Ben’s Beans

Solid coffee in a nicely refurbished downtown storefront. Looks like they roast their own in house and do pour overs of whatever roast you want. The cappuccinos are just ok, texture is fine, but the drink isn’t particularly strong.

Great coffee. Great owners. Great employees. Coffee will blow away your DD or Starbucks. Love being able to get a bag of coffee roasted that day. Can’t get fresher than that!

Best latte I’ve ever had! Staff is super friendly and helpful, I’ll definately be back!

Love that they give back to the community. Great tea. Great place to hang out and enjoy your coffee or tea.

This place is awesome! Coffee was high-​quality and the prices were surprisingly low. My double espresso (Guatemala) was like 2 bucks, but was roasted and cupped to perfection. Also got to meet the new owner and her nephew, who are both awesome people. The owner’s got some fun ideas for the place, so I look forward to returning soon and seeing what they come up with. They’ve been experimenting with blends and cold drinks, so although i didn’t try them, the cold brew was equally as tasty.

This coffee was literally the best I’ve had in years. I’m not a coffee connoisseur but I do love a great coffee. The care these guys put into their craft is much appreciated. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. The coffee is all organic and fair trade which is something I personally really care about. I also noticed that they donate a significant portion of their sales profits to a variety of charities which I found outstanding and a welcome rare sight amongst small businesses. Definitely coming back.

I had one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had at Ben’s Beans. Delicious, not bitter, and smelled fantastic. Almond milk is an option for your coffee along with the traditional milk and half-​and-​half, which I really liked. However, be warned that this place is not Starbucks. You can’t get a muffin or a pastry to go with your coffee here. It is all about the beverages. Also, depending on the method of preparation of the coffee you order, it might take a little while longer for your coffee to be made than it would at a traditional coffee shop. If you are pressed for time make sure to order something that has already been brewed or can be prepared quickly. But ideally, this is the place you want to go when you have a little time to sit and savor your coffee the way the Europeans do. I can’t wait to go back.

My chemex came from an airpot. Wait what??? I spent some time talking about the different roasts with one of the guys at the counter. I was interested in a chemex because of the different flavors you can get and the lack of acidity typical with chemex and the fact that it is a fresh as you can get. So I decided on Guatemalan chemex at their suggestion. As I am paying one of the counter guys the other goes over to the airpot and pushes out my coffee! Ummm if I wanted airpot coffee I could get that at a gas station or the coffee house down the street. I paid over 4 bucks for this coffee because I was expecting to have a chemex brewed in front of me and then poured into my mug. I was informed that they did brew this coffee in a chemex and then transferred it to the airpot though.
Flavor was still decent and since I have purchased their coffee at local stores in the past I knew I could make it at home and have some better flavor. So I purchased 12 Oz for 13 bucks and headed on. In the future I will just purchase some of their coffee at the grocery store and brew it myself I think. I was expecting more since they are the roaster as well. If you don’t want to take the time to brew it fresh than just don’t offer it as a chemex.

Great

This is my first coffee review but the coffee at Ben’s Beans was so good that I felt compelled to write it. I’m sad to say that I do not live near this place so I’ve only been here twice but it’s the best coffee I’ve had outside of what I brew at home. I love that it’s family owned and each cup is brewed fresh. Great place.

Really enjoy this place. Great employees awesome owners. The fact it’s family owned and all made on the spot fresh is a huge plus in my book. Will continue to return and refur friends.

Fair Trade, organic coffee roasted locally with a portion of the sales going to worthy charities? Yes, please! Ben’s Beans is just what Putnam needed and a no-​brainer for quality coffee (and tea) along with great service. The drinks made in house are phenomenal — this is creativity you won’t find anywhere else in the area — and Jeff and staff are happy to explain their products and methodology. The focus is on the coffee; although you won’t find lunch here, there is a small selection of tasty treats if you are so inclined. The shop is inviting and a great place to spend your time. And remember, kids, this isn’t fast food: take your coffee seriously and relax for a few minutes. Maybe even chat with the stranger next to you. Ben’s Beans is a welcome asset to our community and a place to find community as well!

These guys are awesome — from the Princess Bride humor posted on the board outside today to the aroma of in-​house roasting when you walk in, to the coffees themselves and the friendliness of the proprietors, this another place we’ll be back to here in «the quiet corner.»

I rarely write reviews, but this place deserves it. If your are ever in Putnam, do yourself a favor and go immediately to Ben’s Beans.
I have traveled all over the world and spent countless hours in coffee shops from here to Indonesia. I’ve had good coffee, I’ve had bad coffee, and I’ve had everything in between.
The selection is not massive at Ben’s Beans, but the coffee… oh man, the coffee. If the coffee is not the best I’ve ever had it is certainly on the shortlist. The Lattes are phenomenal. The Smokin’ Mocha is the stuff of legend.
Ben shows a ton of passion for the product without being obnoxious or arrogant. They’ve got excellent beans for sale as well. This is definitely a spot you want to hit.

Great little coffee house!
They are serious about giving you a high quality product.
Very nice.

Cute little place. Until now, I had never found a Chai tea that I actually like. Ben’s beans were able to sway me on this as their Chai tea is delicious without being overpowering in flavor.

What a great little spot! The roaster is right in the café for you to look at. It is quite a beautiful piece of equipment.
On to the coffee. When you walk in, you will have to make a few choices. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted, so I asked the nice woman for help. She was very helpful and explained their process from getting the beans, roasting the beans onsite, what each region tastes like. I was quite impressed with her friendliness and her willingness to share her knowledge.
Ok. So I picked a bean that came from Mexico. I came mid afternoon, so they were making coffee by the «pour over» method. It took a few minutes to make. First she measured out the freshly roasted beans on a scale and then she grinds the beans. Next, she pours hot water over the beans. Mmmmm.
This coffee was amazing. There was no creepy after taste. It was smooth and had a melt in your mouth type flavor. I really hope this place does well. This is a quality cup of Joe.