The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Okay place to relax for a time to visit only. The service was not bad but not great as I expected … my bear more than 20 minutes …

The staff is friendly, clean. The food is excellen a fan of desserts. Too salty = have a full bar as well.

Impressive diving lil bar in Chinatown. Wide selection of craft beers and rotating beers on draft. DJ playing music and feeling fresh atmosphere all around! Love this little bar!

Start out at 5 stars, here are my problems and why I docked a star for each thing:
1) inconsistent charging/​pricing: I ordered an iced coffee with some milk. Large is like $ 3. I go and order the same drink for the second time and the cashier tells me she is going to charge me for a latte because I asked for milk inside and the large comes out to $ 5. Ridiculous! Starbucks doesn’t charge for milk inside their cold brews or iced coffees. That’s pisses me off. Minus one star.
2) no rewards programs or loyalty points, but I do like that Costco sells gc’s and if you purchase a $ 30 gc in store, you get any sized free drink.
3) if you sit outside there are always a lot of weird sketchy characters out there. I don’t always feel comfortable and I don’t like that. Minus a star.
4) parking in this center absolutely always sucks!
5) very hard to find seating because it’s a rather small location and full of students/​people on laptops and weirdos outside. Minus another star.
Pros: I like their ice chips and the staff is always pretty friendly and nice.

Cashier on Friday at 1pm was not too bright! I tried to pay with my gift card balance through my app. I gave her the code that comes up (apparently Coffee Bean isn’t as savvy as Starbucks to implement a barcode). It says to show code to cashier as I’ve done at other locations. She gave me a blank stare and said «What’s that?» She said they don’t accept rewards there. What?! I told her it’s a gift card balance. This is a Coffee Bean Gift Card loaded onto their app. She was so confused and too busy rolling her eyes & flirting with a guy in line to figure it out. A line was forming so I paid cash. I don’t have time for nitwits nor do I want to waste other people’s time waiting in line for someone that has not been properly trained to work as a cashier. I’m still confused, but at least the Blood Orange sweet tea was tasty.

I don’t like the fact that they start cleaning and putting everything away at 9 – 9:30pm and closing time is 10:30pm… Second time I come at 9:30pm and I been wanting a croissant and they tell me they put it away!.. Put everything away after 10:30!

The 2016 Unilocal 500, Review #117:
Hustling crew in this place! Wow!
BIG NOTE:
I don’t drink coffee but, one day up by the Saban Theater I spotted a hot vanilla on their menu. I tried it and have been sold on it ever since.
YOU’VE BEEN SERVED:
Today I was helped by each of the three ladies who were working. I have had no problems since I arrived. My beverage was made in a reasonable time, it tasted great and because of that I will be back again.
APPEARANCE: The shop was clean and the items in the cases look fresh and appetizing, so much in fact I bought a pineapple coconut muffin based on how it looked. OK, I am salivating now and I still have to drive home.
Photos first though.
Thanks ladies!
(5-​stars after next visit!)
SECOND VISIT NOTES:
I’VE GOT THE POWER:
Have electronics that need a charge?
No problem.
1. If you sit on the long bench-​seat, against the wall, look behind where your calf would be if sitting down.
2. Sitting by the windows on the Firestone Blvd. side? They got you covered, just look on the floor.
3. Perhaps you are tucked away back by the restrooms? Well, simply look on the wall.
And finally…
4. You might be sitting at the long table… This one is the best… Look for the huge power strips underneath the table on the long sides of the table.
Yep… impressive. They pretty much have you covered when you need to power up!
This tip of the day has been brought to you thanks to the creative and considerate minds designing THE COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF in Downey, CA!
5-​stars granted… as promised above.

I wish I had a CBTL like this one close to home.
(The Shell Gas station on my neighborhood walking route carries their coffee, but that doesn’t count.)
This location looks to be a good relaxing place to just sit down & enjoy your coffee.
Got a Hazelnut iced coffee and it was really good.
I could taste the hazelnut, but it didn’t overpower the coffee.
I like that they use crushed iced instead of cubes.
Saw a bottle of liquid sugar-​free sweetener on the condiments stand and added a bit in.
Nice employees, sunny airy dining room, nice restroom (needs a key).
Makes me really want a local CBTL.

