The Wise Bean

Nice quaint little coffee shop. Coffee is good, only had a brief visit. Would definitely have a second cup!

Cool little place open until 7 during the week. Friendly service and great coffee. Definitely check it out if you’re in town!

The Wise Bean is a hidden gem in Bethlehem. I love getting coffee and relaxing for a chat with one of the lovely owners. Truly one of the best coffee shops in the valley. You can’t beat their hours either, not many coffee shops open until 7pm in this area. I’d recommend their pumpkin spice latte or dirty chai, this family knows how to make a good latte!

Friendly neighbor place. Free parking in the back and two hour parking on side street. Soft old school rock music playing and outdoor seating available.

The coffee has gone down hill and the prices have gone up. The coffee is watered down garbage. The atmosphere is snooty, basically just a place for the staff to hang out with their friends and pretend not to be agitated when they have to serve a real customer.

Cute little café with great coffee. I had the Caramel Indulgence as an iced coffee — it is a bit expensive, though. The only thing is that I went to study, but found that there isn’t much table space to work on. I think its intended for a more lounge-​y atmosphere, so if you’re going there to hang out with friends, it’ll be great!

Nice coffee shop in Bethlehem. Very friendly people all around. Quiet and comfortable. Small seating outside. Coffee is pretty good.
Some parking around back.
Cash preferred if under $ 5.
Highly recommend.

It’s not too spacious, but the chairs and couches are comfortable. I’ve only gotten the pourover, which they do pretty well. My biggest praise for The Wise Bean is their selection of whole-​bean coffees. I’m a fan of medium roasts, and they carry a number of single-​origins that are great for home use. I’ll definitely be back.

Love this little coffee shop. The staff is sweet and knows how to brew a great cup of java! I recommend this place to anyone whom is into a good cup of coffee and for supporting small business.

Today I decided to grab some coffee at the highest rated local coffee shop and it turned out to be a great choice. Great setting and the aroma of the inside seduced me as I walked through the door. Great Hazelnut Latte and a delicious, and fresh blueberry muffin. I’ll be back here for sure!

ANOTHER STOP ON OUR JOURNEY: We then wandered over to the Wise Bean. I was hoping to see Bill and Joan a second time, as I had treated myself that morning, but their daughter was working when we got there. We all got dirty chai espressos… heaven in a cup. The Wise Bean has the best chai in town — spicy and flavorful. The family really knows how to brew a good cup of Joe and their espresso is chock full of caffeine, unlike other joints in town. I enjoy the morning when I stop in because I almost always find another native New Yorker and the coffee immediately perks me up. Joe could not stop raving about the pumpkin coffee and pumpkin bread that he had that morning, too.
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Quaint little coffee shop in a more residential area of Bethlehem. I love the vibe of the place, it’s really laid back, but very intimate. My friend and I had a great conversation with the barista and two other guests.

Love Love LOVE Wise Bean. It became my favorite coffee shop the first time I visited. Everything I’ve had has always exceeded my expectations! Everyone there makes you feel like family. If you are in Bethlehem, this is an absolute must stop!!!

Ok, so… Wow. It’s been four years since my first review. I’d faithfully gone here for coffee every time I visit my parents in PA ever since. I don’t know what’s happened and I am really really bummed to say this but Wise Bean seems to have been steadily sliding down hill. After my last visit, I decided I’d not be going back again. (I’ll head out to Baked, in Emmaus, for a single French Press, instead.)
I don’t know what it is — I used to love their coffee. But last time, I wound up taking a few sips and tossing it. I was really put off by the atmosphere, too — the girl working behind the counter seemed distracted and a annoyed to have to take time away from hanging out with & talking to her gaggle of friends hanging out. It could have been a one off, but things have seemed progressively worse each time, so…

I am an avid coffee drinker and have lived in Bethlehem for 6 years now and The Wise Bean is my favorite place to go. Not only for coffee but for the people. I am very passionate about supporting local business, farms and mom and pop shops and The Wise bean is on the top of my list.
Their coffee is great and their passion for their business and how they serve it up is even better. They keep soy milk and almond milk in stock because of customer requests and recently added smoothies which are awesome and dairy free! I am pretty plain when it comes to my coffee being served, I like good, strong, coffee. My boyfriend however is a fan of the lattes and during the autumn months the Barista made me a tasty-​custom pumpkin spice espresso shot drink.
I will admit having frequented The Bean I have become a regular but it is only because of how pleasant my experience has always been there. It is quaint and perfect. There is a tiny bar with some stools you can sit at if you are a computer/​coffee shop goer and a nice little sitting area with a couch and some chairs where I have gotten the chance to meet many awesome people, travelers passing through, regulars and first timers. It is everything that is great about a little city like Bethlehem, good music, good conversation, good people, and good coffee.

