Sam the manager makes a special effort every time we come in! I recommend the green tea latte, and the star berry honey bread. The sandwiches are perfectly toasted and the meat to bread ratio is ideal. read more

Caffé Bene - Chicks dig it. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Really cool decor and quick service. There were plenty of places to sit and the coffee was good.

I had their red bean ice parfait & their strawberry honey bread! The red bean ice is sweet red beans over crushed ice, gelato, mochi, & almonds. The honey bread is this special bread that's lightly toasted so that it's slightly crispy on the outside & chewy soft on the inside. It's topped with sweetened strawberries & cheese. So good! While beautifully presented, the menu item are pricey. I spent $15 for the red bean ice & the honey bread. But the ambiance is lovely & inviting. It's a nice place to take a date or to treat yourself. read more

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The shrimp sandwich looked good but tasted bad. The shrimp inside aren't fresh. Taro milk tea was ok. Good environment to study though.

The green tea latte and macarons were delicious! Service was very friendly too! I love studying here because it's so quiet and has good seating. The coffee is good quality for a chain cafe and I would recommend the caramel macchiato. Regular customer here and they recognize me! read more

I should have known not to get bubble tea at a coffee shop. The taro milk tea didn't have any flavor and the boba was hard. Do not recommend going here for boba. read more

Trendy interior, quiet atmosphere, decent enough customer service; if you want to work for long hours with a consistent supply of snacks and coffee, I would like to recommend this one. However, this caffe lacks originality unlike the nearby ones (Caffe Pardiso/ Espresso Royale). I definitely do not expect ready-made pack of sushi in front of the cash counter of a caffe. Also, I saw a wide variation of breads and other baked products which did not seem appealing for my taste bud. I have had cappuccino and chai latte over here. Cappuccino was good but the chai latte was lukewarm and lacked spices. read more

Caffé Bene - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Not sure I get the non-love for this place. Then again, maybe I've been around this town too long--when there WERE no Caffe Benes in town. Now we got two. I usually only order a cheap drink (under $2) so I don't quite follow the over-priced comments. Yes, they're overpriced, but that's what you get with a boutique coffee shop imported from South Korea. (Ironically, this place isn't that popular in "the motherland" and is notorious for its "bad-tasting coffee." Yet it's taking over the world OUTSIDE S. Korea. Go figure). As far as study spaces go, unless you want super quiet (go to the library or stay home), it's not too bad. There are hours that are quiet and hours that are super busy. Pick the time that works for you. But as far as a space that's conveniently located, clean, and has multiple outlets and decent wi-fi, this place can't be beat. read more

Tea is better than coffee. Sandwich is okay. Environment is great. Things look better than taste. A bit pricy. A good place to study or spend time with friends here. read more

Caffé Bene - Teriyaki chicken sandwich it looks great but taste just so so - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Ordered a medium black coffee. How hard is that to get right!? Saw the barista having to tilt the coffee dispenser to get any coffee out so I knew it had to be old. Took a sip of the coffee and it was barely warm!!!!!! Is it too much to ask for a cup of black coffee to be hot?!?!?! Ridiculous read more

Employee refused to give me water. Food is average for the high price point. The study environment is decent.

I really really do not like this place. They charge close to $10 for honey bread.It's literally a piece of bread with honey, whipped cream, and fruit on top. Rip off. Also their bubble tea is gross, clearly from a powder, and tastes super artificial... Just don't come here!!! This is one of the only businesses in town that I sincerely hope closes. I know they are a huge chain in Korea and with such a big Korean population during the school year I assume it will thrive, so I guess it's here to stay (and suck. read more

So good, I tried their waffle with cookies and cream gelato and it was to DIE FOR. A little on the pricey side, it gives students a great atmosphere to study in (in my mind). I will be coming back for more! Also a bonus that they offer deals with Hooked app now. read more

They have the best bubble tea. The short polish supervisor so nice. The tall white guy cashier is nice too. An american japanese mix staff is nice as well. But seriously, they have the best bubble tea in town and much better than cocomero. VERY OK. I wish they can lower the price read more