Came here for the first time today. I like the atmosphere here and the employees are very nice. I always thought it would be like Starbucks, but it is WAY different, in a good way. I tried the new ice blended Thai Tea and omg yum! I will definitely be returning.

I’m super excited to report it looks like this coffee bean location is getting it together. I went in today hoping they were still selling winter dream and they were. so I ordered a small tea. the young cashier that helped me was sweet but she got my order wrong they had made me a tea latte… I told the young man that’s not what I ordered right away he apologized and informed the cashier and right away she apologized. I was shocked getting what I originally ordered was smooth. it wasn’t a forced apology it was like second nature. and I appreciated that it almost made me wanna take the first drink cause they acted so concerned. the young man who’s badge read shift supervisor quickly refunded my money and gave me a tea. wasn’t that nice? I feel awful cause I didn’t catch his name. sad to say if he had done something wrong I would have remembered. anyway I went in about 4:30 so a big THANK YOU to the crew that was there around that time!!! I appreciate you guys! Mistakes happen it’s how you treat your customer after that matters! Hats off to all!

Love coffee bean but this particular one, in the 3 times that I’ve been here, they take a long time to make my drink. I get a vanilla latte never change my drink. And it takes 10 minutes + to get my drink and it’s not busy. Wish they had more employees or more efficient employees so we as customers can get in and out. Today I came in and two people after me with more than one coffee received their drinks before I did, I only had one beverage.
I’m not sure I’ll be returning to this particular location.

They make the chai tea lattee everything here flawlessly! Always ask for in the glass. If you come here get the chai tea lattee and you’ll thank me later

Favorite place to stop by for frappes. I always get the vanilla blended and sometimes add some chocolate syrup. I love coming here because their drinks don’t taste watered down and they’re semi sweet which is perfect.

Best place for a cup of coffee, even their seasonal red velvet frap. Me N my sister always come out during the season for the delicious red velvet frap. As our tradition but even then going here on a regular basis is much recommended

This is my go to coffee spot in town. The service and efficiency is always phenomenal, but today’s experience was exceptionally fantastic. I go in and order three #BlackForest drinks and three toasted bagels with cream cheese, to go. By the time my bagels were bagged, and paid for, unbeknownst to me, my drinks were already being finished up! I sit down to wait for them, and 30 seconds later my name was called. I was pleasantly surprised! It’s service, speed, and like I said, efficiency that keep The Coffee Bean a step above all other major coffee retailers. Thank you so much to the Downey team for the incredible experience. Keep up the phenomenal job, and I will DEFINITELY be back! Happy Halloween!

There is a difference in the taste of there coffee and Starbucks. Wife says the ice blended drinks are better then the frappachino from Starbucks. When they had the dulce de leche lattes that was my favorite drink but they don’t make that anymore

I have been coming here for close to six years now and and it’s been few and far between that I have been disappointed. The service is always great and the management seems to keep up with everything pertaining to the up-​keeping of establishment. I do encounter the occasional running out of the jalapeño bagel but other than that this place is spot on! Highly recommend this place!

I’m always glad when Siri locates a CBTL !!!
It’s a staple for me…
THIS location is super friendly and fast!
I was thoroughly impressed with the overall service!
The usual offerings as other CBTLs.
No drive-​thru.
Shared parking lot with other retailers.
THIS location is totally praiseworthy!
This review isn’t … :-p

Saturday morning, black coffee w/​1in” almond milk cold + 3 ghost cookies !
= Amazing chill good experience. Eddy, I believe is the manager chill inviting, talks & is super cool.
Barista’s are good here! Super helpful!
Will I go back yes!
Thanks guys

Café mocha for me. All the time.
I prefer this over Starbucks just because it tastes better. Probably depends on the barista, but I feel like Starbucks always dumps a truckload of sugar in their drinks.
Staff are always nice, they have an outdoor seating area and maybe around 4 tables inside for those who like to stay and study. I believe they have free wifi.
Random thought, there’s a Marine recruitment agency 2 doors down and one time I saw a guy in uniform come in. On impulse I decided to tell the barista I wanted to pay for his/​their drinks as thanks for the service they do for this country. I didn’t think the barista would point me out to him but the guy came over and said thanks. I felt like a creeper for some reason. LOL.
Great place to get a cup of coffee on your way to work.