Rook Coffee

Ok... Don't mean to be harsh here. I know this is a super popular place. Parking: This place is terrible to park at. People coming in like they own the place and very awkward to back your car up and get out. I have a large vehicle. Staff: They are not super friendly... This seems to be a very clique place and it was my first visit.. So I get I'm not the cool kid. But they are fairly quick here in preparation! Facility: It's in short... A shed they are trying to operate a business from. No where to sit... The flow is terrible... You come into the door in the pick up area but people are standing around... Waiting for their drinks. This is maybe a 3 foot x 12 foot space you have to get your drink and order... 3 foot From the door to the counter...12 foot wide. Coffee: Well...I got my mocha and really did not like it.. So I left it in my car brought it home. Put it in the fridge to try the following day. When I took the lid off... There were like circles of what looked like wax circles. And "wax" build up on the side... I am not sure what this was. I know it was NOT mold but kind of looked this way. It was hard... Waxy... The only thing I can think it was.. Was butter? But had a kind of high melting point. Maybe the wax from the cup melted into the drink? I have no idea. I don't think the cup since it would melt slightly between my fingers. Also dumping it out.. found at the bottom where my mocha went. Don't think it was ever mixed properly. And yeah.. no atmosphere... It's a shed folks!

They were pretty rude to me and my wife but very very friendly with the white girl who walked in before us.

We loved Rook coffee. It was our first experience but the person working the register was very accommodating and explained how it all worked. Such a cool business idea and great coffee too!

The pumpkin cold brew with almond milk and agave is straight fuego!! Amazing coffee, cute & clean establishment, nice staff, and quick service. Shouts out to Taylor for the great experience!! 🤍

I only get rook when I’m in NJ over the summers. I miss it year round. It’s the best of the best.

The best coffee but this location needs to better situate their parking lot, expand it or change its location (I know about the other one by Rt 35). The small parking lot that only has one entrance/exit creates a bad traffic jam/unsafe driving at the intersection especially in the summer when everyone takes over Deal/Oakhurst.

Rook is the best. Hands down. The employees are fantastic and creative. The owners are so wonderful, and really put time into every single decision made for their stores. It has such a cool vibe, the coffee is just outstanding (as well as the bakery foods!). If you haven't been...go! There is a reason they ha e such a strong following.

It was downpouring during this bomb cyclone. I'm a local and visit all the time. I had spent nearly $50 on 3 bottles of coffee and the gentleman behind the counter had the gall to tell me I could not park how I did in a very rude manner. It was a pickup not even an order (takes a total of 3 seconds depending on their competence.) And there was nobody even there to add fuel to the fire! Let alone the beginning of Christmas weekend and Hanukkah!! Be merry for God's sake. I will no longer be drinking their mediocre coffee or supporting this local business. They have lost my business for good.

My favorite place for coffee during the summer, always the best place to go before heading off to the beach! The coffee is so good and makes me wish we had more of them in north Jersey!

This was my first time at rook, my friends have recommended it to me and I finally gave in and went. I had no idea what to get, they have so many options for everything. They had like 5 different milk/cream options and same for the sugar. The girls working there were very helpful in explaining how the ordering works, and helped me picked out something I would like. I usually like my coffee dark and rich, and let me tell you, rook did me justice on that end. I definitely would come back again and try some of their other dark roast coffees

We are in New Jersey this weekend for a wedding. Waking up this morning before the festivities of the day we really needed coffee. My husband and I have become avid coffee drinkers and take the taste of our coffee very seriously. Rook coffee did not disappoint!! Their flavors are amazing. I had the Guatemala blend hot with raw sugar and almond milk. my husband had the seasonal vanilla cinnamon cold brew with coconut milk (recommend by the barista) which was also amazing! While the building is small, it is full of kind people, and delicious coffee. Their monkey bread and scones were also amazing!

The coffee wasn't the best iv had but it's way above average. Five stars for their passion for coffee. They know the beans and give actually informative recommendations. Also such a cute place tucked away with great decor

Awesome staff and the best tasting coffee in town. I actually never tried Rook at any other location, so I was excited the Point Pleasant store was opening right around the corner from me. Being a first timer I asked for suggestions and the girl behind the counter was so sweet she practically explained everything on the menu. She won me over on the toffee style seasonal cold brew and it was so good! A little busy in the mornings, but they keep the line moving quick and your order is complete just as fast. The coffee may be more expensive then Dunkin', but it is so worth it.

