Bean & Bean

Bean & Bean was established in 2008 when Rachel and Jiyoon Han opened their first coffee shop at Rector and Broadway in New York City. Over the subsequent years, the business expanded into a multi-location operation with a dedicated roasting facility located in Queens. The company is defined by its leadership, which consists of a mother-daughter team who are both certified Q Arabica Graders, a professional designation often described as the coffee industry's equivalent to a sommelier.

The company’s sourcing philosophy has evolved significantly since its inception. While the founders initially focused on organic and Fair Trade certifications to ensure baseline environmental and economic standards, they eventually shifted their strategy toward more direct engagement with producers. A central pillar of their mission is addressing the gender disparity in the coffee industry, where they note that women often lack equal access to resources and training despite representing a significant portion of the labor force.

In practice, Bean & Bean prioritizes sourcing from farms and mills owned or operated by women. This commitment is integrated into their brand identity, which features a distinct purple color palette and a sloth mascot designed to represent the environment where their coffee is grown. Their packaging and branding have received industry recognition, including a design award from the Specialty Coffee Association for their efforts to communicate these ethical values to the consumer.

Beyond their retail presence, the company engages in educational outreach, hosting virtual and in-person coffee tastings and cuppings to help consumers understand processing methods, roast profiles, and the stories behind specific producers. They maintain a focus on traceability, emphasizing that their specialty beans can be tracked back to the specific farm and lot of origin. Their product catalog includes a range of offerings from standard blends to rare, high-scoring lots, such as those sourced from Cup of Excellence auctions.

The company’s operational model combines traditional retail service with an e-commerce platform, positioning them as an internet-first brand within the specialty coffee sector. They have participated in industry-wide discussions regarding sustainability and innovation, contributing to forums such as the SCA’s Re:co Spotlight. By leveraging their expertise as Q Graders, the founders maintain a rigorous quality control process that informs their curation of coffees.

Today, Bean & Bean stands as a representative of the modern specialty coffee roaster that balances commercial growth with social advocacy. Their work continues to focus on the intersection of high-quality, traceable coffee and the promotion of equitable practices for women farmers. The company remains a family-owned entity, continuing to operate out of New York City while maintaining its focus on the specialty market.