Café Volan

Excellent coffe and great atmosphere. I love sitting in here early on a Saturday and in the off season. For those cold winter days get the hot chocolate. Delicious!

I love getting the coconut tea here, especially iced! :)

We popped by on a somewhat shitty day to buy coffee for our Keurig. Relax, green people. We never use the regular pods. We have refillable reusable ones that have worked well for us for years.
The guy behind the counter was professional and knowledgable.
Ok that’s an understatement.
When we told him we need a not-​mild-​not-​bold coffee, the man proceeded to give us a very detailed dissertation on the entire history of all the coffee available for purchase. He pointed to each bag of coffee, stated the color of the bag (no shit Sherlock) stated it’s country of origin, it’s growing process, it’s harvesting process, it’s drying process, it’s roasting process, it’s zodiac sign, it’s sexual preference, and it’s last will and testament.
I managed to endure the first dissertation with grace and a fair amount of composure. By the second dissertation, I not-​so-​subtly eyed my husband with that «holy shit is this guy serious» look. By the third dissertation, I was concerned that I might pee right there on the floor because we had been standing there for long enough that my body had processed everything we ate and drank at a nearby restaurant and I really had to go. (I live a short walk from this joint– I was banking on not having to pee til I got home.)
When we finally selected our coffee, the man gently scolded/​judged us for opting to use a Keurig, even though we emphasized that we only use refillable, reusable pods. We felt compelled to defend ourselves and by this time, my bladder is yelling «whhhyyyyyy???» And I am secretly high-​fiving it for not being weak in spite of the fact that I have given birth three times to three comically large babies.
The coffee is delicious, but it’s a little too pretty for our taste. We’re used to kick-​you-​in-​the-​face straight up coffee and this had hints of berry and notes of dark chocolate and pretty ponies and organic whatever the fuck.
If I started wearing hand sewn cloth menstrual pads made of hand woven heirloom repurposed fabric and using ocean water for deodorant, maybe I’d feel more comfortable drinking this coffee daily.
It’s delicious, but this might be the only bag I buy.

I just walked out of this café and after having a sip of my cappuccino, I feel it is my duty to inform Unilocal about how delicious it is! The cappuccino comes with a double shot of espresso and steamed milk, totaling 7 ounces. Seven ounces of perfection that is! The espresso is fragrant and not in the least bit bitter. Delicious.

Closest thing to a coffee shop in Europe in the tri state area. Blows other coffee shops in the area away by far. Yes. There are hipsters. And yes they are nasty to you. But I can get past this when the cappuccino is this good. If you’re looking for people to be nice to u in a coffee shop remind yourself you are in NJ. Everyone’s rude all the time and everywhere. At least here includes a decent cup of coffee.

This is everything you want and wish your local coffee shop to be. Well, at least I wish it were in Morristown. It’s spacious without being cavernous; bright without being sterile; attentive without hovering. In short, cool without being earnest.
They serve Asbury Park Roasters, natch, and make the best cold brew. The baked treats are crave and destination worthy. You haven’t had a scone until you’ve eaten one of theirs.
Please come to Morristown, this conformist city needs a splash of Sisters of Mercy playing baristas!

Best espresso drinks I’ve ever had (and I can be annoyingly picky). Almond milk drinks are perfect. British punk dude is a top notch barista. They also carry seed to sprout vegan scones which makes everything even better. Whenever I come back to NJ to visit family I go out of my way to go here — it’s better than anything I’ve had in the Bay Area.

The café has a nice vibe to it very Seattle like. I had the columbian drip with no room. It was a nice dark roast with chocolate undertones with a subtle sweetness. My wife had the latte which I sampled. It too was very good. It was too late in the day for my favorite, the macchiato. The macchiato would have had a double shot of expresso and would have kept me up most of the night. Along with the coffee, we shared a cranberry scone from Balthazar. I’ll be back for that macchiato.

We were completely stuffed as we were waddling back to our car when this wonderful aroma lead us by our noses to this coffee shop. This is a true coffee shop for coffee aficionados. The barista there truly made this beautiful leaf in my latte and my husbands drip coffee was bold and full bodied.
They also have baked goods that they do not make. They stick to what they do best which is coffee. Instead, they purchase and resell scones from Seed and Sprout (top shelf) and the next two were Bathzar bakery. Extraordinary delicious scones to accompany the coffees.
The people who work there are completely knowledgable of coffees, espressos etc and they are vegan friendly. They also offer almond & soy milk.
Will definitely be back. Starbucks could learn a lot from this place.

I asked the barista if I could have a glass of iced tap water. He replies, «Are you going to purchase anything?» I respond, «I don’t know, maybe.» Then he looked at me straight in the eye and said, «I have a business to run». Then he turns around and ignores me.
So apparently, this place doesn’t understand the concept of customer service and good hospitality. I have never been refused water from anywhere before. A glass of tap water is freely available to anyone who asks in any place of business. I felt like Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm. As a local, I’m very disappointed.

