I came across this really nice coffee shop in Newark @intrinsiccafe ! Definitely a great spot to sit down drink coffee and do some work inside or outside when the weather is great! Plenty of shade outdoors to sit out there comfortably! If you ever around make sure to pass by! You won't regret it! read more

Cute little cafe! I lived my Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It was listed as hot but she was able to make it an iced coffee for me. The person working was really nice and accommodating. There were a few students in there with laptops doing school work. I was very happy with my visit and do recommend. I do wish I tried some of their baked goods because they looked scrumptious! read more

Intrinsic is a cute, convenient little cafe! I live right down the street from it and I personally love how late it is open. My husband and I had a little late night coffee date after a day of journaling and reflecting and it was nice to sit and chat here. It feels very homey, but I will say that the inside can get very loud with a bunch of people crowded in the small space. The decor is a little funny, seems kinda random - but I love the genuine vibe! The service was really good, I like the big chalk board menu. It's aesthetically pleasing to look at. I tried a matcha vanilla cupcake and it was soooo good. Normally matcha stuff tastes like grass to me but it was really well balanced with the vanilla. Neither was overpowering and it made it a very refreshing dessert. I can see intrinsic becoming a regular spot in my life! read more

Must visit for a wonderful experience of coffee and fern and fossil event with your friends and family. read more

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Usually a comfortable place. I like it there. Service is quick. I ordered a drink that I customized. It's so simply customized I've realized I can make my drink at home. (I have and its good)I left feeling like I was made fun of for ordering the drink by the barista(s). CHILDISH BEHAVIOR!!!It's a drink that common in other cafes I've gone to too, so wth man. Never doing that again; stick to the menu keep the spontaneity at home read more

this place was cute, and they had friendly staff, I really liked the atmosphere and I thought it was fairly priced. I tried a chocolate cake that tasted fresh. I came in on a Sunday afternoon. Keep in mind there's not a lot of sitting here. read more

What a great cafe! I can see why it was pack on a Friday afternoon. Located right near Essex County College and Rutgers-Newark, this place had many young kids hanging out with friend. My friend and I were able to grab two seats. We both ordered Chai Spice brewed tea. My large was $2.40 after tax and his small was less than $2. Even though there were many people there, it wasn't noisy. My friend and I were able to hold a conversation. If you're looking for a spot to hang out with a friend, this is the place. read more

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I usually like to review places I've been to more than once to make sure I am accounting for consistency. However, the customer service I received here at Intrinsic was so noteworthy I definitely need to shout them out for it! I came here for brunch with my boyfriend and two young nieces. We sat outside and the owner made sure we were seated in the best seats! She quickly cleared a table off as another group was leaving and moved us to seats in the shaded area. Her customer service was really above and beyond. With two picky kids, she asked them what they wanted and made a few off menu suggestions to ensure they enjoyed their meal! The food we got was delicious! Made with all fresh ingredients served perfectly hot and seasoned well. They also have very delicious desserts which would vary on the day. But while we were there we got a blueberry ice cream and chocolate molten brownie which was delicious. Pricing was extremely reasonable for the quality and quantity of food we received. Will definitely be back here sooner than later!! read more

No complaints, lovely bubble tea! Quick and good customer service. Used to go here during my college days, I'm glad they're still open and rocking. read more

Intrinsic Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

This is a higher 3 star star review, like 3.7. The last time I was here we nearly waited 35 mins for our drinks. We only had 2! I understand that they are busy at times, but 35-40 mins for a drink is ridiculous. This place caters to students, so expect to see a lot of kids hanging out and studying. The drinks themselves were just alright... I think all the flavors are powdered, not sure. But I prefer fresh fruits. Place is also smaller so there might not be any seating in peak hours. read more

Favorite spot for over 10 years !!!! If you're in the area THIS IS THE SPOT!!! Great service & the ambiance is great

