The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The man working at the register was being extremely rude to the women working the coffee. He was being very condescending, calling the worked «lady», and «hon». They were stressed out (there were a lot of customers in a little shop) and he was yelling at them to «start the coffee already» and to stop «talking to the customers» (she was talking to the customers to make sure she had their order right). Even so, you don’t speak to women that way. Not to mention he was much bigger than them and seemed very threatening.

The café that I’ve frequented for the last year and a half, recently closed so I thought that I would try «The Coffee Bean,» as it’s on the way to work. First I will provide the reader with a quick image of what I look like: I am a six foot tall Hispanic male with visible tattoos on my arms, highly educated and well spoken. I walked in to the shop wearing a short sleeve 65.00 Nike Golfing shirt and 120.00 deck shoes. This is my normal attire until I get to work and put on a suit. I immediately noticed one of the baristas staring at me with a look of fear in her eyes, following my every move. I walk up and order a cup of coffee and a pastry and pay for it with my card while this lady is still staring at me. To add insult to injury, she then grabs the tip jar and moves it away from me.
Even if every coffee shop in the business district closed, I will never ever go there again. Furthermore, you do not treat costumers that way. Secondly, not sure where you’re from lady, but in America, we at least make an attempt to conceal our prejudices in the work environment.

Got the blended mocha coffee. Absolutely amazing! Tasted great, no cheap hershey syrup crap. And blended completely smooth with no annoying ice chunks.

Employees are nice and the services are spot on. Too bad this store doesn’t receive any attention from the company. All furniture here and the décor is heavily used and falling apart. This place needs a face lift to bring it to the new store standards. Don’t short change your older stores!

There aren’t enough Coffee Bean Tea & Leaf Shops in the Bay Area. It’s like finding a unicorn when I do happen to stumble upon one.
I dream about the sweetness of their White Chocolate Lattes!
This particular location was fabulous. All the staff were friendly and fast.
Our Filipino Ates, Kuya and one Auntie were working the day I came. Salamat po!

Extremely inconsistent. I order the same drink every time and it comes out different every time. This time I tried to sip down the watery drink they gave me and I just couldn’t. Horrible customer service and whispers in order to correct the drink (in fact the second was just as bad as the first) This will be my last time at the bean. Waste of money .Back to starbucks I go.

When you don’t have access to The Coffee Bean at home, you make it a point to go out of your way to get it, the second you get to a city that does. This location in the very busy Embarcadero did a great job at quickly fulfilling my Coffee Bean need. I got my delicious Iced Vanilla Americano in just a matter of time. Not one complaint here!

With the plethora of coffee shops that come and go, one has to hand it to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for surviving in San Francisco’s competitive coffee culture. Their products are alright but I have a few bones to pick:
1. SEATING: While in their Embarcadero shop Thurs. the seating was crowded. The two choices of chairs were uncomfortable (one side so low you felt like a child. the other side non-​ergonomic, i.e., leaning back took one too far. Worse, the leather or faux leather seats were tattered. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, walk over to Starbucks and see how seating is done right.
2. SHOP TOO SMALL: Shop was really too small to linger comfortably.
3. TEA: My tea allmost seemed perfumed. Scent was too cloyingly sweet.
4. BARISTAS: Very nice.
5. THE NAME: Hire a marketing person and change the ridiculously long name. No one can remember it. Repeat after all of us: A 6 word name is lame. Or start a stealth «grass roots» campaign to nickname the place. Bean & Leaf? Tea or Bean? Something else. Gawwwd, anything but a 6 word name clunky to remember and not artful or kicky enuf to stick.
Clearly you are doing something right to have remained in biz so long. Pls. take this as constructive criticism to constantly improve.

Got here at 3:52PM today. The sign says they close at 4 and the doors were open. My family and I go in to order and the two girls behind the counter said they’re closed. Clearly they’re just trying to get off work as soon as possible. I personally witnessed 7 more people try to go in and order before 4PM, but just like us, they were turned away because «the hot bar is already closed».
Don’t think corporate would like to hear that at least $ 50 was turned away because two of their employees just wanted to go home a few minutes early.

A nice relaxing place after walking around. Found some comfy seats in the corner.
Frozen drinks are very good, made with some type of shaved or crushed ice; not the texture of a slushy or McDonalds frappachino, no this was a bit more grown up than that.
For purists, they have a generous supply of «simple syrup» (liquid sugar)
Note to manager:
All 3 cream /​milk pitchers bone dry around 1pm. Not worth deducting a star, and baristas did seem busy with orders, but just FYI. Sine it wasn’t critical and they seemed busy I didn’t ask them to fill them.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014, my wife & I were in the Embarcadero Shopping center & we were in the mood for an ice quenching Ice Blended beverage from one of our favorite coffee shops: The Coffee Bean. My wife & I walked in the store at approximately 3:30pm to 3:35pm. Fore some reason, the moment we walked through the doors we were not acknowledged immediately. We did not get the friendly greeting that we used to get when we were in the area. There were no customers inside the store. The two baristas who were on duty did not exhibit customer service. When one of the Baristas finally spoke, she said that «We only serve hot coffee & tea.» We did not get to hear, «Good Afternoon» or «Hi». She said, that they are not making any specialty drinks because they are cleaning up. I informed the Barista that the store closes at 4:00pm & all requests for a beverage should be honored until the store officially closes. The Barista replies, «This store is different, there’s a Starbucks across the street.» Really. I mean really. I informed the Barista that if I wanted Starbucks, I would’ve gone over there instead of visiting the Coffee Bean. I requested to speak with a manager & instead I spoke with a supervisor, a young African-​American female, possibly in her late teens, who didn’t know anything. The only advice she suggested is that I visit their other store on Montgomery Street. Again, not the response that I would like to hear. I requested to speak someone higher than her, but to no avail. I requested for the store’s telephone number & she tells me to search it online on their website. Again poor customer service.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Coffee Bean & their products, but this location has the poorest customer service that I’ve ever experienced. There is nothing wrong about the beverages they serve, but the customer service by the workers in this location gets a one star review. Now I’ve been to other Coffee Bean locations in San Francisco, The Fillmore store being my favorite unfortunately closed down. If you’re a business owner, the «customer is always right». I just believe that the two Baristas who were on duty on Saturday, 10/​18/​2014, at 3:30pm were just LAZY. The just wanted to leave exactly at 4:00pm. When the store closes at 4:00pm, then you start cleaning up, cashing out, etc.
The manager at this location should know how much revenue is being lost because of walk outs due to limited drink selection. It’s a shame because the lattes & Ice Blended drinks is good. For now, I’ll be visiting their other location on Market Street if I’m craving for a Malibu Dream, Hazelnut latte, or Ice Blended beverage. I’m over this place.