I have to say that I went into Cafe Bene due to my remembrance of them from Korea, and despite the majority of their reviews here on Yelp. I don't particularly love the coffee, as it's not really coffee, like Starbucks, but I like the atmosphere, staff and the Korean nostalgia I get when I am inside. The prices are steep but mainly on stuff that is not the coffee, such as the bingsoo or waffles. I would say that Cafe Bene beats out the, close, neighboring competition by a long shot; Caffe Paradiso and Espresso Royale are really no good in the coffee department. read more

I love their misugaru bingsoo and get them often but recently I noticed that their mochi has changed. It used to be the white ones and so chewy but now they are multicolored and hard and gross. Please change back to the original white mochi - that would be perfect! read more

Terrible. My friend and I both found small black hairs in our sandwiches. I have long brown hair and she has long blonde hair. Ewwww. Never going back. read more

I tried some latte drink, honey bread, and waffles. The drinks take forever to be ready. They have a weird serving system going on. When it was crowded, there was confusions about who orders what. The ambience is good for studying and just chilling. They were picky about the wiFi and I think they changed the password pretty often. The honey bread is ok and the waffles is really soft and yummy. However, I think this place is so overpriced to be on a campus area. read more

The menu is unique, the staff is very friendly and professional. I particularly like their green tea. Unlike Espresso Royale, their internet works fine. However, their menu is definitely overpriced, which is why I am giving them 3 stars. read more

I love the blended ice!!!!!!!!Size is great for three people and the fruit is fresh. Will come again. read more

Caffé Bene - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

The bubble tea is really good. Comfy chairs and very nice decor. Lots of windows. Friendly staff.

Almost every time I order something, they make mistakes. For example, they forgot to make my coffee, they served you different kind of muffin, and they don't even apologize. Everything is very expensive. Bubbles are half cooked and not chewy at all. People working in this places are not well trained and seem rude to me. read more

Service and ambiance are both alright, but the food is lacking... The gelato is good but it really shouldn't be called gelato.

I like some of their employees but I just hate how rude the manager (Sam) is. He is always in a rush, makes my orders and questions sound trivial and he is utterly rude. Not once, not twice but every single time he's there, I hate wasting my time and money. Again, I go there because it's such a nice atmosphere to study and work and as I said before, they have very few nice and friendly staff. But after today's experience with that jerk, I am not going back again. Also, the quality of their drinks is mediocre. The mochas, cappuccinos and hot chocolates taste nothing but like warm milk. Don't waste your money there, just go to espresso royale or caffe paradiso, both of which are minutes away. Finally, if you use your credit card to pay, double check they are not charging you twice. Happened to me before. Got my statement and found that I was charged twice, same time and day stamp, same amount of money. Gahhh. read more

This has been my third trip to caffe bene over the past year. Their coffee is on the stronger side and is priced competitively with starbucks. If you go in the morning and order an ice coffee they will give you a hot coffee and a cup of ice. Today I ordered a mojito mint coffee. It consists of mojito mix, mint leaves, cream, and espresso. It has a smooth finish and it didn't take long for them to make. read more

Though expensive, the waffles here are amazing! The sandwiches are delicious, too (I've tried both portobello and spicy chicken). The atmosphere is perfect for studying -- they always have chill music on and there's little noise. read more

Caffe Bene has a lot of drinks that I would love to try but it is so overpriced. The inside of the place is amazing. They have a clean and cool atmosphere. This is a great place to meet international students. If you want coffee go somewhere else. I did try their mango smoothie and loved it. read more

In this area, there are quite a few coffee shops. I have been to this shop 3 times and the product and place itself is great but the customer service is poor...no greetings or smiles from the baristas. I normally leave a tip regardless but they should give some effort. read more

I know they're super busy in the afternoon but everyone was asking if their drink was done or not and they totally forgot about my drink for 20 minutes and didn't even apologize for forgetting about it. Usually most companies would upgrade the size as an apology but they just gave me the normal size. it's super crowded too and for the first time I've come, I realized that i'm not coming from now on. read more

It's alright. A place to go when Caffe Paradiso is closed for me. Service, not bad. Coffee, can be improved. Place, internet is absolutely horrible. read more

Little pricy for the coffee and other beverages but it's a great place to hang out with friends and catch up. Also free wifi!

