Old Soul Coffee Co — Restaurant in Manalapan Township

I've been eagerly awaiting Old Soul's opening since I spotted the sign one day. After finding out in their instagram stories that they were open, I came on a Monday morning, June 30th around 8am. The windows are dark so it was hard to tell if they were open but I was greeted warmly after opening the door. The place looks like it took a lot of thought and consideration. There are plenty of seats and table, and a few cushioned seats if you'd like to be cozy and stay and read a book like I did. From the tables, to the lighting and the dish ware, there was a lot of care in their selections.

I ordered a flat white, with almond milk. A regular flat white here is priced at $5.75, which is quite high, even for speciality coffee shops. Choosing almond milk and after tax, my coffee came out to be $7.20. My order took a while to come out, which they apologized for. I could see the two baristas at the bar struggling with my order. The first barista dumped what appeared to be a lot of foam into the espresso. After seeing him struggle, the other barista told him she would make it again. I appreciated the fact that they tried to make it better.

She brought it to my table, with the apology for the belatedness and for the lack of latte art, which is more difficult to steam. Alternative milks are a bit more tricky. First appearances, there was thick layer of foam, which shouldn't be the case in a flat white. I tried it, and the espresso was watery, and the milk was definitely not steamed correctly, there was nothing creamy about my drink. I kept trying to drink it, with the thought that I had paid so much for it but after a few sips and the milk started separating, I gave up.

A lot of effort seems to have gone into opening this cafe, but not so much into the training of their baristas. From overhearing their conversation, they seemed to be right out of high school and this was their first barista job. Their boss was absent, they had stepped out for a bit, so I didn't want to confront two inexperienced teens of my dissatisfaction. But I think leaving two inexperienced employees on their own was a lapse in judgment. At a specialty coffee shop, especially at this price point, one should expect the product that they are paying...

My fiancé and I were very eager to try old soul coffee after seeing their sign come up a few months back. After hearing of their opening from someone on facebook we finally had the opportunity to stop in. As far as first impressions go, wow. The place definitely serves an “old soul” vibe with the decor and ambience. Everything was definitely thought out appropriately.

My fiancé and I ordered a latte with their speciality syrups and almond milk (I have a dairy allergy). Upon waiting for the lattes, we got to talking with one of the owners and learned that the almond milk used at this establishment is organic and one with zero additives. As someone with an autoimmune disease I am very careful with the ingredients I put into my body and I will always go and spend the extra money on organic, clean almond milk such as the one used here. I was ecstatic to hear that this was the milk used and I am sure that anyone else that cares about their health will share in the excitement considering there aren’t many if any coffee shops in NJ that care enough to carry organic almond milk. Or let alone any organic ingredients. As I also later learned that they serve sourdough pastries and are coming out with other gluten free/sourdough based pastries which I for one, cannot wait to try. We NEED more establishments like this one especially with the rise of coffee shops. Enough with the coffee shops that only serve sugar and crap, give me one with organic, minimally processed ingredients any day.

Also, to anyone grossed out by separation caused by organic almond milk please be aware that this NORMAL and a result of no additives. Compare it to your cheap almond milk by companies like Silk which don’t cause separation due to all...

I come in here regularly. As a remote worker, I am always looking for a great coffee shop to work for the day. I look for quality coffee with a variety of options, ample working space with outlets, friendly staff, and a unique ambience. Old Soul absolutely exceeds expectations. As a Colombian, I have high coffee expectations. I also have all the options at home to make my Nespresso, French press coffee, teas, matchas, with all the flavors, steamed milks, cold foams, etc. So if I go to spend the money somewhere it better be good! But with that said, I am happy to support a small local business that I like. The owners here are wonderful. The coffee is exceptional. The ambience, the dishware, the silverware, and everything is very classy. If it is your first time, they take time to explain the menu to you because they use only the best quality and traditional methods. The place gets busier and busier every day with repeat customers because they are wonderful. I have a weakness for their homemade scones and toasts! If I had one tiny critique/suggestion, it would be for them to offer more food options for someone like me who would like to work there for the day. They have added a chicken salad toast, which is amazing, but I also need to watch the carbs! Maybe a soup? Otherwise honestly this...