Best coffee around. Each flavor has its very own unique taste and are delicious hot or cold. I love when they bring a limited edition or seasonal flavor. Right now they have toffee which is delicious along with the coconut mocha which was around last spring time, so will hopefully make its way back soon. I get rook every morning. No other coffee place compares!

Great Coffee and bagels ! The seasonal pumpkin is where its at ! Delicious flavor and super friendly staff. Thanks guys !

Of all the small coffee places I've been to, Rook takes the cake. This location is especially wonderful due to it's staff of amazing women who manage the locals and Bennys well. Always greeted with a smile, they start the coffee experience off right. The roasts here are varried and delicious. A good variety of cold brews are sure to satisfy any taste. Every hot coffee is a pour-over ensuring ultimate flavor and low acidity for whatever roast you decide on. Oh, and they give out free STICKERS! Honestly, the best around.

Probably one of the best coffee I ever had. Definitely worth the wait and craziness. They need a bigger location. I have to admit , I cannot stop thinking about their coffee.

Rook Coffee has changed the standard of coffee. After you have Rook, it's so hard to drink coffee from anywhere else! They offer organic milks as well as soy and almond. They also have awesome croissants and bagels! When you walk in, you're immediately consumed by the amazing smell of coffee roasting and the friendly energy from the baristas. Even the music they play is cool!

Ahhh Rook. This coffee is what got me through college. It's a no BS coffee shop and when I say no BS I mean not even seating. The line is usually out the door but if you try it - you'll understand. You won't find a frilly caramel macchiato here but you will get fresh ground coffee that'll keep you buzzing all day. They have a cute little rewards card that they stamp each time you come in and after your 10th visit you get a free coffee! Not sure how I'm surviving without a Traditional light & sweet but still holding out hope they open locations up here

It's Rook. Anyone who lives in Monmouth county and drinks coffee that isn't from Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts knows what I mean. They make a really good cup of coffee, it's that simple. And price wise? Not bad at all. The employees are always nice, the decor is usually nice to look at, and the music selection is always pleasing to the ears. Aside from coffee, their iced tea is better then expected. They sweeten it just enough. Just had their pumpkin coffee and while I wasn't blown away by the taste, the smell of it made up for that. I could leave it uncovered in my car for hours and just enjoy that smell.

Love this place, im rooked!! I love the staff- they're the friendliest people and they know their coffee. What i love the most about this place is their unique menu... everything is organic and freshly brewed right in front of you. What i've tried: The bali: pretty bitter dark roast coffee. Its not terrible, but its definitely strong and flavorful (a little too bitter for my personal taste). The uganda: i tried this coffee today bc i heard its limited edition. Its their darkest medium roast with subtle hints of dark chocolate. Amazing!!! The Flores: this is their lightest dark roast coffee. Its pretty similar to the uganda and tastes so good!! This will probably be my go-to once they take out the uganda.

I have been a big fan of Rook since they had their first location in Oakhurst two years ago. However, I haven't had a good cup in there in a year. Went in for coffee today at their Little Silver location to see if it would be any different, but the cold brew left a horrible taste in my mouth. I went home with it but still found it undrinkable. I cold brew at home and have never had this experience before so I am guessing may the water is bad? Container wasn't washed thoroughly? What do I know - I just drink the stuff. I went back to ask for a replacement and the employee seemed personally offended that I did not like the drink. I asked for something different and she did agree to make me a hot drink instead, but this, too, had an extremely sour, unpleasant aftertaste. I am not sure what happened to the coffee that I loved in 2010-2011, but I guess it is gone....RIP.

So the thing with me and coffee is that it makes me hateful. Not talkative or hyper, or even jittery. Just hateful. Even decaf messes me up sometimes. The one type of coffee that I can drink without fear of ruination is Rook's Peru decaf. Smooth and delicious. I'm sure all their other selections are delightful too, I just fear the repercussions of trying them. Oh and their scones (which I hear are from the Scone Pony in Spring Lake actually?) are fantastic, particular the pineapple coconut one. Most unlikely sounding but by far the best scone I've ever had.

First time here. Made the dumb decision of getting hot coffee on a hot day... but the curly haired barista was cute so I'll be coming back soon.