This place is terrible! Today I ordered a bubble milk tea and they only gave me ONE bubble!! On top of that the cup was only half full!! The little bit I got was mediocre at best as well. I'm not sure why this place is so popular and honestly I think campustown is better off without these cheats. Caffe Paradiso and Espresso Royale aroUnd the corner are much, much better. read more

I think a lot of the reviews are here are harsh but some are accurate. I live very close to Caffe Paradiso, which I love but it's expensive. Because of this, I often go to Cafe Bene on my way to work or class. In general, yes, their menu is expensive but they have a happy hour (1/2 price drinks) from 7-11am which makes their drinks less expensive than both Paradiso and Espresso if you get coffee in the mornings. I have not had a bad experience with their lattes but my boyfriend did say the espresso he ordered was "sour'" and he disliked it very much. We also got a couple of scones once which were far from remarkable and tasted like they had been sitting in a fridge for awhile. Overall, their lattes are good and cheap during happy hour. I don't think their food looks all that great but I haven't really tried. The ambiance is very modern and clean, the uniforms are cute, and the service is nice. read more

Caffe Bene is a place I really want to like, but I can't. The menu is shockingly expensive, it seems like most drinks start at above four dollars. For the price they are charging you'd expect amazing drinks, but unfortunately that is not the case. I've tried the pearl milk tea, which IIRC cost closer to 5 dollars, and it was unfortunately too sweet and the pearl was still hard in the center. I suspect it was not made from brewed tea but instead made from some kind of powder mix. I've also had the cafe mocha which was good, but it wasnt worth the price. Even though I think Caffe Bene is a poor value, I still enjoy my visits there. The decor is a nice switch from the other local coffeeshops, with a nice modern twist on the coffeeshop concept. This place is also brightly lit unlike some other places nearby. Additionally, the wifi is great and there are quite a few power plugs avalilable. This is a place I think I'll return to when I need to study or get things done. read more

So I ask and ask and not one of them know. Then I call and ask and they don't know. I asked if their breads, including their pies and cakes, are all natural ingredients (preservative-free) but no one knows. I've spoken with four (4) of them, three at the store one by phone. I went to Pakera the first time, asked the same question and their first employee informed me right away. I asked the same at another Champaign, downtown bakery and they told right away. Caffebene is a huge success yet, are very poorly informed! While I am not crazy about Chipotle restaurant, at least they are well informed, too. So is Panera Bread, which I love. read more

There's nothing better than a hot cup of coffee with some good ole 5 degree burns on the hand. Coffee tastes great but would prefer it if the lids actually fit the cups. read more

This place is apparently a hugely famous Korean coffee chain that's all over Southeast Asia and was brought here to cater to the foreign Asian student population. I got the Thai milk bubble tea and it was certainly... milky. There was a Thai iced tea flavor/color to it, I'll give them that, dunno how well it mixes with tapioca pearls, and for the price I'll go across the street to Basil Thai. Everything in here was hilariously expensive. I got a blueberry muffin that could have been purchased at Sam's Club by the pallet for the same level of quality. The place is clean, the uniforms are cute, and I'm sure the homesick ex-pats will keep it in business, but for those prices vs. quality I'll be going elsewhere. read more

Although the service is a bit slow, I think it is to be expected from a coffee shop that just opened up. The environment is super cute and cozy! Prices are higher than what you would see at Starbucks or Espresso Royale so if you want a cheap coffee fix, maybe try those places instead. This place is different because of its unique menu. My order was: misugaru latte, cinnamon honey bread, and a maccaron and all of it was delicious. I will definitely be coming back here frequently. read more

Very impressed! Ive tried many cafes in the Champaign-Urbana area, and this one has been the best by far. The atmosphere is just what people need whether they are coming for a catch up with a friend, or doing school work. The coffee tastes great too! Would recommend to a friend. read more

The server was very rude and unknowledgeable about the very simple task of heating up a bagel. She ended up needing assistance and it took 20 minutes to receive a small coffee and a bagel and cream cheese when there was no one waiting before me. The restaurant was not busy. A second person had to help her and then they couldn't remember who the bagel was for. Total waste of $5. Never coming back. read more