Great mom and pop shop with great coffee and small town atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Keep driving, it’s not worth the effort to park the car. Cute, trendy inside. Poor customer service, worse coffee. Go back to whatever you were watching Barista, Candy Crush is obviously more important than customer service. Bummer.

The Wise Bean is a pleasant, youthful coffee shop. The family-​owned business has a penchant for producing quality coffees. Their varietals and blends are all «medium» roasts (a bit lighter and way fresher than the standard cup of Starbucks). They stick to a one varietal or blend per day, it’s listed on the chalkboard on the wall behind the register. The Papua New Guinea varietal is a great roast, and is available (along with their other roasts) to be purchased as whole bean (they can grind too). Their espresso drinks are made with a darker espresso blend, which results in a cocoa/​chicory flavored shot, great for lattes and cappuccinos, but also quite good for a straight shot.
Baked goods are provided by local bakers, and everything is fresh. There’s also cereal and bananas. I’ve never tried the cereal, but I usually grab a banana if I stop by for breakfast.
The shop has a lot of regulars, and the baristas generally know them by name. The morning crowd tends to be a tad older, and vice versa with the evening crowd. Outdoor seating is limited, and the inside can get somewhat cramped when it’s very busy… however I think the smaller size of the shop promotes discussion. It’s a great place to start out if you’re new in town.

3.5 stars. Before heading home, I needed an afternoon caffeine fix for the road. I found The Wise Bean on my app and walked down to the little shop near the center of town. First impression: if Bethlehem has any hipster element to the community, this is probably one of their home bases. I didn’t care because I was there for the «Black & White,» which didn’t disappoint with plenty of flavor.
With all of the typical coffeehouse requirements of today, including free WiFi, local baked goods and stylish and artistic décor, The Wise Bean was a good choice for a Winter day warm-​up.

I always make a point to check out the local coffee scene when I am on the road, and Bethlehem would be no exception. I picked the Wise Bean based on Unilocal stats. We were headed out of town when we stopped by, so I just ran in to grab two coffees while my partner waited in the car.
As far as the interior goes, one person’s cozy is another claustrophobic’s nightmare. If I were a regular here, I would not be able to sit inside – too much seating in too little space. These types of places are common in Philly, where space is truly at a premium. But other reviewers clearly find it endearing.
I ordered two drinks: a black drip coffee and a black iced americano. I asked for a triple shot in my americano, but the woman who waited on me (possibly the owner?) either forgot or didn’t hear me. I didn’t feel like belaboring the point, so I didn’t bring it up again. She asked me three times if I wanted room for cream (no) and then mentioned, «I am sorry – I keep asking you to repeat things you already told me.»
The drip coffee was in an airpot, which I always find disappointing. When you see airpots, it is often an indication that large volumes of coffee are brewed earlier in the morning and then left to sit all day. I didn’t think to check the temperature, but when my partner went to take his first sip in the car, he was disappointed that it was nearly cold.
Having worked in the coffee business and being a bit of a coffee geek, I asked if they roasted their own (which I doubted, but I was trying to be open minded) and if not, where they sourced their beans from. The hostess said, «That’s top secret. We don’t tell anyone.» To me, this says one of two things:
1) They are embarrassed about who roasts their beans or can’t tell folks because it would compromise the roaster’s brand in some way or
2) They think this is a wise business decision that will force people to come to their shop and their shop only for this mysterious magical coffee.
I found this irritating.
My americano was pretty decent, but with all of the other details of my visit, I would definitely forgo the Wise (Mysterious) Bean in the future and search on for something more my style.