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The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Updated 2026-09-29 · 3,131 reviewed · 738 listed · Scored from 804 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.1(804) 72 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Google-verified moderate
Brunch & All-Day CafesCafeTea Houses & MatchaSpecialty CoffeeStudy & Work-Friendly CafesCoffee ShopDessert & Bakery Cafes
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Location
Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur
Price
moderate
Services
Brunch & All-Day Cafes, Cafe, Tea Houses & Matcha
Reviews
804
Best for
customers who find a regular friendly staff member and return to that person

Core details are sourced from this business's Google Business Profile (checked 2026-09-29). Website-sourced details were fetched 2026-09-29.

What do recent reviews say?

Staff quality varies sharply by person. Reviewers consistently praise specific baristas and managers like Rizuan, Imran, Zul, and Nurin for thoughtful service, custom requests, and unexpected discounts. Cakes and specialty beverages draw repeated compliments. However, recent reviews highlight a persistent gap: order mix-ups happen, names go uncalled during rushes, and waits stretch to 20-30 minutes despite orders being forgotten entirely.

The chain's location and extended hours work for quick visits or study sessions, but reliability remains uneven. Birthday vouchers impress when staff remember to apply them. One serious report flagged a plastic fragment in a drink. The better experiences cluster around named, experienced staff members, suggesting consistency depends heavily on who's working that day.

Praised for
  • individual staff members go above and beyond
  • quality cakes and desserts
  • cozy atmosphere
  • specialty drinks well-made
Watch-outs
  • inconsistent order accuracy and delays
  • uneven staff responsiveness at busy times
friendly-staffgood-dessertsgood-ambienceslow-servicetasty-foodgood-for-workcozy
Best for: customers who find a regular friendly staff member and return to that person
Think twice if: order accuracy and speed during peak times remain unreliable; budget extra time or call ahead

What are they good at?

  • named, experienced staff deliver personal touches
  • cakes and specialty drinks praised
  • convenient location and daily hours

Worth knowing

  • Manager Rizuan has over 20 years experience, formerly at Telawi outlet
  • Named staff praised include Imran (manager), Zul, Nurin, Rizwan
  • Food wait time stated as 20 minutes typical for hot food
  • Birthday cake vouchers offered but app redemption occasionally glitches
  • One report of plastic fragment in a drink

What reviews say by service

Specialty Coffee
Frappes and specialty drinks made well by experienced staff
Dessert & Bakery Cafes
Cakes (blueberry cheesecake, nut carrot cake) consistently praised
Study & Work-Friendly Cafes
Cozy atmosphere and extended daily hours suit study visits, though noise and inconsistent service may distract
Brunch & All-Day Cafes
Ready-to-go options like croissants available; hot food waits average 20 minutes

How it compares

  • Rated 4.1 against a 4.39 average across the 362 brunch & all-day cafes businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 79% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 41
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 55
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
397
4
233
3
82
2
34
1
58

FAQ

How long does food take to arrive?
Hot food typically takes around 20 minutes. Ready-to-go items like croissants and cakes are faster.
Do you honour birthday vouchers from the app?
Birthday vouchers are offered, though app redemption sometimes glitches; staff can apply them manually if you ask at the counter.

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Pastries and breakfast draw regulars here, but the experience splits sharply. Recent visits praise staff helpfulness and the western menu, yet others encounter bland food, oily mains, and air-con failures that make upstairs seating uncomfortable. Inconsistency-from excellent croissants to spoiled pastries-keeps it from cohering, though a skilled barista or two could turn opinions around. One staff member, May, earned specific praise for service attention. The space compresses outdoor and indoor zones; many opt for open seating to avoid stuffiness. Prices run high relative to what some dishes deliver: a RM13.80 espresso drew complaint for quality and grind; breakfast combos land around RM18-22. Location works for transit commuters, but repeat custom hinges on which kitchen and front-of-house moment you encounter.

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Fresh pastries dominate customer experience here, with tarts and mochi earning consistent praise for crispy texture, buttery aroma, and subtle sweetness. Staff actively engage with customers and deliver genuine hospitality; visitors note staff members calling out recommendations in multiple languages and going out of their way during closing time. A recent quality slip surfaced when mold appeared in stored mochi despite refrigeration, though this remains a lone incident among overwhelmingly positive recent reviews. Signature items include the 18 Layers Croissant Tart and Dubai Royale Mochi. Birthday customers receive a complimentary egg tart.

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Illy Caffè delivers strong coffee and pastries at NU Sentral, with most visits marked by smooth espresso drinks, quality beans, and reliably welcoming service. Staff go out of their way to help (one guest's lost bag was recovered and held), though a handful of recent visits report lukewarm drinks arriving or staff who seemed disengaged, so consistency can slip. The café stocks whole beans, capsules, and instant coffee for home use alongside its cafe menu, and sits near KL Sentral MRT with charging ports and art on the walls. Prices run around RM54 for two drinks and pastries; espresso shots cost RM24. Syamimi is named for good recommendations.

Brunch & All-Day CafesTea Houses & MatchaSpecialty Coffee

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Last updated 2026-09-29