Well, I came back twice since my first review and the 5 stars still stand. The second time, I came with my wife and she had almost as good service as I did. Well, it was her first time, and the girl behind the counter asked her what she liked, but didn't inquire as much as they did with me when I went for the first time. Granted, I figured it was because they were busier and they were still helpful and did not rush her. They were pleasant and cordial. Today, I came here by myself and their parking lot.. was like one of those square kiddy puzzles that you have to move the blocks around to put the numbers in order... Very crowded! But I must say.. My hats off to them!!! They handle the crowd and lines with poise and make it look like they are stress free!! They seem calm and handle each customer cordially and very well. They seem to remember their regulars by name too. Now let me tell you.. they have like 4 or 5 people behind the counter and I have no idea how they don't trip over each other.. it is a very small place and still manage to be stress free and pleasant. Oh and I tried the Guatemalan coffee and it is the best! the flavor is just right and the strength is exactly what I need

Rook, you have me hooked! I'm thrilled the Long Branch area has a fabulous new coffee place! I visit Monmouth County every once in a while and as a coffee snob I'm always on the lookout for excellent places to get a buzz. I saw a crowd of people outside during a recent trip and knew I had to come here. At the back of a parking lot in a space hardly bigger than a shed is Rook Coffee Roasters. There is indeed a working roasting machine immediately behind the counter people. Squeeze in line and notice the blackboard listing eight different varieties of beans arranged in order of strength. The very helpful and knowledgeable counter person will tell you exactly what each kind tastes like ("floral and citrusy", "more like peanut butter" etc). If iced coffee is your thing, they offer different types. They make latte style iced coffee as well as New Orleans style slow drip coffee with chicory (!!!!), which I have been dying to try forever, so of course I had that. Quite delicious, with just a hint of chicory. A small was $3.25. Hours are 6:30 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday and 7:30 AM - 2 PM on weekends. Roasting is done on the premises and they also supply the beans for Black Gold, a shop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. They also will ship beans to you if you'd like. Rook opened this January which is why I hadn't seen it before, but now that I know it's here I will be returning again and again and again!

Great coffee super friendly service. Great atmosphere. Nowhere to sit and relax, for that go to Starbucks and get crappy coffee.

Rook was my first 'gourmet' coffee experience. Got me hooked, and kept me learning about coffee in general. These guys know their stuff for sure! The parking lot of this location is the worst. Don't even attempt to park here in the summer. There are only about eight spots, far fewer than needed to serve the line that is out the door in this garage-turned-storefront. The summer clientele can be a huge burden (think slow lazy vacationing trust fund children) but it just may be worth it if you have never had fresh roasted hand poured coffee. Just don't look for an espresso menu, you will be disappointed.

While I only get to enjoy Rook's coffee in Boston via mail order, it's certainly by far the "BEST" coffee I've ever had. No joke!! Really good stuff. The Costa Rica Organic rocks!!! Great job Rooksters....(Is that even a word yet? If not, it will be one day)

Great coffee taste. This individually brewed coffee is better than what you get from a pot. Decently priced and I also enjoy the snacks that they sell on the side .even though they are a tad over-priced. I still occasionally give my self a treat getting my coffee and snacks there because I like to support local. Ensure you mention that you want milk and sugar in your coffee (if you need that). I don't believe they have milk at any of the counters (they do have sugar). Has a small business feel (does not feel like a nation-wide chain) and It always feels good to support a business in your community.

Cute little corrugated shack with an overwhelming selection of regional coffees. I found the atmosphere a little frantic and I had to randomly select a coffee from the 10 or so offerings on the board; they seemed way too busy for questions. Also, I don't enjoy having others add my cream and sugar; I know that a "real" coffee person drinks it black, but I still haven't weaned myself from my coffee condiments. And I prefer to tweak them myself. So the coffee I got was good but WAY too sweet since I settled for "two" sugars, not really having any idea how much sugar that was (it was way more than two packets). But underneath the painful sweetness was an excellent cuppa coffee. Ground on the spot, hand poured, fair trade, organic. Next time, one sugar ought to do the trick. I should mention that the baked goods, though limited, were top quality and delicious (bagel "flats" and croissants). I grew up a few minutes away and still come back to the area, and until the other day I thought my only local coffee options were Starbucks or 7-11... Glad to have this high-end coffee shack in the neighborhood.

Im not sure but I think this is the original rook. Kinda expensive for coffee but the quality is worth it. Can get crowded due to it being a small store but nonetheless it is a cute building!