Absolutely love this cute little spot! I've been to this place probably 2 times before however that was over a year ago. I recently came here with my boyfriend for some drinks and I'm quite happy we revisited this spot again after so long! I decided to go with the Mango Milk Tea while my boyfriend got the Hot Chocolate! Though it was pretty chilly outside, I was craving some bubble tea and to no surprise it was very flavorful. Most importantly the tapioca was super chewy which I truly enjoyed and they're definitely not stingy with it either (HUGE PLUS!!!) I did also try my boyfriend's hot chocolate which was very delightful and hit the spot on a chilly day. Since this place is in the center of the NJIT and Rutgers Newark campuses I would certainly recommend this to those in the area! read more

Decent Mexican hot chocolate. The chocolate croissant was rubbery after it was heated up. The look inside is very hip and modern. read more

Intrinsic Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

"TLDR" AT THE END. I will start this review/constructive criticism with a very famous quote "The customer perception is your reality." I had such a bad experience here that I would not be coming back to this establishment. I should have known better not to come in here. If you are a young professional, abstain from coming here to do work or research because it is not the ambiance you expect. They advertise "Free Wifi," and I felt attracted to the unique and boho style of the establishment that I felt like it was an excellent option to work from rather than from home. It was a little packed when I got there, which wasn't a turn off I love seeing businesses thrive ( it might be an issue for someone expecting a quiet establishment). On the customer service side of things, what made my experience distasteful was one of the employees. It was like ten "F" words per second coming out of that young lady's mouth. The amount of swearing was enough to make me want to advise her to wash her mouth with soap and water like in old times. But, I guess on the good side, I learned few new words that I can add to my repertoire if I ever need to utilize them. I don't know who this young lady is but from the personal information she was sharing, that was not professional (unacceptable to have on the clock), she has been working there since 2018, and it seems like she was the Shift manager. I felt sorry for the other employees and customers that were being treated in a passive-aggressive way. She badmouthed every customer who didn't behave a certain way right after they left. But, on the other hand, I applaud her colleges that were not amused by her antics and kept it professional by not answering her passive-aggressive questions against some of the clients she badmouthed. You can't accidentally drop your drink and apologize for it without being badmouthed after you leave by this young lady. I was not impressed by the coffee and was not impressed by the bubble tea. Someone had requested a food item that had Tomatoes. They didn't even have tomatoes and failed to inform that client that there was no tomato after paying. The manager didn't even take ownership of the situation. *This review is based on the day I visited on September 15th, 2021, at 11:30 am. Your experience might differ from mines, hopefully depending on the shift* TLDR; PROS: 1- Cute establishment. CONS: 1- Mediocre preparation of the items for consumption. 2- Can be laud. 3- Some of the employees have no soft skills nor customer service skills. 4- Might be exposed to cross-contamination, poor handling of perishable read more

Don't come here for bubble tea! The pops are so weird and are pure sugar and don't taste good. However, the coffee and teas are pretty good and hanging out here feels like home. The guys who work here are super sweet and hang out there themselves and talk to you. It's a cute place to relax, do some work, read, and be cozy on a cold Jersey day. FYI closed on Saturdays. read more

Oh boy, does this place have good coffee and bubble tea options. Tons of flavors. I can't attest to the food, as I haven't tried anything, but they do have several sandwiches and cupcakes. This place is ALWAYS crowded with the nearby college students, but the staff is friendly and even though it might take a bit to get your order, it's worth it. There's not much seating but most people take their drinks to go, so you can usually find a place to sit if you're staying. I find this a good place to meet people for casual conversation. Would recommend! read more

Intrinsic Cafe - Pretty decor inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I had never heard of bubble tea before, and was brought here by a friend. I let him do the ordering, because frankly I'm not even sure what is what. I had the red bean bubble tea with coffee jelly bubbles. It was oh so so so good. The place is so sweetly decorated too. I had a bite of one of their nut cookies, which was really scrumptious as well. I definitely recommend. read more

