Caffe Bene facts for kids
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| Industry | Coffee shop |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 2008 |
| Headquarters |
Seoul, South Korea
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| Owner | Sun-Kwon Kim |
Caffe Bene is a popular coffeehouse chain that started in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in May 2008 by Sun-Kwon Kim. Caffe Bene grew to become the largest coffeehouse chain in South Korea based on the number of stores.
By April 2012, Caffe Bene had 760 locations in South Korea. The company began to open stores in other countries, starting with New York City in February 2012. A month later, they opened their second international store in Beijing, China. Caffe Bene has since expanded to many more countries around the world.
As of April 2014, Caffe Bene had 945 stores in Korea. They also had 86 stores in the United States and 283 in China. Other countries with Caffe Bene locations included Canada, the Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam. The number of stores continued to grow over time.
In November 2014, Caffe Bene announced plans to open its first drive-through coffee shop. This special location opened in December 2014 in Little Falls, New Jersey.
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The Story of Caffe Bene
Sun-Kwon Kim, who started Caffe Bene, got his idea after visiting Canada. He noticed how popular the local coffee shops were there. He believed he could create a coffee brand that would be just as successful.
Caffe Bene's design is inspired by open-air cafes found in Europe. The word "Bene" in the company's name means "good" in Italian. This brand combines the relaxed European cafe style with a traditional Korean cultural idea called "Sarangbang". A Sarangbang was a special room in old Korean homes where people would relax and socialize.
Caffe Bene in New York City
Caffe Bene opened its very first international store in New York City on February 1, 2012. This large coffee shop is located in Manhattan's Theater District, close to Times Square. It is one of the biggest coffee shops in that area.
This Caffe Bene location offers coffee drinks and delicious Belgian waffles. Some waffles even have savory toppings like bacon and Parmesan cheese. The inside of the store was designed to look like famous New York City landmarks. These include the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City Subway. Caffe Bene also shared that they used recycled materials for the store's design.
Caffe Bene in Los Angeles
Another Caffe Bene store opened in Los Angeles in the summer of 2012. It was located on the ground floor of the CGV mall. This area also had other popular South Korean cafes nearby.
This Los Angeles location featured a multimedia projector that played K-pop music. It also had wooden tables and cement floors. In 2013, another Caffe Bene opened on Wilshire Boulevard. Visitors said this new store felt even cozier. It had high ceilings and an improved design and atmosphere.
Caffe Bene in Boston
A Caffe Bene branch opened in Boston in 2014. It is located on Huntington Avenue and St Botolph Street. This store is in an area near Northeastern University, where it competes with other coffee shops.
Caffe Bene in Suwanee, Georgia
Caffe Bene also has a location in Suwanee, Georgia. You can find it at 3131 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.
Other International Locations
Caffe Bene has expanded to many countries around the world.
- The first store in Cambodia opened in November 2013.
- The first store in Taiwan also opened in November 2013.
- The first store in Japan opened on December 24, 2013.
- The first store in Mongolia opened in December 2012.
- The first store in Indonesia opened in 2013.
- The first store in Malaysia opened in March 2014.
- The first store in Vietnam opened in August 2014.
- The first store in Singapore opened in November 2015.
- The first store in Brunei Darussalam opened in March 2017.
- The first store in Philippines opened in October 2012.
- The first store in Saudi Arabia also opened.
What Caffe Bene Sells
Like many other coffee chains, Caffe Bene offers a variety of items. They sell regular brewed coffee and special espresso drinks. You can also find many hot and cold drinks.
Besides beverages, Caffe Bene sells pastries, sandwiches, and waffles. They also have gelato, which is a type of Italian ice cream. The menu often changes with the seasons, offering special items for different times of the year.
Caffe Bene also features a unique traditional Korean drink called misugaru. This drink is made from a mix of healthy ingredients. These include black sesame seeds, black beans, black and brown rice, and barley.