Staff is nice to hipster locals; and for good tasting coffee, it is the best option in Asbury. Their espresso rotates from various other small suppliers, which is nice to support other small businesses; but it is hit or miss. I have been served sour milk in my espresso beverage here. Further, don’t offer flavoured drinks if you’re going to roll your eyes at the request.
Staff and regular patrons are welcomed like ‘Cheers’, but outsiders are treated as such. Having been here more than five times, I remain not impressed and will not return.

First off Yes!
As a traveler and a coffee shop owner, this is always the first stop I make when visiting my wife’s family in NJ. The customer service and coffee quality is the best in NJ.
If you ever find yourself in the area and you are looking for good coffee don’t think twice. You will only regret it if you don’t go out of your way to get it.

I really liked the cappuccino they gave me. I liked they had natural sugar and agave which helped reduce the bitterness.
Great service and it’s very calm to read.

Still the best latte around bar none. Did ‘ja hear what I wrote? Best latte around. And I get around. So name another that’s better. «Rook?» You say. No way. «Starbucks «? Surely you jest.
The girl and boys at Café Volan know how to make foam, baby. And foam is what it’s all about.
Café Volan is so good I still take the trek with my dog, even though she’s not allowed inside.

The one place where I can get an almond milk café au lait in Monmouth county. The décor and ambience reminds me of Brooklyn which is a terrific treat. Nice selection of Balthazar pastries but you obviously come for the coffee and stay for the chill vibe

Impressions:
First, there were no people. Well, there were, but seeing that I’m so used to NYC where you can never, ever expect to find a seat whenever you enter any establishment (unless it’s in Staten Island), this is shocking. It is a completely unfamiliar feeling to… walk into a place… not have it be jam-packed…not stand in line for 1.5 hours… and be able to have seating. And of your choice!
Second, the caffe macchiato that I ordered took longer than I expected – i.e. it wasn’t shot out of a NASA launchpad, so maybe what was actually a minute seemed like an hour to me. But it was very delicious and well made. I could taste that it was made with care. And I love my caffeine to have a kick. This one did.
Third, the barista was very friendly, sweet, and skilled at making coffee beverages. I hope she finds a good man/​woman to love her and treat her right, if she hasn’t already!

Gotta say that Asbury Park has really turned itself into a mecca for coffee lovers over the last few years. I’ve been coming to the city for about 7 years now and have watched one café pop up after the next, all of them serving up their own unique blend of coffee with a smile. I finally made it to Café Volan and I cannot believe that I waited so long to come here.
Now they have been open for a couple of years now and for a while I probably just didn’t notice them. Soon enough, more frequent walks down Bangs Ave. peaked my curiosity as did the Unilocal reviews. Finally made it here about a month back and then again last week. Yes, they are as good as it gets!
The café isn’t huge but very intimate and cozy. The coffee, cappuccino, and hot cocoa are fresh, rich, and the perfect solution to a cold, winter day. The staff is super friendly and will answer any questions that you may have. The prices aren’t bad and you don’t pay until you are ready to leave. I don’t know why but I definitely prefer this method of payment. It’s more of an honor system way of paying and you feel like you can sit and relax as long as you want.
I will definitely be back again and highly recommend this little café to anyone willing to sit back, relax, and enjoy the finer things in life.

Finally a real third wave coffee bar down on the shore…
Coffee down in the area has been meh meh and more meh. There are a few Starbucks (thumbs down), Americas cup on cookman (only a slightly better version of Starbucks), a bad coffee joint on Main Street in ocean grove, and I’ve been to an even more forgetful joint in pier village long branch. Need I say more?
If you are a fan of joints like blue bottle, café grumpy, art of joe, café volan is the only that can be remotely mentioned in the same breadth.
Ps yes they have soy, almond milk and cold brew iced coffee. And do artisinal coffee art. Sadly no gluten free treats yet.

I go out of my way almost every morning to come here, rather than going to the Starbucks that is on my way to the office. They carry almond milk, which wins them huge points, in my opinion.
The baristas take extreme care when making each drink. Once one of them threw out my friend’s latte and redid it because he didn’t love the way the foam design came out on top. Another perk: They make pretty designs on the top of your latte with the foam!
The espresso is not too bitter. The flavor is extremely smooth and pleasant. Also, it is less expensive than Starbucks and it is definitely higher quality beans! Inside, it is cute and snuggly. I wish I had the time to just sit and read a book and sip on my drink. I love this little local coffee shop. Highly recommend.

I did not expect to find you here, Volan…
The long endless roads I drove lead to nowhere, and blur of the towns and places kept me from getting here earlier. But as the sun peaked through the clouds, I made a turn on the wide open street, and quiet morning clouds washed the dust away.
Here it was… Long wood benches and divine smell of freshly brewed coffee enveloped my senses.
Barista smiled at me — and all my worries melted away with cup of perfect flat white and flaky, buttery and sugary almond croissant.
Why, you would say, what is so special about such simple thing as a cup of coffee?
Ahhh, but it is so much more than just coffee.
It’s a smooth taste of the brew, the silkiness of soy milk that I love, and the feel of holding hot ceramic cup in your hand.
And that perfect first sip, with foam touching your lips and aroma teasing your nose.
It’s seating here quietly on a bench and watching people come and go, different faces, different lives.
It’s a break we all need sometimes — and once we do, life goes on.
Enjoy that perfect cup.