Intrinsic used to be one of the few places to get boba in Newark. It caters to the college students in the area, but it was my go-to when I worked in the area. I'd go there for a pick-me-up. (Hey, sometimes when you're having a rough day at work, a bubble tea is all you need). Intrinsic is a very chill spot. You'll see students seated with the books and laptops, or students just hanging out. It's not very loud for the most part. You can get hot teas, bubble teas, and some light food options. There is also hookah outside when the weather is warm. It's a nice place for students and where boba addicts like me can get a fix. read more

It's an amazing place nice calm and very respectful recommend this place to everyone who wants to chill with friends, it even come with board games and it's very nice aesthetic inside. The food is amazing and I find it really fast made and brought to the table if needed and busy making excellent service read more

First place I've had Boba, wasn't so into it at first but it was really really good and I was getting it almost every day that I had class by the end of the semester. I'm going back to Rutgers soon so I will definitely be back there at least once. read more

This is a cute little cafe right in the heart of Newark. Next to both NJIT and Newark Rutgers campuses. You can get your sugar fix with their baked goods or get some bubble tea or a coffee on your way to class. They also have a little Lounge area where kids hop on the Wi-Fi. there are board games to enjoy while chatting with friends. This is similar to a Starbucks but has more of a cozy, home environment which I really dig. read more

Intrinsic Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Stopped in for a quick coffee but I could not resist the baked goods that were right in front of me as I was waiting for my coffee. I had to get the Pumpkin Nutella Cookie Bar! It seems like this place is more famous for their boba and smoothies because that's mostly what I saw people ordering. They have a lot of unique smoothie flavors if that's what you're interested in. The girl who served me was super friendly and it's always nice to have a conversation with a random stranger. They also have cafe foods such as sandwiches. Super cute cafe, I will be back to try more things! read more

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One of the only places with boba/bubble tea I've found in Newark (if anyone knows of anywhere else, please let me know). The tea itself was okay. Being from California, I've had better but honestly, given the limited options, it is okay. One plus is that they have a really great selection. Other good things are the staff (very nice and asked how the drink was), the place (felt comfortable working there and stayed almost 3 hours without any problem), free wi-fi, nice pastry selection (I think they have limited food options right now but I'm not really sure). I definitely plan to go back because it was the first place in Newark I have felt really could be a regular spot for me. read more

Such a sweet lil spot! I'm so glad I found this place in my hometown, it makes for the perfect Sunday paired with Ramen Gami next door. Cute patio out back I plan to take full advantage of once spring decides to stick around. I haven't had a bubble tea from here I didn't like, they'll even mix a new flavor for you to sample before you buy. The matcha brownies pair well with some hot bubbles and that banana pudding rivals some of these larger brands (I see you baonanas) I aaalllllllmost doubled back for a second green tea smoothie after ramen. read more

This café is a great student spot in Newark. The coffee and tea is great and the workers encourage trying new smoothie and slushie flavors. The food is great too. Limited sushi options and it takes 20 minutes but it's tasty and cheap. Good specialty pastries too. read more

I'm always a fan of supporting local coffee shops rather than grabbing a drink at a standard dunkin or starbucks. Here you'll find college students getting their work done as it's near NJIT, Rutgers, and Essex Community College. This spot has a relaxed vibe with cute decor. This cafe has a nice menu, decent prices and even better coffee. I apprecaite how they provide drawings of the types of coffee to help differentiate amongst them (ie foam to milk to coffee ratios). I'll definitely return. read more

Delicious green bubble tea! The croissant turkey and cheese sandwich was great. The coffee was good also. read more