Superbly fresh and delicious coffee! My favorite. Way better than any Starbucks or DD. Bagels are great too...try the fig butter! Very friendly and polite staff. Not only courteous, but also down-to-earth. Yes, the shack and parking lot are tiny, but I've never had an issue. My only complaint is that there aren't more establishments in NJ! :)

They just lost a loyal customer big time. I've been buying coffee here since they opened and always promoted them. I went in to buy a pound of coffee and the young lady explained that are now selling "industry standard" pounds which are really 12 ounces. The price was the same (12.80). When I questioned the price, they said that this is what I always paid. After getting the coffee home, I realized that I had now paid 12.80 for 12 oz instead of 16 oz. When I called about the discrepancy, they politely explained that this is the first price increase in 5 years. They go on to explain that this is a 25% increase. Its actually 33% increase in price (its a 25% decrease in portion size). They could have raised the price of a pound a dollar or two and I would have gladly paid it. It reminded of the days when they shrunk candy bars. Now I prefer to shop at the newer places around..

Im not even sure what to say after reading the other reviews because I had a totally different experience. First off, it was pretty early in the morning and all I wanted was a Red Eye. Well, they don't have expresso. If you can believe that. A coffee shop that doesn't have expresso. I picked from one of their blends and it was pretty gross. I don't know what the fuss is about. Id rather have Wawa coffee that was sitting our for an hour. Don't go here if you like descent coffee.

By far the best coffee I have ever had! Not only is the coffee amazingly fresh since they roast, grind and brew your cup right in front of you, but the owners are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The place is very tiny and suits their operation quite well which makes it a personable experience. For all you coffee lovers out there this is a place you must try and you'll be rooked!

What happened, Rook? The coffee used to be so good. I went in today to try the cold brew, and it had a strongly bitter, metallic aftertaste. I then tried a freshly made Turkish only to find the same unpleasant aftertaste. I don't know what's going on with their roasting, but something isn't right. I did hear how their quality has gone down, but I had to see for myself. I used to come to Rook everyday, but will not be frequenting their locations any longer.

Excellent coffee with a wide array of varieties. Friendly staff. The crowds at this out of the way place are a testament to the quality of their brew. Small and kind of cramped. Take out only. They also have bagels other light eats.

Discovered this little (VERY little) place on the way to a new job that I got in the area. I had heard of rook a thousand times in the past, but never got around to trying them, since I tend to get my coffee more local to me, down at Asbury Park Roastery. After leaving way too early for work one day, I figured I'd stop in for a cup in the morning. First off, holy cow is this place busy. The parking lot is always packed, so finding parking in the AM is difficult to near impossible. I'm not sure what it is about this area, but it seems like every other car has New York license plates - something that wouldn't bother most people, but makes my New Jersey blood boil with what can only be described as "Anti-benny rage", especially during rush hour. The interior of this particular location mirrors the parking lot situation: it's very small, cramped, and in the busy morning hours you'll find yourself shoulder to shoulder with people. My one complaint is that they could really do with a line management system here, be it a ticket-number, a rope, or hell, even a sign above the register that says "line starts to the right / left". Every time I've been here in the AM, I've gotten cut off by some random jerk who just barges in and barks out their order as if nobody else could have possibly been waiting. It doesn't seem to matter if I wait patiently on the left or the right side of the store, someone is bound to walk into the dead center without so much as looking around at anyone else when they call out "next person, please". I grit my teeth the first few times, but eventually everyone hits their breaking point and I'd be lying if I said I haven't gotten snippy with a few of these people. That aside, the baristas & employees here have been nothing but helpful and fast, super friendly, and manage to work as fast as they can, despite the crowded and hot "shack". On to the important bit: the coffee. Each cup is made to order, by which I mean they grind it, put it into a basket, and pour piping hot water over it to give you the freshest cup possible, AKA, the "pour over" technique. The quality of the coffee is fantastic as well - their roasters obviously know what they're doing. There's plenty of variety to choose from, ranging from the fruitier Ethiopian coffees to the more earth Sumatra, etc. For craft brewed stuff, the prices are right too, around $3 for a large cup, WELL below the price that you'll pay for a burnt-tasting cup from Starbucks. The only thing I'd like to note here, is if you're like me and only like a little bit of cream in your coffee, make sure to strongly emphasize it. I usually order a cup with no sugar and "just a touch" of cream for color, but end up getting WAY too much cream in it. Not a big deal, it tastes just fine - but just be aware when ordering. In all, I'll probably try to hit one of their other locations for my morning brew. The line management, the mass influx of out of state snoots, and the cramped parking lot make for a really awkward situation in the morning when trying to get to work on time. Leave this location to the clueless bennies, and hit one of the other locations instead - the coffee is worth it!

