The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Expands to New York Area, Starting With Store in Fort Greene

The Los Angeles-based specialty beverage brand The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is expanding to New York, with the first store having opened Aug. 28 in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Fort Greene.

Franchisee Hudson River Coffee & Tea plans to open a number of stores across the New York metro area, including a second Brooklyn location before the end of the year.

The Fort Greene store includes an outdoor lounge and dining space, and customers can shop safely amid the coronavirus pandemic with limited-contact procedures. They can order ahead with The Coffee Bean Rewards app or order delivery with services including Postmates and DoorDash.

The store’s offerings include signature beverages like coffee, tea and lattes along with pastries and other foods, which are certified STAR-D Kosher Dairy.

Peter Vavra, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s director of franchise operations, said the brand continues to maintain a steady growth rate despite the uncertainty of current events.

“New York City is a competitive and highly desirable market for any coffee retailer and our opening today in New York underscores our commitment to bringing our beloved beverages to more guests and demonstrates our strength as a leading roaster and retailer of coffee and tea,” Vavra said.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has 225 stores in 11 states in the United States and more than 1,094 locations in 30 countries.

The brand claims to be the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brewed tea and claims to have pioneered its Original Ice Blended drink.

Mark Feit, director of development for Hudson River Coffee & Tea, said the opening is an exciting step for New York.

“The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand has been serving innovative and beloved beverages for nearly 60 years, and we are thrilled that now New Yorkers can enjoy them as well,” Feit said.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s parent company is Jollibee Foods Corporation.