The Human Bean

Good quality coffee drinks and service. I like how they always throw in a free little chocolate-​covered coffee bean with their drinks.

I was contacted by the new owner after my first review from 2012 which surprised me! This is a family ran business and they’ve made SIGNIFICANT changes. They revamped and restructured the quality, process, and structure. The drinks are now consistent and the employees are top notch. Brandy the manager and Lauren the new owner have done a fantastic job and I couldn’t be happier! They are going to become the next Dutch Bros… minus the long lines and extensive chit chat. They truly care about customer service and making sure that the product they are providing is high quality. If you haven’t tried them, you need to.

Salem, OR: Large, modern stand in a strop mall!
Needed an almond milk mocha and Human Bean delivered! Seems I walked into their happy hour, 10 – 12 noon, Mondays through Fridays, where my 16 oz drink was just $ 2, plus 50 cents for the milk alternative. A third shot of espresso, for an additional 50 cents, made it nicely strong. The Hershey“s syrup was adequate for my needs.
They participate in the Farm Friendly Direct program, where the purchase of beans from around the world benefits the growers and their communities directly.
No outdoor tables at this large coffee drive-​thru, but service was friendly and quick. Three baristas covered the two drive-​thru windows, along with the one walk-​up window.

I really like this place! The blended white chocolate mocha with the chocolate bean at the bottom is a must try! I’m glad it’s so close to me when I need coffee fast!

Love this place. Always nice, but not over the top, talk your head off like Dutch bros up the road. (This is a good thing, in my opinion). Always fast and make a great coffee. The only reason I rated 4 stars instead of 5 is the inconsistency with the drinks. Obviously everyone will make them different, but sometimes my ‘snowy mocah’ is too snowy, not enough mocha. Would be great if they used some sort of recipe or found a way to all be on the same page with how much coffee to use.

I just started going to this coffee place two weeks ago after they sent out a flyer for a free drink. I live close by, so I’ve been kicking myself for not stopping by earlier. I’ve been a barista myself before, so I’m pretty picky about my coffee drinks, but I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve gotten here.
The service is quick — I’ve only ever waited about 3 minutes for my drink, and there are hardly ever cars in line. I usually go around 6am and 4pm, though, so not exactly the lunch rush.
Everyone who works here seems to be really nice. Not the chatty-​friendly that Dutch Bros usually has, but a nice smiling face and quick service.
I would recommend that everyone try this place at least once. I came for the free drink and stayed for the cute coffee bean, sweet whipped cream, and good drinks.

This is my favorite coffee stop. The ladies get me going every morning with a 20oz mocha, whipped cream, hot, no bean and a straw!

Such a great drive thru place for coffee. I get an Americano and can really taste the flavor, outstanding.

I go to HB on S. Commercial, about 3 mornings a week, and I buy anywhere from 2 – 4 drinks (depending on if my kids are with me). There is one dark-​haired lady barista (didn’t catch her name — but not Kristi) that has never been particularly nice to me (thought it was all in my head). Well, the other morning I ordered Italian sodas (for my kids) and she asked if we wanted whipped cream, as they always do. When she handed us the drinks, we noticed there was whipped cream, but no cream. As she was handing me the second one, I said, «Oh, there’s no cream?». I simply asked a question. I didn’t hand the drink back, or ask her to fix it, or even tell her it was wrong. In an extremely snotty tone, she said, «no, you ordered Italian sodas, not creamosas». I said, «oh, we always order Italian sodas here, and they always give them to us with cream». To which she replied, «well, I can’t read your mind and Italian sodas don’t have cream». Now, I would have been happy with an «oh, sorry, no we don’t usually put cream in the Italian sodas. Next time order it as a creamosa». But since she decided to give me the rude tone and eye-​rolls, I said to her «if you order an Italian soda, pretty much anywhere else, it has cream in it» (I have literally been ordering Italian sodas in 3 states, for 20 years, and they have always come with cream). To which she said «no, creamosas have cream». Then she just turned and walked away from the window! There was no one else to even help, she just walked to the back of their little hut! The most ridiculous part is that we have ordered Italian Sodas multiple times, from her, and they have had cream in them! Now, I used to only go to DB, but because of HB proximity to my house, I have been frequenting them for the last several months. But, DB I will be going back to, because an extra 5 minute drive is worth the STELLAR customer service DB always gives every customer.

