The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the iconic Southern California global roaster and retailer of premium coffee and tea with a cult-like following, celebrates its 60-year legacy by unveiling a strategic franchising initiative aimed to accelerate growth in North America.
With a commitment to introducing its meticulously hand-crafted coffee, tea, and espresso beverages to new markets, the brand has witnessed a surge in interest from qualified franchise candidates. The company is projected to sign over 225 new store commitments through multi-unit development agreements and single café franchise agreements, emphasizing both traditional and non-traditional growth avenues such as airports, universities, casinos, travel plazas, hotels, military bases, business or industrial complexes, and grocery stores. Expansion goals for 2024 include venturing into new and untapped markets, notably Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Canada, and Mexico
Michelle Reap, Senior Manager of Franchise Development, remarks, “The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf franchise opportunity has gained organic interest over the past 60 years, both domestically and internationally. The exceptional quality of our teas and specialty coffees, coupled with the brand’s unique history, presents a lucrative opportunity for skilled multi-unit operators seeking portfolio expansion.”
Known for offering the finest grades of Arabica coffee from specially selected estates around the world and sourcing the youngest and freshest leaves from the top five percent of the world’s tea and botanicals, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stands out amongst competitors in the beverage segment for its meticulous focus on the quality of its products. Its coffee beans are custom roasted, in small batches, at its roasting facility in Camarillo, California, and the brand further ensures excellence by rigorously testing each bag and discarding retail batches that fail to meet their high-quality standards.
Beyond premium quality products, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf provides qualified franchise investors an attractive, scalable business model. With the total investment for a single store ranging from $531,500 to $1,430,177, the franchise opportunity boasts reasonable development costs relevant to its competitors in the beverage segment. Locations can be as small as 200 square feet and up to 1,800 square feet, with kiosks and non-traditional venues, streetside in-line and drive-thru formats, offering versatility for different markets and site types.
Reap highlighted the brand’s authentic differentiators, including a devoted following in established markets, stating, “The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf franchise stands out through its authentic brand differentiators, aiming to redefine the franchise experience by tapping into the unique charm and dedicated fan base that sets us apart. It is more than a beverage; it is an experience.”
Established in 1963, the brand boasts over 1,100 locations worldwide, with a number of stores in different stages of development in the United States, Central America, the Middle East, and Asia.
The franchise opportunity caters to successful, multi-unit investors with strong liquidity who are looking to diversify their portfolio with a globally recognized leader in the specialty coffee and tea beverage segment. A minimum development store count for a pre-determined market is required, but single-store franchise agreements are available for non-traditional venues.
As a trailblazer in the coffee and tea industry, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is credited for driving innovations in the coffee and tea industry with inventions such as The Original Ice Blended drink launched in 1987, the introduction of the Chai Tea Latte in 1998, or being the first global coffee house to offer Nitro Cold Brew. Innovation is in their DNA. From its hero Brewed Coffee to its Lattes and Ice Blended drinks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers the craveable light and sweet taste profiles that loyal guests around the world love and demand.
