The Human Bean — Restaurant in Albany

So disappointed. We used this coffee house a few times while in the area, signed up on the app as well. We order the same thing each visit, my young daughter ordered an iced chocolate milk and me a mocha latte. Each time my daughter stated that hers tasted funny, then I tried it as we were headed out and there was coffee or an espresso shot inside, OH NO!! So each time I went back I would make a point to say something, for a child with no caffeine, as we keep having this happen. The gals would laugh as I voiced my concern of NO CAFFEINE on the child chocolate milk, it does seem comical as chocolate milk has none however it really isn't funny at all being I am paying over $4.25 for something neither one of us wanted and do not want my child to consume caffeine. This happened a total of 4 times, yes that's right, four times it happened! The final time I was so upset I called the store right away to see if they could credit us the next time we were in town and perhaps do some training. The gal that answered my call was insistent that the only way to help me was if I turned around and brought the drinks back then they could be remade. She wasn't even apologetic or empathetic, not even a sorry we messed up. I explained that we stopped by on our way out of town and I was already on the freeway, returning was not possible. The call went downhill from there so I asked to then speak to a manager and received another young sounding gal stating the same thing. I was perplexed at such rules so I asked if she was the manage, she stated NO she was not. I asked how could I speak to one, she said the owner wasn't in at the moment. I asked if I could receive a call back from the owner, now months later and still no call. WHAT A JOKE! I just wanted a coffee and drink for my child on the way outta town with no avail to the issue. Disappointed to...

I love Human Bean. I proudly carry my Human Bean-emblazoned Hydro-Flask all over and happily re-fill it everywhere from Portland to Ashland. Sadly, the Albany store is disappointing based on its store and pricing policies. Only in Albany am I required to remove the lid before having the flask re-filled, and the girls aren't even allowed to accept the lid. I guess there was a leakage problem in the past, but that would pale in comparison to an inadvertently dumped flask of coffee on one's lap.

Additionally, the flask has a volume of 18 oz., but customers are charged the 20 oz. rate of $2.25 despite supplying one's own container and also having to replace the lid on your own as well.

Requests for extra cream are usually too little. I have to actually point to the level of cream I want in my coffee. This is true for all the servers and not an isolated case, so I have to assume this is an owner mandated direction since I have no problem with the amount at other stoes such as the one in Salem.

The service is friendly, fast, and courteous, but the penny-pinching gouging of customers leaves me truly unhappy. What is more disappointing is that I recently moved to Albany from Salem and was looking forward to making Human Bean as regular stop as I did the Salem store.

It looks like if I want to be treated to a fair price (and four of my flasks were purchased in Albany) I will have to order my coffee with the store's disposable container and pour my own. So much for conservation.

Oh, I was told that I saved ten cents by using my own container, but the price of my coffee and a biscotti at $1.75 came to $4.00 total, so no savings...

If I could give this place a zero star, I would. Visited this location twice now, espresso is burnt, lattes are not impressive. Just visited this morning and was told "we don't carry whole milk" for the whole milk latte I ordered. WHAT??? A coffee business that doesn't carry whole milk??!? Add to that, a former employee from this franchise recently informed me that "trainees NEVER get tips". Again...WHAT??? So, just because someone is training, and working MUCH harder to get it right, impress their boss, and improve their productivity on an hourly basis, they aren't rewarded for their hard work? How exactly does this business expect to retain good workers?

NOTE TO FUTURE BARISTAS- This is NOT a business that wants to reward hard work and retain employees. Go to Margin Coffee in downtown Albany for excellent coffee and beautifully gracious staff, pass by the Human Bean in the Willamette Valley...better coffee is on...