The Bean

They manage to have an industrial space with homey vibes - something not many places can pull off. I love the variety of seating and how many plugs there are everywhere. The service is quick and efficient. They have a restroom for customers. I loved that they had gluten free snack options. I wish they had gluten free bagels and warm food available. I also wish they had a charging station available.

Classic coffee in a great place to people watch. Coffee is solid and there are outlets every where and a bathroom. Enough food to make a day of it if you’re looking to get some work done or have a marathon hang out session.

What a nice place. Been impressed of this coffeeshop with a local vibe. Quick and friendly service, nice atmosphere with good music and as a visitor from Germany I mostly appreciate the blasting air-con that we don't have anywhere. Such a refreshing visit, loved the table with the unique storefront pictures by James& Karla. Classic NY. Must comeback to try the unique drinks like Mona Lisa & co.

The coffee shop offers a pleasant and productive atmosphere, assuming you can secure a seat. While the coffee isn't the best—my americano was quite watered down—the service is good. Despite the lackluster coffee, I plan to return for study sessions and opt for tea instead. The cafe provides an internet cafe with laptops and free wifi for those who bring their own devices. Almost everyone there was online. The coffee is served hot but lacks great flavor. However, the shop itself is very nice and also offers excellent pastries.

I really liked the atmosphere and that there are places to work/sit. On the other hand, it took a long time to get an employee's attention (like 2 min when I initially went to order and more to ask for a bathroom key) and I had a matcha latte that mostly tasted like soy milk and had matcha clumping at the bottom. It was not worth the price.

The unfriendliness of the service staff during ordering was striking from the very beginning. There were three girls behind the bar who were moving and doing something, with such a face as if they were doing me a huge favor by taking my order. One of them was the closest to us, visitors, showing unshaven armpits under her arms with hair sticking together from sweat... It was all together disgusting, disgusting and put me in a stupor, as it was the most disgusting service in all the years of living in New York. .... And I just returned from a vacation in Europe and wanted to drink coffee "at home"... the coffee turned out to be dirty-colored water with milk, although I ordered black. I never finished it because it tasted terrible, despite the milk ((

Solid spot for your morning cup of Joe! I got a large chai latte and it was piping hot and delicious. Clean and reliable!

From the get-go you could tell the workers did not care. The place was dirty, crumbs on all chairs / tables. I had wasted 10 mins waiting and at last, given up n just left the cafe. The two staffs were making previous orders behind the counter (there weren’t many orders anyway, with 2/3 orders ahead of me) but i didn’t understand why they couldn’t just also talk my order as I was the only one in line for nearly 10 mins. No one had bothered to even say that they will be with me in a second. It was a complete waste of my time. Such a shame as the store had great potential, filled with natural light, but the servers and cleanliness of it really put me off…

The Bean gives off the vibe of an off-campus café with its intentionally intentionally eclectic and artsy decor. The interiors feature graffiti art and stickers, creating a rebellious aesthetic that sets it apart from the more polished downtown cafés catering to mass tourism. This unpretentious atmosphere appeals to a diverse clientele, including NYU students and locals seeking a relaxed environment. While many downtown cafés try to be cutesy or polished to cater to mass tourism and Instagram trends, The Bean stands apart as a rebel with a cause, embracing its eclectic and intentionally gritty decor. It doesn't aim to be a stereotypical internet café for NYU students--it just is. I occasionally stop by to order a latte and cookie, as this spot is one of the few public spaces in the East Village offering reliable Wi-Fi, a decent bathroom, and phone charging with a small purchase. Trust me, you don't want to rely on public resources around here. The taste of the food isn't particularly memorable--it gets the job done at prices that seem reasonable for Manhattan. The staff, a group of twenty-somethings who fit right into the community, are friendly and full of solid recommendations if you're unsure. My suggestion? Order a latte and a black-and-white cookie. Together, they deliver the kind of casual satisfaction that aligns perfectly with the café's unpretentious vibe.

A coffee staple for when I'm in this area. Mainly because I like the overall vibe and atmosphere. It's casual, not stuffy and I don't feel like people are all in your business here. I like that they have some fun blended drinks as well. It's a place I keep in my back pocket for casual coffee, first dates, working remotely, etc.

