ESSNTL Coffee
About
ESSNTL Coffee is listed on FindALoco in San Diego, CA with address, phone, hours, and map location. Common services and related keywords include Coffee Shop.
Located on El Cajon Boulevard in the heart of San Diego, California, ESSNTL Coffee is a specialty coffee shop that has quickly earned a devoted following for its remarkably authentic matcha and creative coffee drinks. With a 4.7-star rating from dozens of happy customers, this neighborhood gem sits near San Diego State University, making it a favorite among students, young professionals, and anyone who appreciates a genuinely well-crafted beverage. Whether you're stopping in on a weekday morning or swinging by on a lazy Sunday, the shop opens its doors with the same commitment to quality every single day.
What truly sets ESSNTL Coffee apart is its matcha program. Customers regularly describe it as the best matcha in San Diego, and it's easy to see why—the drinks deliver that rich, earthy umami flavor that true matcha lovers seek out. The portions are generous, and the quality is unmistakable from the first sip. The shop's matcha creations have even gone viral on TikTok, drawing curious visitors from across the city. Popular choices include the Banana Cream Matcha, which pairs the robust matcha base with sweet banana cream and crunchy peanut pieces for a delightful texture contrast, and the Earl Grey Matcha, praised for its fresh and clean taste. The Biscoff Matcha Latte is another standout, blending the familiar caramelized spice of Biscoff cookies into a creamy matcha base.
Beyond matcha, ESSNTL Coffee earns high marks for its coffee offerings as well. The Banana Cream Coffee is a customer favorite, featuring quality coffee topped with an indulgent banana cream and crunchy peanut garnish that elevates the experience beyond a typical café visit. Whether you're ordering a classic espresso or exploring one of the shop's signature creations, the emphasis is always on quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation. While some customers note that prices lean toward the higher end—expect to spend around $8 or more for a specialty drink—the consensus is clear: the taste and portion size make it worth every penny. This is not a place that cuts corners, and you can taste the difference.
The atmosphere at ESSNTL Coffee reflects the youthful energy of its SDSU-adjacent location. The crowd skews young, and the vibe is casual and welcoming—perfect for a quick study session, a relaxed catch-up with friends, or simply a moment of calm with a great drink in hand. One unique detail: the coffee shop shares a wall with ESSNTL Barber, so you might catch a subtle hint of men's cologne in the air. Most visitors find it pleasant and hardly noticeable. As for parking, the small shared lot can fill up quickly, but street parking nearby usually offers a good alternative, so plan accordingly.
ESSNTL Coffee is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Sunday hours starting slightly later at 9:00 AM. Whether you're a matcha enthusiast searching for the real deal in San Diego, a coffee lover looking for something creative, or simply someone who wants a quality drink in a relaxed setting, this coffee shop is well worth a visit. It's a small café with big flavor—a perfect example of how passion for craft beverages can turn a local spot into a citywide destination.
Ratings & Reviews
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Sign in to reviewGonna 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.
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!
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.
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.