Intrinsic Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Intrinsic is one of those pearls that you simply wouldn't expect to find in this city. In an area where the windows and doors are gated and leaning towards the 'run-down' side of appearances, this cafe has managed to keep an upbeat atmosphere with beautifully drawn chalk art on the building and tasteful decorations on the inside. The bubble tea, coffee and tea selection takes up an entire wall of the cafe, listing all of the different kinds of slushes and drinks that are available. Their bubble tea is a little bit more expensive than your average bubble tea place, but their bubble teas are very tasty. Also, they offer deals (2 large bubble teas for $5 on Fridays, and athlete 10% discounts on Tuesdays) which make their bubble teas very worthwhile. I didn't try their sandwiches or muffins, but I had their lychee, honeydew, and mango fruit teas and their green tea milk tea. All of the fruit teas were very delicious but also very sweet, and I would recommend asking them to put in less sugar, if possible. However, their green tea milk tea tasted very watery, and it seemed as if they forgot to add ice to mine, which left it very lukewarm after a few minutes of drinking. However, this place is still one of my favorites to go to if I feel a craving for bubble tea, with it's great atmosphere and good drinks. read more

This isn't the place for quality bubble tea because they're all powder-based, but I was definitely thankful to have at least this by campus. I'd definitely recommend the milk-based drinks as opposed to the juice-based ones; I always found them too sweet and/or sour, like it tastes super artificial. Service had always been good, and it's cool that you can request mixing flavors. Also, don't order too close to closing time; I did that once and got bubbles that were either way undercooked or overcooked. Otherwise, this is a cute place to stop by for a pick-me-up! read more

Aside from the super super friendly staff, they have some great deals (like 2 for $5 large bubble tea on Fridays!!!). Also Ramen Gami is right next door, so if you order from there, they will deliver it to you here at Intrinsic! There are tables to do work at Intrinsic, but also a ton of board games and cards if you wanna just chill :) read more

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You can't ask for a better college area coffee house. The cafe has a laid-back atmosphere with plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, low key lounge music, soft lighting, and patrons chatting, playing games, and getting work done with headphones on. The coffee and teas are generously sized, varied, and relatively inexpensive. With your coffee, you can enjoy cookies, bagels, sandwiches, Japanese rice and meat cakes, and tacos. I recommend the onigiris for a quick bite and hot coffee in a ceramic mug. read more

I love this place. It's right off the NJIT and Rutgers campus, so the place is always full of college kids. I'm a student at NJIT so I enjoy the younger crowd and familiarizing myself with other students. Intrinsic is a great place to get some bubble tea or other drinks. I usually get mango bubble tea, but I've tried their teas and juices in other fruit flavors. I've never had it, but I heard their taro tea is good. A few of my college friends had never had boba tea before, but they seemed to have liked sips of my drinks from Intrinsic! Other than drinks, I've tried one of their sandwiches before and it was fine, but nothing special. They offer some fun deals throughout the week like 2 for $5 Friday's and Greek Monday's (Wear your Greek letters and get a discount, something like that) to name a few. They also offer additional hot drinks in the winter time. The cafe itself is really cute. When you walk in there's a chalkboard wall that is usually covered in something amusing. It's has a really laid back feeling and there are also board games you can play! There's a seating area in the back, which is also really nice. read more

Intrinsic Cafe - I love getting the mango bubble tea here! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Pretty good non-traditional bubble tea with surprisingly good bubbles! I came here with a friend who goes to school in the area, and there was a decent amount of students hanging out/doing work in the cafe. I got peach strawberry juice with bubbles and it was very sweet but tasty. They have creamy, more traditional milk flavored teas (which I didn't try) and a bunch of different juices that you can mix. I can't attest to how their more classic flavors (milk, thai, etc.) taste but I was pleasantly surprised at the consistency of the bubbles, which is generally the hardest part to get right. They have a decent amount of space inside as well as a little courtyard in the back which apparently gets really pretty at night with the fairy lights :) Definitely a cute, very student-friendly cafe! read more