one of the few coffee bean and tea leafs in SF. I go out of my way driving by tons of shitty coffee places to come here. Only bad part is they have business hours b/​c theyre right in the embarcadero center. No point for them to be open weekends.

Blended dranks babygurl. Blended is the way to go.
Oh so smooth, with the control of sweetness. Starbux may be a little too sweet but CB, we can be friends. I haven’t tried the hot drinks, however the blended are a must on a hot day.

I just love The Coffee Bean a& Tea Leaf! Friendly staff always, and my drinks are always perfect.
At our last visit my daughter dropped her drink just after we left the store, and a gentleman working inside ran out, told us not to worry about cleaning up, and that another barista was already making her a replacement drink. Great coffees, and great service!

The American chain is based in Southern CA. Many years ago, I tried Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf when I was in Los Angeles. I read about the place when I was reading a gossip magazine (so and so was seen getting coffee). Once I knew they had several locations in SF, I bookmarked the locations. Lo and behold, I spotted one within the Embarcadero Center when my friends and I were headed for lunch. I made sure we stopped in afterwards.
I wanted an Ice Blended drink, but it was too cold for that. I opted for their holiday drink– Winter Dream Tea Latte (rooibos (bush tea) and black tea, mulling spices, vanilla powder, and steamed milk). Great decision! I could drink it all day. Service was friendly and quick.

My regular spot for my Moroccan mint chocolate with almond milk. Love this place! Nona and Rolando are great and they’re super nice. They get to know you and your drinks! I can’t go to work without coming here now. I love how they have almond milk, and if you don’t want things too sweet, they are willing to do half power. LOVE THEM!

I first stepped into a Coffee Bean on a recent trip to Las Vegas, and was impressed with the quality of their ice blended coffees; in fact, their Pumpkin Spice ice blended coffee was the best of the many coffees I had during vacation there.
Researching them a little more on the web, I found out they were not some small independent, but in fact the oldest and largest private specialty coffee and tea retailer in the U.S., celebrating their 50^th anniversary in business this year. Although they are huge in Southern California, and interestingly, overseas in Asia, they only have four coffee shops in Northern California, three of these in San Francisco. So this small Coffee Bean in the Embarcadero Center is actually the tip of a very large coffee iceberg!
Like the couple Coffee Beans I visited in Las Vegas, the Embarcadero Center shop is small, comfy and friendly. There are a decent amount of places to sit, as well as a few tables outside. And of course, being in the Embarcadero Center, you’ll never find a shortage of places to sit and watch the people.
I ordered one of their holiday special drinks, a Toffee Nut ice blended coffee. It was delicious, and a unique flavor I haven’t seen elsewhere. Although it was November, the weather was still pleasant enough to sit outside and watch the comings and goings of everyone while sipping my coffee. All in all, a delightful coffee break.
Now that I know it’s here, I’ll make a point of visiting the Coffee Bean when I’m in the area.

The Coffee Bean is located in the 4 Embarcadero Center right next to the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. I was glad to discover this place — as I wanted something other than Starbucks — which is also very close to the hotel.
I came in here a couple of times, both times ordered a triple shot iced latte with whole milk. Drink was strong and just what I needed to get the olé brain nuerons firing and stave off the post-​lunch food coma.

Chai Tea Latte. Period. Five stars.
Oh, and the service is incredible. The barista is really fast and the cashier [that works weekday mornings] is super nice & gets to know all his customers.

After a nice brunch on the Embarcadero waterfront and stroll through the Ferry Building farmers market, I needed a coffee break to get me through the rest of the day, especially with Union Square and Pride still on the docket. I had an old Coffee Bean giftcard burning a hole in my pocket so my girlfriend and I walked over to the Embarcadero Center for a break.
I ordered their hazelnut blended coffee drink, which I found delicious. It had a chocolately taste as you drink it, and the nuttiness comes out on the tail end of the sip. My girlfriend’s dark chocolate blended was also pretty tasty, but my vote was definitely for hazelnut, which is now my official drink here.
Service was friendly and helped with recommendations, and it was nice to take a load off after a long walk on a beautiful day. There are a few tables outside that you can sit at with your dog, but there are also plenty of areas around the courtyard to enjoy as well. The weekends are nice and quiet so I’d recommend coming then.
Food: ⁸⁄₁₀
Service: ⁷⁄₁₀
Price: $
Atmosphere: ⁷⁄₁₀