The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

I’ve been coming here for 7 years and am so glad they’re still here! The staff are really friendly, and even when it’s slammed, I’ve never waited too long for a drink. If you go to school or work nearby, it’s worth coming in on your break.

I’ve driven by the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf many times but never actually checked it out. Looking for a place to study I wandered in on a Sunday morning. The complex itself is not too busy and parking is easy to find. The inside was spacious and there was ample study space. The menu had some interesting choices, especially the teas, and things you don’t see at places like Starbucks and Peet’s. I opted to try the hazelnut latte. My drink took a lot longer to make than expected. But when I finally came, it did not disappoint. I will definitely be back to try out some of their other coffees and teas!

The new staff is kind of bringing the place down… Worst late of my life today, they definitely are still learning. Still one of the only viable study spots in a 1 mile radius…

I would come to this location in the past however the staff was always so down and the atmosphere was dark and gloomy. A new manager has taken over, she is upbeat and friendly. The current staff are nice and upbeat. I enjoy this atmosphere and now frequent this location over the local competitors.

Long overdue review as I’ve been going here every day for months.
I come when I get off work to get more work done. The chai tea latte is delicious, much better than Starbuck’s counterpart. The best part is the table seating that’s ideal for those trying to study or get work done. I’ve been coming here daily along with other long-​time regulars and stay until closing and the employees do not mind a bit.
If I had won the power ball lottery, I would open up more Coffee Beans because their business cares about their customers instead of making another quick dime. Truly thankful for this little paradise!

What happened to my favorite little neighborhood coffee shop? There is an entirely new staff (management included.) I have encountered only good customer service, but it feels like Starbucks now. They greet you, ask to help you and then turn to a coworker and give instruction about tasks that need to be completed as I start to say my order. Or, they charge me tax for «for here» without asking… and I come in every day and get my coffee to go. I just told one of the men (at least 10 years younger than me) to stop calling me sweetheart. (He said it three times before I told him to please not call me that. I’m a woman and we are conducting a business transaction. Miss, or Ma’am, or dude, or anything would be better than «sweetheart.») I also heard a manager instruct an employee to just push the pre-​made tea instead of helping a customer that was looking for a basic black like earl gray. It’s not a huuuuuge deal, but the people before seemed to generally care about offering their customers quality and a drink that they would really enjoy. Now this place is another corporate-​feeling-​get-​in-​get-​out place. I’m bummed.
The bathroom is much cleaner than it’s ever been. That’s the only thing I’ll give them, but I would take an «okay» bathroom to get my happy place back.

Honestly, the only perk of this location vs the nearby Starbucks is better seating options, especially if you have to spread out.
In terms of coffee quality, no matter what I get I think «I should have gone to Starbucks» after I taste it. Tea selection is a bit better and more diverse though.
Service is subpar at best. Depends on who is working. Some are pretty friendly and obviously customer service oriented, but most look bored to death and take a while to make your drink. I feel like I have to ask for soy milk 5 times to make sure it actually makes it in my coffee.
Never my first choice unless I’m studying or desperate.

Location: This coffee bean is located on Alton and Jeffrey in the shopping center with Gelsons and a couple other restaurants. If you come early in the morning, parking is great and plentiful. Obviously later in the day, it gets harder. Especially around lunch time since there are more than a few restaurants around. Kind of hard to spot off the street, so just look for the Gelsons and pull into that lot.
Service: This location has been great — everyone has always been really friendly and service has been very efficient even when its busier. Everyone always has a smile on their face and drinks are served hot and fast. They do better than most locations with thoroughly mixing the powder into the drinks too which I greatly appreciate. Seating is somewhat plentiful, but there are those «coffee shop» people who come and sit for hours at a time with their laptops, nursing one small cup of coffee.
Overall: Great service, good drinks, no complaints.

The best and friendliest staff in town. The best part is the Coffee though. They’ve got the best Coffee in all Irvine. Always fresh.

For years a lot of my friends raved about coffee bean and how much better is it than Starbucks. What? Better than Starbucks, never! Better than being a gold card member!?! Doubt it. I swore I would never leave the Starbucks cult to even take a sip of the coffee bean. Well I lied, lol.
One morning on my way to the office I decided to check it out. It was early around 6:30 in the morning so it was fairly empty which I can appreciate. I scanned the menu unsure of what I wanted until the butterscotch latte caught my eye.
I placed my order for a butterscotch latte and a sugar cookie for a long day of training in the office. My drink was ready in a timely matter not to mention the employees were friendly. Right away I was impressed by the service and timeliness.
I decided to go back a second time and I would like to say it was love at first sip with their hazelnut iced coffee bean. Coffee bean, you win!