Intrinsic is the spot for those who go to school or work in the area. I love the staff here; they are so chill and helpful. I looove coming on fridays because there is a 2 large bubble tea for $5 deal. The bubble tea here is pretty amazing. I usually get a surpise bubble tea and tell them what I usually like and they surprise me with the best mix of flavors. Their cookies are so fresh and delicious as well and they always have something freshly baked. I enjoy the banana bread. The staff will give you input like I was told to have it with condensed milk, which they provided, and the combination was to die for. They have all types of board games and it's a great place to hang out or even do homework. When the weather is nice, there is a really neat outside area with beautiful lights at night. If you are in Newark often and haven't been to Intrinsic yet, you're missing out! read more

Coming from California, I'm having serious boba withdrawls in Newark. When my roommate told me about this cute little cafe that serves everything from coffee to smoothies to bubble tea AND asian homecooked food, I was hooked! Try the passion fruit green tea with mango pop boba. The tea is very flavorful and the boba actually pops in your mouth - like those you can get as a topping at Yogurtland (I hope people know what I'm talking about) The lunch specials are also quite a bargain. $5.50 for one dish and veggies. The menu changes everyday (i.e. soy chicken + broccoli or mapo tofu + broccoli, both over rice) This might be my new cafe spot! They have a great outdoor seating area and free wifi, great for the remainder of the summer. I might be the only party pooper here studying though. :( read more

I change my mind. It's definitely a 4. Its difficult getting good coffee in the area and depending who makes it, the lattes and cappuccinos come out very good at The Intrinsic. There aren't any more daily rice dishes as of now but there are chicken salad sandwiches, deli sandwiches plus the typical pastries, cookies and bagels. I personally really like the chicken salad. It's a good go-to place to casually chit-chat with friends since it's so laid back and everyone who works here is very helpful and friendly. Tip: I hear the Mexican hot chocolate is good and you can mix a variety of bubble tea flavors. read more

As far as places in Newark goes, this place is my favorite. So cozy, homey, artsy but down to earth; a real delight when the staff is incredibly personable, there's free wifi, and a good selection of drinks and homemade meals. This places screams DIY all over, and sometimes the people they train up may have a bit of inexperience, although they have their share of more savvy and skillful baristas, but the place makes up for it by providing a great space to hang out, have a conversation, play a few games, and relax to a good book. read more

Located right next to Ramen Gami on the corner of Sussex Ave, is a cute little café where I see a lot of college students hangout. I came in here to get something warm in the cold weather, and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw they had white hot chocolate, which they mix with a syrup and not powder. I love white hot chocolate, and their white hot chocolate here is good, it had enough sweet and mixture of milk, which made it a very enjoyable drink, probably one of the better white hot chocolate drinks I've had, so 5/5 stars for that. As some had already mentioned, their service is slow. For as many people coming in and out of this place, you'd think they'd know what they're doing because the employees were bumping into each other and the refrigerator doors were open and I saw that other employees were also bumping into it, yikes! The place felt a bit sticky and since there was a lot of people waiting for their drinks, it felt a crowded with the small space you have to be in. There is seating in the next room with tons of board games but you'd probably have to wait a little since it looks like patrons park here for hours. read more

This is a local bubble tea cafe on the Rutgers University-Newark campus and it has amazing deals! Mondays are 2 for $5 for Greeks, Tuesdays are 10% off for athletes, Wednesdays have bottomless coffees & teas (I believe..I don't really know because I never went on a Wednesday haha, same with Thursdays), Fridays are 2 for $5 for everyone, they're closed Saturdays and Sundays it's 5 for $10! They make any bubbleteas you want with any toppings you want. My personal favorite is the Honeydew Milk Tea with lychee jelly. They even have board games that you can play!!! Super cute and super comfy. Definitely come if you just want to chill! They even have an outdoor seating with lights and hookah if you are into that haha read more

I think it's an adorable spot that's long overdue in the college area of Newark. They have board games, and great smoothies (I liked the green tea smoothie) and my friend ordered a strawberry one that was too sweet for me but they loved it. I will definitely be back! For some outdoor seating and studying.... read more