checking them out if you're a matcha lover!

    Banana Matcha
    Cayla Marie H.

    ESSNTL Coffee is a hidden gem and needs more attention! Immediately. Interesting layout, because it shares a spaces with ESSNTL Barbershop, separated by a wall but with complete access. You have the option between a matcha or Vietnamese coffee base, then pick your foam flavoring. Vietnamese coffee is always on my radar, so when I saw they offered different flavors, I jumped on board. Biscoff and Banana are the top selling items. I was feeling biscoff and I chose correctly. It was strong and sweet with all the biscoff goodness crumbled on top. For my second visit, I tried a a banana Matcha. Very good with the same consistent creamy texture. I can't even think of the price point right now because I'm busy sipping on my drink. Haha. Excited to go back and try their other offerings.

    Banana matcha
    Alexis M.

    Ordered a banana matcha and wow this was delicious! The banana cream was not too strong and the matcha itself was rich. My boyfriend ordered the cookies and cream latte which he thoroughly enjoyed. My sister was the one who picked up the coffee and mentioned the employees were very kind. Overall, if you are in the area, I would definitely recommend coming here to grab a quick drink!

    Vietnamese latte Ube foam
    Ana G.

    A little funny, sort of looks like I'm about to go in for a haircut, but honestly it's a smart business decision :) The drinks are so delicious and may seem a little pricey for coffee but it's mainly if you're upgrading or add-ons. Fast too but there was no one in line when I arrived. I got a Vietnamese latte with Ube soft top yummyyyyy

    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!

    $9 EARL GREY MATCHA WITH OAT MILK & $7 COOKIES + CREAM COFFEE
    Caitlin D.

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    Dog friendly!
    MaRinajh J.

    The drinks were good! The ube and strawberry crème were smooth and flavorful. Definitely on the sweeter/dessert side. Their coffee base was decently strong (they have a vietnamese coffee option) as well as their matcha. It took about 10-15 minutes to ring up two drinks. I like how their matcha is hand whisked. They did forget the strawberry cream top to my strawberry matcha, but the baristas were nice and added it. The inside is lovely and a decently sized, but only a few tables are available (they have a comfy couch in the corner). For parking, the lot directly in front is small and is often full, so park nearby!

    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.

    strawberry matcha
    Jamie P.

    went for their one year anniversary and the ambiance is great! Lots of seating, parking right in front, well priced, strong coffee, service was fast and very friendly staff! They sweetened the matcha for me at no extra cost which was so nice.

    Coconut cloud matcha

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    1 month ago

    I ordered the Salted Matcha, it was delicious and service was fast! Would love to come back and try other matcha flavors

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    Good vibes over here! Great tasting coffee and great customer service! ESSNTL is essential if you need your coffee fix!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - ESSNTL Coffee

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    I've been coming here for months and seriously love getting the cinnamon roll and cinnamon roll…read morelatte! The latte itself is so tasty, it has a good balance of strong and sweetness. I get it every single time im here. I'd also recommend the Mexican iced chocolate latte. It's also strong yet sweetened to perfection. The service here is always good and the employees always greet you. I like to come here to study and just sit outside to take in the morning air. I love the view of cowles mountain as well. It's a great spot if you wanna study, they have free wifi if you purchase something so that's a plus. I recommend trying the cinnamon roll latte!

    For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

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    First time discovering this small bakery tucked away in a spacious plaza of Lemon Grove. The inside…read moreis able to seat around 14 people from the looks of it and there is additional shaded seating outside. Staff that I met was extremely friendly (Grayson, Jules, and Dom), as well as the owner of the bakery Tanya. This bakery has been operating for about three years and there was a good crowd on a Monday afternoon. All the pastries are vegan and I tried the vanilla concha (pro tip get it warmed up) with their house made maple butter and the carrot cake. Both were amazing, I've never had a vegan concha and don't think I'll be going back to regular ones! They also have breakfast sandwiches that many people ordered that looks like it's on a thick piece of focaccia. The reviews speak for itself! Great pastries and coffee, friendly staff, and clean store what more could you want?! I'm glad I made this discovery and can't wait to come back, highly recommend you check out this place!

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    Ultreya Coffee and Tea

    Ultreya Coffee and Tea

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    Great coffee, great service, and cool vibes. The coffee here is really good. The cortado was really…read morewell balanced with the macadamia nut milk. It was my first time having one with macadamia nut milk. I usually do almond milk. Their specialty drinks aren't too sweet either. They are more coffee forward in my opinion. I haven't tried any of their pastries, but they look good.

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    The Simple Coffee House

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    Indoors
    Indoors
    Toasted iced coffee! wish i took a shot before i started drinking! ‍
    Toasted iced coffee! wish i took a shot before i started drinking! ‍
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    Had a group meeting in the area, I saw a coffee shop across and figured trying to get some work…read moredone. Here was my experience AMBIANCE Parking: Street parking and neighborhood parking. It can get pretty busy so come early to prep. Seating: Chill plenty of seating both inside and outside. Good for small groups with room for about 30 people. Vibes: Welcome to Normal Heights nothing too flashy, just plenty of local eateries and businesses. The spot itself is relatively clean, modern, pretentious. I dig the 90s house music in the background. This seems to be a trusted neighborly coffee shop with students are working, friends are catching up, and regulars seem to know the staff by name. It helps there's a pizza shop next door as well. FOOD / DRINKS Cherie Amour (Recommend) Delish. A latte with housemade cherry and almond syrup, and if you get it iced, it comes topped with a little cold foam. I dig the sweetness and the fruitiness of the cherry, it balanced out the bitterness of the coffee which was pretty cool. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and welcoming. Sara helped contribute to the neighborhood feel of the place and made the experience easy and enjoyable. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. Good coffee, reasonable prices, and a pleasant atmosphere. I know there are plenty of coffeeshops in SD but this is a cool neighborly one. It doesnt seem like a trendy place but a place more in community and steady service. Till next time, Scrimshaw! TIPS * Try the seasonal drinks--they get creative.

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    ESSNTL Coffee - coffee - Updated August 2026

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