The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a west coast based coffee chain founded in 1963 in the luxe Brentwood section of Los Angeles, California.

Founded by the husband and wife team of Mona and Herbert Hyman, “The Coffee Bean”, as it is affectionately known by regulars, is noted for their small café-type feel and quality of products despite their growing franchise-type store status.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary in September of 2008, The Coffee Bean has hundreds of locations all over Los Angeles and Southern California as well as may other major cities on the west coast.

Recently, franchises have been added in Hawaii and various major cities throughout Southeast Asia  in addition to their other international locations in Mexico, Korea, Israel, the Philippines and the Middle East.

Despite popular belief, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was the first coffee store to introduce and trademark “The Original Ice Blended Coffee” drinks over twenty years ago, which in effect started the entire blended/flavored coffee drink craze which is now so commonplace.

The Coffee Beans’ ingenious idea unfortunately has been the victim of countless imitators over the years, some of which garnered more popularity and success that the original drink that inspired them.

One of the favorite perks among frequent Coffee Bean goers is that the chain offers completely free Wifi service to anyone in close proximity to a store and for the convenience of their customers, have added several full service and limited menu outlets to Southern California Ralph’s grocery stores and supermarkets.