What’s So Special about Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf?
Recently Los Angeles’ Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opened their first New York location in Times Square (natch). I’ve never been to a CBTL but it seems like every few weeks Us Weekly photographs some otherwise malnourished celeb clutching on of their large frozen beverages. Being a coffee addict, I decided to check it out.
I got a regular (medium) latte with an extra shot since the barista told me that their medium drinks only come with one shot (the ‘Bux does two for a similarly sized drink). It was a fine latte, not too bitter, not too watery, but it was expensive–$3.95 for the base drink plus 75 cents for the extra shot. That’s more expensive than Starbucks and what’s more I can get a two shot latte with organic milk and fair trade coffee for just over $3 from Pret.
While I was there I nabbed one of their signature doughnuts ($3.25) and enormous chocolate frosted square yeast doughnut that was filled with both vanilla and chocolate pudding.
Again the doughnut was fine, the little touch of orange extract was and unexpected but pleasant surprise, but the doughnut itself was a bit dry and dense and the pudding was in the Jell-o instant realm, fine if you love the Boston Cremes from Dunkin, but not what I was expecting for over $3. I don’t think Mark Israel from Doughnut Plant is losing any sleep over these guys.
While this was a fairly lackluster visit, I know that CBTL has its loyal adherents. What am I missing here?
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 1412 Broadway at 39th St, (212) 575-3854
Posted by Brownie at 3:15 pm, November 7th, 2011 under Coffee.
3 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
I am with you Brownie.
I don’t get it either.
I checked them out a while ago, hearing all the hoopla..and was completely unimpressed.
Expensive, unnoteworthy coffee. Yawn.