The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Kea'au — Restaurant in Keaau

My mom and her coworker went to the Coffee Bean in Kea'au on 8/25/23 around 7am. She ordered an avocado toast, and my mom's coworker witnessed one of the employees (young local female probably in late 20's or early 30's) drop the kitchen towel on the ground, pick it up off the ground, wiped a knife with the dirty towel, and then use that same knife to cut the toast. After witnessing this, my mom let the cashier know that she doesn't want the avocado toast anymore. The woman who made it (who used the dirty towel from the ground) looked annoyed by this request to cancel the order. My mom's coworker then proceeded to tell the female staff member what they witnessed her do! That staff member showed no remorse, did not apologize, and quite frankly didn't seem to give an ounce of care at all.

My concern is that she practices these unsanitary manners on a regular basis and someday, someone is going to get sick!

UPDATE 8/28/23

I am changing from a 1 star to a 3 star because the manager followed up very promptly regarding...

I call in the corporate office of this chain, this was a franchise. I was kind of disappointed with my purchase, I'm used to going to Starbucks and their standard coffee to me has a good taste. And coffee Bean they were brewing their light roast and to me it was like cheap donut shop coffee. This location needs to make better choices on the standard blend that they offer to people, but maybe that's what's popular in this area? The other problem I'm having with a lot of fast food restaurants on the big island is none of the businesses want to make restrooms available to anybody, so if you're a traveler on the road you almost need to find a bush. The businesses and the government in Hawaii need to realize that people need to use a restroom so if businesses aren't allowed to let gas use the restroom then the government needs to find...

I come here pretty regularly and while the coffee is decent it has literally the worst and coldest customer service of any coffee shop I've ever been to, which seems to flow from the long-time manager down through his employees.No one says hello, people barely make eye contact, no one laughs, employees don't talk to each other

Sept 2025 update: A year after my review it's just the same: frigid customer service, staff barely respond if you say good morning to them as they're serving you, and that's after waiting many minutes just to get someone to come to the register. This location is clearly focused on drive through sales even though there is a decent instore clientele too. Again: the worst customer service of any coffee shop I've even been to. I only come here b/c it's the only coffee shop in Keaau and I...