Rook Coffee

The New Orleans iced coffee is amazing! I have visited the Red Bank and Colts Neck locations. I don’t typically put a lot of milk in my coffee so be sure to specify if you don’t want a ton of milk in your coffee (a ton as in your coffee is almost white, like how Dunkin makes it). At the Colts Neck location, I had a nice chat with the staff about the coffee and the coffee scene in DC, where I live. Very personable and friendly. Can’t wait to be back home in New Jersey for more.

I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. Just went in and it was a madhouse. I ordered a black decaf coffee and after a few moments of being jostled around I got my cup and left. As much as I was hoping all those people couldn’t be wrong, I was very disappointed. Frankly, I could have gone to McDonalds. Blah taste, no flavor. I don’t add anything at all to my coffee so it has to stand on its own and this one fell flat. Again, just blah. With the coffee competition in the area, I’ll take my business elsewhere. Sorry Rook.

There’s a reason there’s a line here even though they’re next to a Starbucks. They serve delicious full flavored coffees and one of the rare places that has New Orleans brew. Come in and find out more!

Have to try again and maybe adjust my review. Normal Starbucks goer, up the street. Better location, but, wanted to see what the hype was all about Rook-​wise.
Coffee was very good. Cool, small little spot. Great marketing because not a day goes by that I dont see a Rook sticker on someones car, bike, or a street sign. The day we went we got our hot coffee’s and for whatever reason, the lids didn’t fit the cups well (we only noticed when we got in the car). So… spilled coffee on pants, inside cup holders, on car seats. uncool. Maybe we got the bottom of the barrel cups or something, who knows.

This place is definitely one of my favorite coffee shops in town. The space inside for customers is small so you do feel claustrophic during rush hour, but it’s not a big deal because you’re usually in and out. This isn’t one of those sit-​down cafes as there are no tables or chairs for customers.
I love their selection of coffee and pastries. They range from different types of light roast to dark roast options. They even have different seasonal flavors such as pumpkin. My favorite is probably the New Orleans Iced coffee. It’s so different from any other types of coffee I tried. it has a bold smoky flavor from the sumatra. I usually get this with soy milk (no sugar bc it’s naturally sweet as is). As for food, I would highly recommend the bread roll with fig butter. A little on the fatty side but so delicious.
The baristas are very friendly and attentive. They are always happy to explain to you what each coffee taste like and what they would recommend according to your preferences.
I also love all their cute coffee cups and jars they sell on the side.

If you want sugary, mystery ingredient, syrup filled drinks that are more milk than coffee, keep walking past Rook and go to the Starbucks next door. If you want espresso, do the same thing.
If you want coffee– real, roasted and brewed, honest to goodness coffee— stop at Rook and never look back. It’s just that good. They offer hot coffee and a sensational cold brew. The New Orleans is the best for cold and I always get the Turkish for hot. There’s a variety of sweeteners like sugar and agave as well as dairy and non-​dairy milk to add. They have delicious, all natural seasonal flavors like pumpkin and peppermint. So good! If you’re hungry, grab a scone or a roll with fig butter. To die for and so very Jersey :)
The staff is so friendly and there’s nothing better than supporting a small business. They are the best!

Very limited selection. But very good quality product.
I find it very hard to see how well this place will do considering it is literally around the corner from a Starbucks. But honestly, I’m rooting for them!

Excellent coffee! They roast fantastic beans. My only complaint is that they only make individual pour-​over coffees for immediate consumption. Why not brew a pot of drip? I find it is hard to get «good coffee» on the east coast that is NOT pour-​over. On the other hand, their prices for pour-​overs are quite reasonable, as opposed to, say, Blue Bottle in NYC. Overall, a great credit to Monmouth County.

Even though Starbucks is right next to rook, I will always choose rook over Starbucks. And if your feeling a little hungry, the butter scone goes perfectly with your coffee.

Great coffee and great staff. For just buying a coffee, the staff always makes you feel welcome and like you are a regular there. He first time I had ever been there I told an employee it was my first time trying took and that I like Hazletnut and they recommend a coffee that was just like the coffee I like and I was pleased with their advice. Great little coffee shop

I have an Iced New Orleans addiction. Their hot coffee is great too. Also, I hate spending my money at Starbuck’s.