Such sweet staff and great food- including gluten free cookies that taste so good you'd never know! The seeet young woman who greeted me this early afternoon was kind enough to ask if I had any food allergies and when I said gluten, she let me know about the variety of gluten free cookies and suggested the black and white one which I was so impressed with! By far the best I have ever had! Not too sweet, etc.. they also had ones with protein in them in other flavors!! Also got a sandwich and some things for someone else who was very pleased with them!! Such a neighborhood gem! So happy that's it's here !! Will be back!

Grabbed an açaí bowl here on Sunday morning before heading to the airport. They have a large selection of bowls and smoothies which was nice. I ordered the Kneel bowl and it was served with a good portion of granola and fruit on top. Nothing special but was a good quick breakfast. Husband said that the frozen Mona Lisa was not as good as the equivalent drink that he normally orders at Starbucks, but he enjoyed his poppy seed bagel with cream cheese well enough. Good for a morning when you need something quick and easy.

Friendly staff, coffee is great, got an iced latte with oat milk and it was great! Lots of seating and good music!

Nice coffee shop and open atmosphere with tall ceilings, beautiful decor and local artists' work on the walls. They have a bathroom in the back with key access. A variety of tables and seating for whomever decides to stay. One large table at the back which was used for an intense Scrabble match that night. My bf got the truffle brownie and the man behind the counter offered to warm it up. The heat certainly made it better! It was hot to touch the lips with so if you have a drink to keep you company in the meantime that's good too. I got a small coffee with half coconut milk fill. The man behind the counter stated that it was very strong coffee and I hadn't had coffee for a few months. I'm glad he warned me! It was still strong at only half a cup. I got a lemon bar and it was good but it had too much confectionery sugar on it. I wound up scraping it off to get more of that tart lemony flavor. It would be best crafted with a thick base and the lemon part on top. It was perfect without all of that sugar! Happy eats!

The Bean is my go-to spot for enjoying a delicious pastry and coffee while waiting for my laundry to finish in the washer. It has a great vibe, and the service is always friendly.

Overall rating: 4.8 I feel so sad for the low ratings that had creepy service. I've been coming here for years when I'm in the area. I only get the Nutella Fitzgerald. Great place for working, people keep to yourself. I did one time go to the EV one with a Starbucks cup & got denied service. That store location ended up closing! Ha. Recommend to get some coffee, but then leave. Servers are fresh out of college. Don't expect high service.

I came here to pick up my Too Good To Go order. I paid $4.99 for $15.99 value of goods. The vibe of the cafe is chill. Most people come here to get some drink and work on their laptops. It is good place to spend the afternoon in a hot day in the city. The line was long when I walked in. I noticed they don't have enough staff. Once the cashier takes your order, then she needs to go prepare for the food or drink and no other staff came up to assist. That explained the long waiting period. Finally I got my order which is packed by random goods they chose to give. I got 2 bagels, one pastry and one egg croissant sandwich. I was not very satisfied with it. I doubt the total value of these things equals to $16. But it is what it is. I have tried the egg croissant sandwich which is tasteless. Disappointed again.

Visited The Bean a few times while visiting our daughter in NYC a couple weeks ago -- it's just a couple blocks away from her apartment in the East Village. My wife and daughter enjoyed their coffees, but I went for the juice and smoothies. Great variety to choose from and super refreshing and tasty -- it was hot and humid when we visited. Oh, and the vegan chocolate chip cookie was very good. We'll be back again and again whenever we visit our daughter.

I purchased the pre-made sliced, packaged / wrapped plan bagel, with salmon , cucumbers, and cream cheese, with I believe had some onions = 8.0 The bagel could have been a little bigger with the price after tax was $8.75. Plethora of seating at 10:00am on a Thursday mid-morning, Medium 90's and 1980's music playing from speakers..., could have been turned down a little for customers needing to make a phone call.., however, it's not a big issue. The larger lunch pre-made daily Panini's I visually observed come out at 11:00am. I'll be back to try a Coffee.., or Smoothies, and more Lunch food.

