ESSNTL Coffee

IMO, one of the best, if not the best, matcha you could get in San Diego. Perfectly sweet, and rich, strong matcha flavor. If I'm not trying a new place, I always gravitate to ESSNTL. Genuinely so good. The biscoff matcha latte is pretty good, although the texture of soggy biscuits does throw you off a bit once a few minutes pass by. The banana cream and strawberry latte are great. You can't go wrong with the plain matcha latte, it's very nice.

Coffee: one the best Banana Cream Coffee. Coffee used was good. The banana cream was amazing along with the crunch peanut pieces! Parking: difficult due to the location. Small parking lot can only hold a few cars. Better off parking on the street. Vibe: very young crowd, as expected being near the college. It’s connected to a barbershop. Plenty of seating Staff: they were really nice. However, expect about a 15-20 min wait. They work hard and seems like are figuring out to be more efficient. All in all, would come back again!

Gonna start off by saying this place is definitely expensive. I spent $8.76 on my matcha. But... this place is easily some of the best if not the best matcha I have ever had in San Diego. 8 dollars, but at least the size is pretty big. The matcha is legit to. You actually get that real umami taste. The milk to matcha ratio is always perfect and balanced, and that's where a lot of places truly lack when it comes to matcha. I personally like my matcha plain, but they have tons of options available like banana matcha, and strawberry. The matcha I normally ordered has this whip cream on top that is absolutely delicious and pairs perfectly with the matcha. A good amount of seating so good for studying or dine in. This establishment is also connected to a barbershop next door, which just adds to the business. Service here is very good. If you like legit matcha in the college area, this should be on the list. Top 3 best matcha in SD.

Their matcha goes viral on Ticktock so definitely I wanna give it a try. Overall, their matcha is a bit pricy but very legit and authentic. Their banana cream Matcha is soooo good but you have to use the straw to give a good mix. Their earl grey Matcha gives fresh and clean taste. I feel like I can use Costco matcha and trader joe tea bag to replicate early grey Matcha though. But I don’t think I can replicate their banana cream one. I would for sure come back to try other matcha and coffee.

ESSNTL Coffee shares the wall with ESSNTL Barber. People have noted a smell, but I would say it just smells like men’s cologne. It is not a bad smell at all, I don’t mind it. The parking can be difficult at times because it’s a tiny shared lot. But you can find some luck with street parking. The workers are extremely kind and will answer questions you may have. They even remember you after one visit! Sadly, alternative milks do cost $1 extra! The drinks are a little bit on the expensive side if you compare to other shops. But this is Vietnamese coffee, it’s slow dripped with phin filter. It’s not espresso. The cream top flavors are all made well and the syrups too. Quality is def showing! I’ve had several of their drinks already. • Ube Cloud Cream Coffee- this one is sweet and the ube flavor comes out well balanced with the strong Vietnamese coffee. • Cookies & Cream Foam Coffee- this one is nice if you like the C&C flavor and you’re not big on coffee. It’s still strong, but once you mix it — it def has more of a melted icecream flavor. There’s also chunks of cookies in there so it’s not as smooth as your usual drink. • Banana Cream Coffee- I love this one. The banana flavor tastes fresh, sweet, and not artificial in any way. It’s the perfect consistency and pairs beautifully with the Vietnamese coffee. They do ask you what milk you’d like with it, sometimes they might make it a little too light. I would ask for no milk added! • Earl Grey Matcha with Oat Milk- this one is a little steep in price because it’s a matcha drink and with alternative milk. But oh my god, it is so good. It tastes like fruity pebbles! The matcha is strong, but not overwhelming.