They have locally roasted coffee from Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala. I tried the medium roast in Nicaragua with cream and sugar and it did not disappoint! The friendly service and the awesome coffee are reasons itself for me to come back.

I absolutely love Rook’s coffee. Their home grown approach to slow drip artisan coffee selections is exactly what any enthusiast hunts for over the commercial chains we’re typically stuck defaulting to. As a customer of the Little Silver Rook, I was excited to have this one pop up in our home town though it falls short in just a few areas.
The food is less than desirable unless you just want a basic danish. Due to a self imposed non-​compete with a local bagel shop (which is super respectable of them to do), Rook does not sell bagels, flat breads, or anything of that nature so you’ll likely find yourself going elsewhere for breakfast food to pair with your coffee. Additionally, I’ve had a different customer service experience every time I’ve gone in. Everyone is super nice, but the execution on my coffee has been a bit inconsistent and for the price, I had to address it in this post for the good of all mankind.
All in all, Rook is a great stop on your way through shopping in Red Bank and is a must-​try if you love your caffeine.

Excellent coffee – miles above Starbucks or DD. Interesting varieties or hot and cold coffees in various strengths; fair prices; very nice, helpful staff – if they had seats it would be coffee nirvana!

I’ve been to every Rook and the coffee is always top notch. It’s fresh, unique, brewed to order, and always good.
My reason for only giving 4 stars is the chaos and confusion at the very small Red Bank location. You order on the right which is also where you pick up. You then pay on the left. So after you pay you are just stuck standing in the middle not sure what to do. People never know if you are waiting in line to order or to pay or what is going on. Sometimes they ask for your name other times they don’t which just makes it more confusing. Last time they asked for my name, which is Dan, they called me Kevin…

Great coffee. However, all five times I’ve been to this Red Bank Rook location I’ve received anything but a great experience. It amazes me that a shop that claims, «We seek a smile with each interaction and take customer experience above average and beyond great, to a place we call over-​the-​top.» has a hard time living up to their simple expectations. I’ve been here five times through 8−10−15 through 8−28−15, (obviously only for the coffee), and I’ve really had it! It’s a shame that the Long Branch location is so further out of my way, because I went there two days ago and not only were they polite, they were also helpful! The staff in Red Bank, which is all about what seems two shifts and maybe 10 people. Only one gentlemen (with aBuddhist hand tattoo on his forearm) was polite and happy to help me.
Maybe it is the traffic at this location which allow for unpleasant experiences. Not to mention their sloppy «flow» or way of doing things.
I will walk past this Rook location from now on and happily walk into Starbucks (which is literally next door), and pay fifty cents more for something. By the way, when I went in with my friend and her son and she asked for an ice water, they pointed to the plastic bottles in their fridge and mockingly asked why she wasn’t getting coffee. And the time that we walked into Starbucks for ice water, they happily and pleasingly gave her a cup of ice water. Actions speak volumes. Sorry this post has to put a damper on these hard workers.

Rook really lives up to all their great reviews. Their cold brew is awesome. I work next door so I go to the red bank shop almost everyday. The employees are super nice and remember many of their customers. They greet you as soon as you walk in and will help you pick the perfect coffee if your new to the store.
I agree with the other reviews that the iced New Orleans is to die for… it’s my favorite! Their coffee is so good I can’t even drink Starbucks or Dunkin donuts anymore. I never thought I love the taste of coffee so much!
ALSO REMEMBER TO ASK FOR THE STAMP CARD! I heard they don’t really tell people about this but they have a stamp card where if u buy ten coffees you get one free. So make sure you ask!

The best coffee in New Jersey. Cheaper than Starbucks and the staff is always very friendly. My fav is the organic Iced Coffee! Can’t live without Rooks in Red Bank

Best coffee everr, the cold brew is amazing you will not be disappointed. resonably priced.

Iced New Orleans with cream and sugar brought me back to life. The more I drink Dunkin coffee, the more I’m reminded how badly I need to get back to Rook! Unfortunately, the Red Bank location is the closest to me, but still way out of my way.
This shop is cute– no seating though! The staff is friendly and although I was overwhelmed by the different brews, a young woman with awesome tattoos and killer great eyebrows guided me through the brews to help me make a decision… Which ended up being an excellent one :)
The shop also sells cold brew coffee so you can stock up and make it at home, as well as pint glasses and shirts… Their pint glass looks excellent in my collection. :)