Originally came in here with a friend because it had a bathroom but will now be coming back for the coffee and $12 açaí bowls. The place is has a really laid back vibe. They have free WiFi so there are a lot of people studying and working. Many coffee shops don't offer free WiFi so if you are looking for a quiet cafe with good coffee, this is your place.

Love this spot, good coffee. Very kind staff. Spot def supports the blue. Def recommend

The bean hates black people I have been a loyal customer of The Bean at 54 Second Ave for quite some time, as it used to be an integral part of my daily routine. The coffee they serve is consistently exquisite, with a delightful lack of acidity that sets it apart. However, my recent encounter with one of their baristas left me thoroughly disappointed and questioning my loyalty. Upon placing my order, I decided to try some food from their menu. Unfortunately, I was served stale and clearly old items that were far from appetizing. When I approached the barista, I was shocked by their refusal to provide a refund or even cancel the order. Their dismissive attitude was further aggravated by their lack of consideration for my dietary needs. As someone with allergies, it is crucial for me to inform the staff about any potential risks. However, the barista failed to ask me about any allergies, despite the fact that I do have them. This negligence only added to my frustration and disappointment with the service I received. To make matters worse, I couldn't help but wonder if the barista's behavior was influenced by my choice to speak to them in Spanish. It felt as though their response was tainted with passive aggression, leading me to suspect that they may harbor racist tendencies. Such behavior has no place in a diverse and inclusive city like New York. In conclusion, while The Bean at 54 Second Ave continues to deliver excellent coffee, the overall service experience I encountered was deeply unsatisfactory. The stale food, the refusal to address my concerns, and the potential racial undertones left me disheartened. I sincerely hope that management takes this review as an opportunity to address these issues and ensure that all customers receive the exceptional service they deserve.

The Bean's atmosphere rocks but holy shit, explain to me why I ordered an iced espresso with oat milk and kindly requested a little more oat milk, the barista rudely responded, "next time just order a latte." Y'all, I have not sipped out of this cup more than once LOL - a latte would be FILLED with oat milk, correct? NOT HALF, so no, my dude - not "a latte". The 40-something year old dude who is works there needs to chill. Everyone else was cool. Anyway, drinks are good, atmosphere good; dude w the attitude can kick rocks :)

ONE OF THE BEST ACAI BOWLS EVER! Great value and packed with flavor. I love the fresh fruit on the top! Came here to catch up with a friend -- quiet and cozy inside. Will definitely come again when I visit NYC! My bowl came out super quickly too :)

I was walking by and thought this was a cute place to have a coffee with my boyfriend who already purchased a Dunkin drink as we're trying to look for food. The second he found a seat one of the employees kicked him out and said no outside food or drinks allowed. He had to wait outside while I ordered my smoothie. While I was ordering the cashier was impatient and the customer behind me was breathing down my neck and bumping into me without apologize or acknowledging what she did. The smoothie was not bad but not worth the price or the hassle! Rude employees and customers. Won't be back.

Their hot chai latte is up there with the best I've ever had. The drink makes you feel warm and it's so perfectly smooth. This came delivered and it was still hot and packaged perfectly. I would happily drink it everyday if I could. Also, management here is super nice. We should always support businesses like this.

Bought a coffee and did some work there one day while in the neighborhood. At the two hour mark, a man working there named Francisco came up and told me he's need me to buy another product. Looking around it was quite crowded and he told me the two hour mark was policy for a second purchase. I thought that was fair. Next day I come back. I am there for 75 minutes, I had bought a coffee and was doing work on my laptop. Again, the guy tells me I need to buy something else. The place is not only huge but there were like 4 other people in the entire place. At this point I'm thinking, "If I do it this time, tomorrow he'll be asking me to buy something else after I've been there 20 minutes." When I complain he says "are you arguing with policy?" I say..."well yesterday it was two hours today it has been 75 minutes... which is it?" Honestly never going back. I've never seen so little power go to somebody's head before but this guy must have a lot of bitterness in his heart to hassle somebody in an empty coffee shop mid day midweek, 75 minutes in, typing on his laptop bothering nobody........ Shame... because I've been going to the Bean since... 2009... but this was offensive. I know it's N.Y.C. but still... some common decency and a little human mutual respect should still be expected from each other lmao