The coffee was really good and so was the service. Make sure you look for a buy one get one coupon in the local magazines:)

I hate to drop the one-​star bomb… but improper food handling gets me every time. Before I lay in to this establishment, though, I just want to note that this review is not meant as an indictment of all Human Beans (pun intended). In fact, Hubs and I stopped here at 7pm last Saturday night precisely BECAUSE I loved the HB I experienced in Coos Bay this summer on a trip with my sister. With all caveats aside, though, this is what happened.
We pulled in behind one other car, and had about an average wait. Maybe 3 – 5 minutes? Anyhow, once it’s our turn, we pull up and the harried woman working behind the counter barely makes eye contact before saying, «Just give me a minute! I’ll be right there.» The way she said this made it seem like there was a line out on to the street – but really, there was no need to be so frantic.
And I bring up the point about being frantic because that’s the only explanation for what happened next. First, we witnessed her use milk and coffee (already brewed) that had been sitting out to make our iced latte. Then we saw her accept money, and turn right around to grab food for the customer on her other side with her bare, unclean hands. Inside, it looked like a bomb went off. As she reached out with our latte (to-​go cup wiped off with a dirty rag), she stuck her can in a jar and pulled out an unwrapped chocolate– covered espresso bean. smh
It was hard to believe this all took place right under our increasingly worried gazes. At the end of the day, we didn’t drink the latte. Also, I’m not sure what solution will come. I can’t fault the manager for understaffing (like I said, there wasn’t much of a line) but at the same time, I don’t know what happened in the moments before we drove up. Either way, a food handlers’ refresher course may be in order.

I’ve tried this place probably 20 times before writing review. I agree with Kelly, I feel like the workers here are a bit immature and unprofessional. I do really love their cups and their complimentary bean. However my coffee doesn’t taste the same everytime I go in. It should be the same taste every time. Another thing is this is the slowest coffee stand in south salem. Me and my boyfriend waited about 7 minutes for someone in front of us to get 2 drinks. Needless to say we were annoyed by the time we ordered.

Try the snowy mocha. Formerly known as a snowy mt. Ashland. I love this coffee stand, they add a little more cream and a little less sugar then other drive-​thru coffee stands tend to. And, they have a variety of fun coffee drinks! ANd, they sell Yerba Mate and make really good latte’s from it!

They make their iced coffee by pouring HOT coffee over ice. What? Let’s take a step back. Making it that way only gives you lukewarm watered down coffee. Not iced coffee. News flash, ice melts in hot coffee. Someone working at a coffee shop as their J.O.B. should know better. Don’t have cold coffee ready to go? Ok. Take a couple of espresso shots, pour those on ice and pour in cold water, just like an americano, but cold. I ended up throwing my drink away and went to Starbucks.

Right across the street from on of my favorite breakfast spots. If I’m headed somewhere that requires an extensive drive, I stop here for a cup to go. I like the cups with the sliding open/​close mouth piece. It saves me from messy spillage if I have to put it in the door’s cup-​holder while rearranging the console’s.
As always, the chocolate covered bean is a very nice touch!

I’m new to drinking coffee. Until I had a baby, I didn’t touch the stuff. But, now that i’m operating on less sleep, I get myself a mocha every once in a while… Ok, a lot.
This place is great. Two drive throughs so you’re in and out quick. Gotta get to work! I love that they give you a expresso bean! I love that they do punch cards! I love their mochas. They taste great!

When I lived here in Salem, I frequented this shop a lot. Girls working always remembered my drink, even if I didn’t stop in for a couple of weeks or more.
Drinks are consistently made well.

The staff is courteous. The coffee is good. You even get a chocolate covered espresso bean with every drink. What’s not to like?

Sorry Blake, I have to disagree with you. After a recent experience and much deliberation, I have decided to share my experience. I have a mild indecisive ordering problem. I will admit it. There were about 4 cars in line behind me and I stammered my order from vanilla to almond joy. The girl rolled her eyes at me… Seriously. Rolled her eyes. She only took my order for 2 coffees and started talking to her coworker about the guy behind me being cute. I said «Hello? Hello? I have another coffee.» «Oh, I only heard 2,» she said. «Well you didn’t give me the opportunity to tell you after you rolled your eyes and turned away.» TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.
A. I realize she had her morning rush.
B. I realize it is just coffee
C. Serve your customers with a smile and respect. You are lucky for the business.
Next time I will just go to starbucks or dutch bros.

Everyone at this location is friendly and pleasant. Regardless of the time of day, they give you a warm hello and a smile. Although a popular morning spot, the line moves quickly and with two window there wait is rarely a long one. The selection of hot and cold drinks is varied and this has been a great coffee option for South Salem.