Leaf & Bean Coffee Co.
Not home, not work, Leaf & Bean offers a cozy escape from everyday life
Comfortable. Relaxed. Family owned. Coffee-lovers and non-coffee drinkers alike will appreciate the laid-back ambience of Leaf & Bean — especially college students looking to leave the stress of college life behind.
“We are a traditional coffee house, reminiscent of coffee houses in the west coast and Seattle,” says Will Scharvogel, co-owner of the Chili business.
Coffee house drinks, hand-made beverages and a traditional espresso machine offer customers all the popular drinks one might expect to find in a top-notch coffee house.
What does Leaf & Bean specialize in?
Hot tea, espresso, lattes, cappuccino, chai, hot cocoa — you can find them all here. Eight coffee flavors (out of 50 total) are freshly brewed each day. Leaf & Bean gets the best flavor out of coffee beans by small-batch roasting according to Scharvogel. And, Leaf & Bean also participates in a large amount of fair trade — they receive coffees from places like Papua New Guinea.
How much for a cup of coffee?
A cup of coffee starts at $1.35. In the mood for something different? For $3.65 you can get a Blendarita, which is similar to a frappuccino. Flavors include Peanut Butter Mocha, Coffee Toffee and Coconut Mocha.
What are some customer favorites?
The Caramel Silk Blendarita is pretty popular, along with Café Monaco. Also highly popular is the Vanilla Classico Latte, one of Leaf & Bean’s unique, signature lattes.
How’s the food?
If you’re looking to grab a bite, try the Chicken Salad Wrap. According to Scharvogel, customers rave about the homemade mustard vinaigrette. The Bellisimo breakfast sandwich — egg, roasted red peppers, provolone and sausage — is also a customer favorite, along with the West Side Panini. The shop also features locally baked goods, soups, salads and even bread made from scratch.
Can students get anything free?
There aren’t any student discounts, but there is free WiFi for everyone! Leaf & Bean also offers gift cards, which are a pretty big hit with students.
When is the place packed?
It kind of goes without saying that lots of people show up early to get their favorite morning brew. “A variety of people come in here during morning hours,” says Scharvogel. But, lunch is popular, and nighttime … well, let’s just say it’s lively. “It’s definitely not somber,” says Scharvogel. Also, Sunday afternoons have proven to be popular times for students from RIT and Roberts Wesleyan to wander in.
How’s the parking?
Leaf & Bean is located in the Chili-Paul Plaza, so parking spaces are not hard to come by.
What’s the place like?
It’s not home, and it’s not work. It’s a “third place” — a comfortable spot to relax in, according to Scharvogel. A plethora of paintings (everything from Marilyn Monroe to other pop art of the ’60s) adorn the walls. The friendly atmosphere and varied menu make Leaf & Bean a great place to relax with friends, grab a bite to eat or just surf the net. And, there’s even an outdoor patio for those warm days (which we’ll hopefully see more of this year).
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THE BASICS: LEAF & BEAN COFFEE CO.
ADDRESS: 3240 Chili Ave., Chili (in the Chili-Paul plaza)
PHONE: 889-8270
ON THE WEB: www.leafandbeancoffee.com
HOURS: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