As an NYU alumni, being back to The Bean feels like putting on an old glove (in the best way possible). Glad to see they've updated their menu and have really evolved with the times while still giving old-school 'The Bean' vibes. It's no secret that I love acai bowls and The Bean's acai bowls are in my top 5. Their acai is great quality, it actually taste like acai. Being an acai connoisseur- ahem, ahem- I'm tired of blueberry smoothies being passed off as acai. Acai should have a nice earthy, well-rounded taste to it not filled with a bunch of fillers. At only $11, this acai bowl is bomb.

Tried placing an online order for faster pickup... only to find out they prepared the wrong drink. They made wait in line again. Poor service.

Good cafe. Not loud, thus good for working on homework, work, meetups with friends, has basic good pastries (bagels, muffins, etc) with a wide array of drinks, and great staff.

I had the worst ice matcha (tasted like powder matcha and VERY watered down) and my friend's coffee just tasted like warm sweetened milk?!? A lot of space to work and study, but I will not be coming back!

I know I shouldn't expect much from a chain, but wow did the chai here disappoint (tasted as though I was drinking plain milk). The only reason I am giving it 3 stars is because the carrot zucchini loaf was actually very good (albeit cold and a bit dry). The staff was also rude.

A decent coffee shop in the suburbs of New York! Very interesting coffee selections at very reasonable prices, with a menu of delicious food to accompany them. The Oatmeal Cookie was highly recommended and with good reason. The coffee was reasonably priced, the staff was very attentive and quick, and the entire store was bustling with the warmth coffee shop shop should have. The free wifi was also a very big bonus as well

The iced coffee was just okay and chai was a bit sweet. Overall the biggest draw of this place is the really large seating area. There's a lot of places to sit and you have access to outlets and wifi if you want it.

the service was great, food and drinks even better. got two of the smoothie bowls and a coffee, can say one of the best i've had in the city to date. Definitely try this place out!

Food is good (I don't drink their coffee) and service is quick and friendly. The location itself is spacious so I'd consider stopping in here if I want a change of scenario to get work done.

Absolute worst chai latte I've ever had in my life. I ordered and it was straight milk so I went back up and asked them to add more chai apparently they did and it was still straight milk.

Stepped in here to kill some time the other day. I think I've been here once or twice years ago. It is a cool spot to hang out and people watch. Relaxing atmosphere. They seem to have a lot of healthy snack options, smoothies, acai & pitaya bowls, sandwiches, pastries, etc. I can't speak for the food but holy hell the drinks are expensive and really tiny. I spent $5 on a small chai iced latte and the boy got a peppermint tea for about $3.50. I don't normally go for chai but wanted something less caffeinated than straight up coffee or a latte. Which most of the drinks were around $4-6 anyway. The small is the size of a dixie cup on a heap of ice. Used half my ice to cool down his hot tea. I feel so ripped off. Even worse than Starbucks levels of ripped off because at least the drinks are twice the size and you accumulate loyalty points. The chai tasted fine but was probably pre-made with a powder or mixture of sorts. It just tasted like cinammony milk and sugar over ice. Cute but not cute. Would go out of my way to go to a different coffee shop to kill time.

The food is good, especially the smoothies, but every single employee at this local has an attitude, I came several times and tried three different locations, however, the Human Resources person is doing it wrong. I'm not spending more money at any of the locations. I also emailed them to "let us know," but I never got an answerback. Nice ambiance, and nice food, but not the best employees.

The smoothies and coffees are just ok. Kinda feel it's a bit , I don't know , a bit generic in taste ? I can't put my finger on it. There's MUCH better coffee within walking distance. Why the stars off were bc of my recent experiences with their service. One counter person was really cool , once. Then the next 2x I've been there the girls I've dealt with were aloof and seemed confused. I would never knock anyone who is new to what they're doing but these girls just seemed to not care to smile. Also , their " rainbow layer brownie " is terrible. And what pissed me off is it that they call a uncut rainbow cookie that. What ? We're not in NYC? The land of rainbow cookies ? Get real. It's not a brownie. And whatever you call it, it was dry, had hardly any almond taste, and the chocolate had that cheap mouthfeel. Like it's saturated in palm oil or maybe too much cocoa butter that it coats you mouth with that oil stuff. For the first time , I threw out a "rainbow cookie ".

