Founded in 1963 by Herbert B. Hyman in Los Angeles, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf began as a gourmet coffee service for local offices. The first retail store opened in 1968 in Brentwood, California, offering whole-bean coffee, visible roasting, and flavor sampling.

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with its global innovation and experience center located in Singapore. It began franchising in 2001, quickly expanding into Asia with dozens of stores in Singapore and Malaysia within the first two years.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf sells handcrafted specialty coffee, hand-plucked whole-leaf teas, signature Ice Blended® drinks, single-serve capsules, bakery items, powders, brewing equipment, and branded merchandise. All coffee beans are top 1% Arabica, small-batch roasted in Camarillo, California, and ethically sourced from East Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific.

The brand stands out by pioneering the original Ice Blended® drink in 1987—before the Starbucks Frappuccino. It focuses on quality, innovation, visible roasting experiences, and global impact programs like Caring Cup®. Backed by Jollibee since 2019, it continues to expand worldwide with a strong franchise system.

Training

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf provides an in-depth training program to ensure franchisees operate their stores effectively and in line with the brand's standards. Here are the key components of their training:

1. Initial Training
   A 15-day initial training program is required for the Director of Operations and General Manager. This training takes place at corporate offices or designated Coffee Bean locations and covers store operations, marketing, site selection, financial guidelines, and more.
2. Owner Training
   A 5-day training session is provided for the owner and one additional person designated by the developer. This program covers the overall operations of the store, leadership, equipment, marketing, and financial management.
3. Pre-Opening Onsite Assistance
   For the first store, the franchisor sends 1–3 training staff to assist on-site for up to 15 days around the store opening. For the second and third stores, 1–2 staff members are sent for up to 10 days. The franchisee is responsible for associated travel and living expenses.
4. Employee Training by Certified Manager
   The certified General Manager is responsible for providing at least 7 days of training to store employees before opening. This applies to both initial staff and any new hires during the term of the franchise.

Territory Protection

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf grants its franchisees the right to operate within a specified "Designated Territory," usually centered around the physical premises of the store, such as in a mall or airport terminal.

While this area provides operational space, it does not equate to exclusive territorial rights. Franchisees are not allowed to operate other distribution models like kiosks or carts outside of this designated area without prior consent.

Despite the lack of exclusivity, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf commits that it and its affiliates will not establish another store under the same brand within a franchisee’s Designated Territory during the franchise term. However, the company reserves broad rights to compete through various channels—including licensing or franchising others—outside of this specified area.