Went here today. I. Am. Hooked! The staff are really nice and helpful and will walk you through all the blends and explain all the types of coffees they have. The best part? They have almond milk and stevia, which is great for me, since I don't drink milk and try to stay away from sugar. I am already planning to go back tomorrow! So glad I found out about this place!

While I love Rook from any of the locations, I frequent Little Oakhurst. The staff here is excellent and always remember what I order (traditional w/ cream). If you haven't had Rook, it's a must if you're in the area!

The iced coffee is out of control. They use the cold brew method. It is the smoothest iced coffee I have ever experienced. After speaking to the knowledgable people working there several times, I learned that all of the coffee is roasted on site. Coffee is then ground fresh and brewed in front of you by the cup using the pour over method. If you are a coffee lover like me, you will get about the best cup you are ever going to experience.

Amazing coffee! Efficient and very friendly employees. Love it!

Rook has the best tasting coffee in the area. The employees are always great and give excellent service. This site is a little hard to see from the road because it is set back a ways, but is well worth a visit.

Wow! Rook Coffee has made a coffee drinker out of me. The freshness of this brew is what makes it so good. They roast on premises and each cup is ground and brewed to order. Who knew what a difference this could make in a cup of coffee. If that's not enough the staff is great. They are all so welcoming and it feels like home. Don't be intimidated if you are not a coffee connoisseur they have no problem walking you through the menu board. They have raised the bar when it comes to coffee. I can't drink anything else.

Of all the specialty coffee shops in the NJ area, Rook definitely has the best customer service that compliments their fresh and delicious coffee!

Rook is peerless when it comes to great pour over coffee. As other reviews have stated, because every cup is made individually your coffee is always amazingly delicious and fresh. Beyond the great coffee, I love how efficiently Rook operates. They always have plenty of nice, friendly people working behind the counter ready to take your order. You can order your coffee with whatever milk/sugar combination you prefer, or if you like to add your own sugar, there is a station to do that.

love this place. each cup is made to order. service is great. prices are steady. only issue is parking but its worth it!

This is seriously strong coffee. If you're a coffee drinker, this is certainly a good fix. If you're not, watch out! You may get addicted real quick. The shop itself is very simple and retro. The staff is very friendly. A bit pricey but definitely matches Starbucks. I can certainly see this brand going national (certainly beyond NJ). My husband loves this place and got me hooked ;)

These guys are my neighbors across from my office and I look forward to there great service and kindness wonderful coffee always fresh brewed to perfection !

I have been drinking rook since the first shop. I was born in the area and have lived here my whole life. The coffee is excellent, don't get confused on that. My problem is not only have they raised the price and lowered the portion, but they have also taken away my favorite coffee (Flores). In the past I drank at least a cup every day, now I don't drink it ever.

I really like the coffee at Rook but every time I go there they short me 2 ounces of coffee. What's up with that? Why do they think it's okay to not give you a full cup? It's not like the coffee is cheap. Please fix this asap!

Great coffee, even better service! Both in store and take home is great. Highly recommend Guatemala and Nicaragua! I get it delivered to nyc sometimes! Only complaint with that is the bags are sealed in such a way that a few have exploded upon opening. Probably my fault, lol

rook/ verb 1. take money from (someone) by cheating, defrauding, or overcharging them. I was a loyal customer since Rook first opened, buying the occasional cup of coffee as well a pound of ground coffee about once a month for home. Well suddenly my pound of coffee is only 12oz- "industry standard", they say. But yet the price is the same as it was for what I used to pay for 16 oz! When questioned, they justified it by saying that this 25% increase is their first in 5 years... But if you know basic math, you will understand that reducing the portion by 25% does NOT translate to a 25% price increase... It is actually a 32% price increase! If they needed to raise the price of their product, then do so the honest way. But of course, this would have meant raising the price per pound from $12.80 to $17.00/lb- and that might put some customers off. But this is EXACTLY what they did, in the sneaky underhanded way that the rest of the food industry does it- shrink the size of the package / amount of the product, but still charge the same. Well, what can I say- I was almost "rooked". And as a result, they have lost me as a customer.

Great coffee. The Nicaraguan is my favorite. You won't be disappointed.

Sadly this place disappointed me. No other Rook has let me this down. I ordered a pastry & 2 Beagles with cream cheese. I received the wrong pastry and 2 stale plain Cream cheese less bagels. So basically they just threw my order directly into a bag? Recommend other Rook location

Just picked up 3 coffees from the Wall location and all three were watery. Very disappointed for my first time, so much hype