I have been going here regularly for many months. I return because it is one of the only spots with tables (when you can get one) but there is plenty that puts me off. Overpriced. I always order a large iced latte (small is tiny and no medium size), and it ends up being at least $8 because I have to pay extra for the right milk and an extra shot so it actually takes like coffee. The coffee they use in iced lattes isn't even fresh espresso - they bulk make a tub of espresso and store it for the day. The workers rarely measure the espresso, and just put however much they feel like so it is either a cup of milk or an iced coffee. I have to ask for my sugars each time because they won't put them where customers can get them, which just adds more work for the employees. For water, they will only give you a miniature cup of tap water without ice, which makes you want to buy their bottles which are super overpriced and come in two bad sizes: too small and huge (they use their own brand of water). Most of the sweet food I've tried has been bad except for the espresso brownie. Often extremely stale but still selling at full price. Bagels are good. Employees are mostly very unfriendly but I don't blame them. They clearly don't like working there. Manager/owner? is often there during the day, sitting at a table. Not friendly. More seating than most places but the chairs can be very rickety because they are so old. Most of the tables are unusable at a certain time of day when the sun hits and bakes them, but they won't put blinds in. The high tables are uncomfortable and most people don't like them but they have quite a few taking up space. System for wifi is ridiculous. You have to have a receipt with a special code to log in (but many employees don't tell you you will need the receipt as you pay) but you can only use this code within exactly 15 minutes of your purchase or it times out and you have to buy something else. They also blast music so loud that it feels deliberate. People won't be able to hear you if you answer the phone inside. I overall get the vibe that they don't want anyone to really sit down; they want to get as much money out of you as possible and then kick you out. They close at 9pm, but I have heard that they used to stay open later. I think it would be worth doing that again because there are always people who want to stay longer when they are closing. The bean at Astor Place has a lot of the same problems but I have found that they have more consistent coffee, somewhat friendlier staff and more tables. The other bean is nice but always makes the coffee super strong. This place and the space has such potential but the attitude is off-putting, to say the least.

Walked in at 8:50pm and they told me they closed down their espresso machine. Why say close at 9pm when employees choose to close the place at 8:30? I understand sharing to leave early, but don't advertise you close at 9pm. BRB going anywhere else.

It is very spacious and one of the best places to study. But the large is pretty small for the price.

Awesome coffee shop! They have so many different kinds of chai- that right there is enough to keep me coming back. We tried the Nutella Fitzgerald Latte and it was amazing- not just a hastily assembled and mass produced drink, but a true work of art! The ambiance was cozy and delightful, too. We stopped in on a cold day in November and really enjoyed our time resting our feet and getting a little caffeine and warmth into our systems.

I was in the area and looking to get some macarons for my grandfather before I went home. Thankfully, I came across this place and saw that they had a selection of them. They had a deal where if you got 6 of them, you get one free. I got the the raspberry, dulce de leche, blueberry, lemon, salted caramel, matcha, and lavender (left to right, top to bottom in photo). They were interesting flavors and they taste okay (I would give a three out of five). Regrettably, the service at the front was shoddy. When I asked for 6, the salesperson was going to put them in a paper bag for me. Speaking from one former patisserie/food service worker to another, you don't put macarons in a paper bag. You must put them in a box to prevent crushing them. The salesperson as reluctant to get me the plastic box and that's when the attitude came through. They took out a box of the available macarons and when I saw that vanilla was unavailable from the box but in the fridge display, I inquired about them. The salesperson responded by saying that, "Those are only for display and they've been there for a month so you can have them if you'd like." They said this so confidently as if they didn't just tell me they got a health code violation. Lastly, when their coworker asked what the order was, the salesperson in question remarked that I was looking for "macaroons." This was done in a manner that insinuated I was uncultured in referring to the desserts as "macarons." If you are a salesperson for a bakery, you should be informed that a macaron is a type of confectionery with French origins, whereas the macaroon is a type of biscuit with Italian origins. I would give service a two out of five. The total would be a two star (I'm rounding down because of the poor taste in Madame X concert tour merch [yes, an ad hominem]).

DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU NEED SOMETHING IN UNDER 20 MINUTES! Are you kidding? I rarely complain about customer service, but I've been to multiple bean locations around the city and I have NEVER had my order forgotten about MULTIPLE times, this location being the exception. 5 people were working. One training a new employee, someone at the register, and 2 other baristas. A couple people got their orders before me, but after that I was waiting for 10-15 minutes until I noticed no one was even working on my order. It wasn't under the cashier said "You have gotten your order yet?" until I had to wait another 10 minutes. By the time I got my order my lunch break was over and the barista could've cared less if I had to wait an extra 30. I'm mostly disappointed at how much I love this place and how I've seen the customer service deteriorate after each visit. Won't be coming back.

Excellent bagel and flavorful cream cheese. Coffee with the right flavor notes. Great selection of smoothie bowls. A great morning choice.

I love it here! If you are a student it is a great place to study with free WiFi and a trendy ambiance. Sooooo many drink and food selections that it is guaranteed you will be happy and satisfied.

Awesome breakfast and coffee. If you're an Orange juice lover they have a great fresh squeezed! The staff was very friendly and helpful. They have great resources like a printer for those last minute breakfast or lunch time print outs. There are 3 computers for internet access. Also if you're trying to escape technology while you eat they do have a Laptop free zone. This is definitely a place I will be returning to often . P.s. This is a dog friendly place how cool is that!!

I always come here to study! They have a lot of seating and outlets for your laptops. I also like their various bowls! There are many to choose from and they're all great.

Great cafe to stop in while walking around. Acai bowls ($11), bagels, pastries, smoothies, coffee, espresso, what more could you want in a cafe. Decent amount of seating and they have a printer there too if you need it.

My complaint for this place is that it's way over priced. I got an iced dirty chai and it cost $7. I almost wanted to say never mind. The dirty chai was good, but next time I would just go for a cheaper option like iced coffee. The atmosphere was great though. Super cute and a great place to do work or just chill.

Took the cashier 10min to just get down my order with me repeating what I wanted multiple times every step of the way. They still got my order wrong, giving me a small instead of a medium. I asked them to fix and they said I'd have to go back in line to fix the price since he put down a small?? It was morning so there was a sizable line and it already took me a while to get my drink. You couldn't just remake my drink quickly and lose a few cents? Horrible service. I walked out.

Internet cafe. Coffee lounge. Bakery. Pastries. Coffee. Without internet access for 2.5 weeks now (still ongoing) I was left in the dark by NetZero DSL, that I searched in Yelp for a coffee house with internet access and found The Bean. Prices for internet usage time is very reasonable for ample time as I was online for 70 minutes of $10.00. Printing fee is deducted from your internet usage time. Their prints STINK! Low ink toner and I was missing pages from my printouts. With a friend I zoomed freely without disruption as he sipped his non-alcoholic beverage. Staff is somewhat attentive and permitted us to sit in peace and stillness without disturbance for as long as we desired. Despite the staff being attentive they were not not very warm nor welcoming as the vibe emitted. One uni-sex facility is available on the premise. Background music varies as my friend was twirling me to do the hustle dance.

Great local coffee shop in east village. Never gotten food there but have tried all types of cold and hot drinks, smoothies too. All have been great. Staff is all really nice too. Mona lisa, dirty chai, americano, bean oat smoothie all really good. Hot drinks always a good temperature too

Very confused by the coffee here...I ordered a small iced cappuccino and this photo shows what I got. This is without having taken a single sip of it. I asked the barista why it was half empty and she said this is how it is supposed to be....only foam no milk. But like...there is no foam either? It is just half empty? I took two sips and the cup was empty, also it tasted like iced coffee not iced espresso. Very weird paying 5$ for this.

One of the few places we found open in the area on Turkey Day. Good selection of coffees and pastries. Service quite good in spite of only 2 staff working.