I like the crushed ice for drinks here my new favorite drink is the Sweet Tea with Passion Fruit!

I walked in like a zombie, as most people do on Sunday mornings, and the gentleman at the register was so helpful! He was like the angel on my shoulder I’ve always needed when making important life decisions. He sensed my sleepiness and instead of staring at me like many inexperienced or apathetic barista assistants, he took an active role in helping me narrow down the drink of my choice. With a simple game of elimination (hot or cold? sweet or plain? etc.) we conceded on an iced vanilla late. Perfect for this already warm day. And of course the drink is delicious. Thank you! I’ll be back to this location.

Staff is always friendly…
Pet peeve though:
More often than not certain people come in and place their (1) laptop (2) iPhone and (3) other smart phone on an unoccupied desk while the rest of us good folk are patiently waiting in line only left to fend for ourselves when these «first dibs pay latter folk» monopolize the seating.
Other than that — a fine place to work in the open.
If I may– I’ll post the culprits on blast via pics

Been going to this location since I first started work down the street at Kaiser. Luckily this is my favorite CBTL location.
Location:
In a plaza next to Mustard Restaurant. They go well together since Mustard is the only breakfast/​lunch type restaurant in the plaza. Many of the patrons here are locals with dogs and a popular place for cyclist meetups. There is a huge patio type seating right outside of the restaurant.
Inside:
Recently remodeled to cater to those who loves to surf the net, study, read. The Baristas here make a great cup of joe and very friendly. One of the cleanliest CBTL around.
I’m usually here 3 to 4 times a week for my Regular Iced Americano with ½ scoop hazelnut. Cheers!

This Coffee Bean is really cozy and nicely decorated. Also, the restrooms are so clean as well.
I didn’t have a chance to know the casher’s name, which I should have. He was a very friendly, funny man with an interesting hair style — no offense, I just thought his hair and everything made him look like a scientist in movies or something, like a scientist in Coffee bean lab. He gave thorough explanations to each customer’s every question. I liked he never said, «Oh, let me check what we have» or «Let me ask what we have», he just knew everything.
This Coffee Bean must be one of the beat around here to chit chat with friends all day.

This is the best Coffee Bean in the area!
They always make my drink perfectly. Management and staff are super friendly and just in general awesome.
Wifi is fairly fast and if the tables and chairs inside are full– they have a great space outside as well. Wifi is a bit slower out there but still does the trick.

This place, the line always move fast and the baristas always make sure you’re taken care of and that your drink is perfect. So don’t be afraid to talk to them and ask them!
This place is always great and is filled with students studying/​doing homework or people who are working on something. At times there might be no seating because of the amount of people here, but there is also plenty of outside seating.
I like coming here to get a drink and work on whatever I have to, or just to relax! Free wifi!
Try Undertow! It is delicious shot.

I cannot drive past a CBTL without getting a craving for one of their blended mochas. This is an excellent location, easy parking and great service. Had my usual blended mocha, ad chocolate covered coffee beans, perfect! By far my favorite chain to grab coffee at!
Plenty of seating, clean store, all around great location!

While most of the reviews for this place are going to be about coffee, let me take a moment to talk about the other half of their name. I’m talking about the tea.
I come here to buy tea. Near the front door, in the area that has coffee mugs for sale, are several shelves of tea. It’s high quality stuff, much better than what you’d get in the grocery store or at overpriced places like Teavana.
My most recent visit I purchased 4 canisters of tea (each contain 20 whole leaf tea bags). My selections were Lemon Chamomile, English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Spring Peach Oolong. I’ve tried them all and love them all.
Customer service here is always impeccable.

My favorite Coffee Bean!
It’s right next to my house which makes it extra convenient and it just happens to be my favorite Coffee Bean.
The line always move fast and the baristas always make sure you’re taken care of and that your drink is perfect. So don’t be afraid to talk to them and ask them!
This place is always great and is filled with students studying/​doing homework or people who are working on something. At times there might be no seating because of the amount of people here, but there is also plenty of outside seating.
I love coming here to get a drink and work on whatever I have to, or just to relax! Free wifi!
P. S. Ask Aaron or Wes to make you an Undertow! The most delicious shot I’ve ever had, and a gorgeous one too! :’) I hope I heard the name right omg lol. It’s so beautiful!