Rook Coffee

Cute little coffee shop and the coffee they sell is pretty good and unique, but the price on a daily basis for brewed coffee can be a bit steep. Definitely worth trying out and you’ll probably end up getting hooked!

Decided to order the mystery coffee deal online. You get a mild, medium, and dark roast but they don’t tell you which ones they are sending. Doesn’t bother me because I like pretty much all of their coffee and who doesn’t love a surprise every once in a while :) I also think it was slightly cheaper than if you pick what you want. I received the delivery within 2 days and it was packaged perfectly. I especially like the little personalized note inside. Will definitely be getting more!

It’s a Rook. It’s the same at every Rook. Excellent staff, even better coffee, busy as well, and a little pricey. But worth it. Try the Turkish.

This is the anti Dunkin Donuts and I mean this in the best way. No drive thru, no chemically syrups, just real coffee brewed by very friendly and knowledgable baristas. The menu is very limited and they offer seasonal specials. I am still dreaming of the cold brew New Orleans style coffee I just had. If you like coffee GO! I do wish they would add a few tables in here though ;)

Oh Rook, I barely remember a time before you came into my life.
I’ve been a Rook fan for years now having gone to Monmouth U. (go Hawks!), and being ever so lucky to have been around when they first opened Little Oak many moons ago. After graduating I would drive out there whenever I could (usually weekends) just for my cup of joe, and always had some Bali or New Orleans grinds at home.
When we (my brother and partner) found out they were opening a location in Manalapan we patiently waited (read: COULD NOT WAIT) for it to open. And of course, we are regulars now.
Rook has some of the best darn coffee you will ever have in your life. That is a big statement, but boy do I ever mean it. If you’re a first timer don’t be afraid to ask questions, and let your coffee slinger know what kind of coffee you like. They’ll point you in the right direction.
The wait time is a little longer than your average coffee joint because they use the pour over method. Use that time to chat up the person making your coffee! They are super nice, and super cool people!
Need some starters? Iced New Orleans with your choice of dairy/​non-​dairy and just a swirl of raw sugar. Prefer a lighter variety? Iced latte style! Delicious! Need something hot instead? Turkish style if you like darker blends, and Nicaragua for something more mild. And if they have a seasonal option, TRY IT! The seasonal choices are amazing, and only for available for a limited time. I’ll be dreaming about their Iced Peppermint until next December…
Make sure to grab a stamp card before you leave, and tip your barista folks. I guarantee you’ll be back for more!

Rook itself is fantastic, but this location sadly falls a bit below their usual high standard. You can’t go wrong with any of their coffees, hot or cold. The staff at this location may not have been as seasoned as others because they weren’t as knowledgeable, but still eager to help. This has all of the typical Rook qualities when it comes to their coffees in regards to variety, flavors, decent sized cups and very inexpensive. Strongly recommend it if you’re in the area.

Consistently good coffee and friendly staff. They’re always ready with suggestions on both coffee and whole beans if I need it. Though there is no seating, it’s a nice place to quickly grab a fresh cup and go. Save yourself a trip to Starbucks!

I’ve been on a coffee kick as of late and have been trying out the different brew methods. Although I love the French press coffee for its bold and rich flavor, I still like the pour over the best. This is my second visit to Rook. I was in awe on my first visit because they use the pour over method. This is rare. I love dark roast coffee but decided to give a light roast a try for this visit to Rook. Why the switch? A light roast lets the true flavor of the bean to shine instead of being masked by a darker roast. For this visit I choose the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. I like it. I like it a lot. It’s definitely on point with Rooks description of this blend. My mission is to try every coffee Rook has to offer. I’m hooked on Rook.

There is nothing quite like coffee with chicory blend. I know because I’ve been enjoying my own perked (or pour over) home brewed New Orlean Style (French Market Coffee brand) for close to 20 years. If truly rich, smooth, bold coffee is your indulgence, then Rook’s New Orleans style coffee is an absolutely must try. Pricy brew? Yes. Worth the price of the cup? Oh absolutely! Rook hands down is the very BEST gourmet coffee spot in NJ as well as my cup of joe throughout my travels. And for a coffee snob like me, trust me, thats saying something lol. Go & grab a cup ASAP. After just one slip, you’ll be a loyal customer like the rest of us. Cheers!
PS: One last thing. The entire staff at the Manalapan location are always very friendly & helpful. Thx :)

I am not so much of a coffee fiend or connoisseur to rest of my friends or the people who are reviewing this shop, but I find this place to be a nice little pit stop to enjoy a cup of joe from around the world. A colleague recommended this little coffee shop and there are a series of different locations around central jersey/​jersey shore area, if this location is a tad off your usual route. The environment is very trendy similar to a starbuck’s tone and a lot of the staff members are pretty young.
I believe the reason why it is so unique is that their coffee blends derived from multiple locations, where some of the blends I never heard of. So far, I’ve ordered the Bali, which was a dark blend and the New Orleans blend, which was significantly lighter and sweeter than the Bali from this establish. Overall, they both tasted fresh and have smooth tone at the end. However, it is a bit pricey for a cup of joe for my taste.

I’ve tried so many different coffee shops in NYC but this is literally the best coffee I’ve ever had, namely their New Orleans style iced coffee. It is a dark roast with a ton of flavor that is so fresh tasting. So good. Sosososo good. I never want to drink any other iced coffee again.

I was hesitant to try this place out because I thought, «oh no. Not another coffee place.» I was right. It’s not just another coffee place. It’s better! Their coffees are smooth and rich and truly broken down to a fine tuned way of making a fresh brew every time. Their customer service is above and beyond. The baristas all know their coffees and know how to make a perfect cup. Every time!!! Even their iced coffee is done very differently than Starbucks. It literally blows Starbucks out of the realm.
They are the newest addition in the Town Point strip mall. To be honest, I truly thought they probably don’t have their stuff together and the new hires will have growing pains. I’m very happy to be proven wrong. The employees were all pulled from other successful stores. All of them are exceptional at what coffees they craft. They make sure you not only get the very freshest cup but a wonderful smile and attitude that will be their reasons as to why Starbucks and D&D will lose customers like crazy.
No chairs and no drive through. That’s their only faults. I could live with that. Please don’t change your way of doing things. I wish this place the very best and I know if they are consistent with everything, mark my words, this place will go very far.
Now if they would only do free refills. I’d be in heaven. I know, I know: I’m pushing it.

Have to go to that mall once a week and look forward to getting my cup of coffee!!!