Last month one of Chandler's newest hot spots opened its doors with a concept that combines two of mankind's biggest loves—coffee and wine.
Bottle & Bean Coffee House & Wine Shop is a unique coffee house/wine shop hybrid now open in the space formally occupied by Press Coffee in Downtown Ocotillo. It also expanded into a vacant office next door. Bottle & Bean is the sixth dining concept opened in partnership by real estate developer Spike Lawrence of Spike Lawrence Ventures, and longtime restauranteur Tom Kaufman. The partners met in 2009 and are the duo behind popular spots The Living Room, Rock Lobster, Sea & Smoke, and CHoP Chandler.
Lawrence says that Kaufman—who has been a certified sommelier since the 1980s—has had a “lifelong dream to open a wine retail shop,” and calls Bottle & Bean, which has an upscale, yet approachable vibe, “the ultimate gathering place for our community.”
“We are connecting wine and coffee in a new and unique way,” he says. “There are obvious similarities in wine and coffee—one of the most obvious is the aromas and flavors. Wine and coffee both have unique bouquets of aromas specific to their terroir, roasting process, and variety. We are here to help you experience both exotic lanes in the coffee and wine worlds.”
“We will all reap the benefits of Tom’s purchasing power, and a diverse selection of wines will be available to grab on-the-go at a very reasonable price,” Lawrence says. “We have the ability to be very competitive due to our high wine purchasing power that we currently have in the restaurant space.”
Wines from around the world are showcased, including bottle-to-go offerings, and there are daily private wine tastings where, for a small fee, guests can sample and savor several varietals. The fee is waived if three or more bottles are purchased.
For food, Bottle & Bean serves scratch-made breakfast and lunch menus created by Corporate Chef Chris George. For breakfast, guests can choose from a variety of sandwiches, burritos, avocado toasts, and cast-iron frittatas. A sampling includes the Quinoa Breakfast Burrito with fire-roasted corn, black beans, tomatoes, and egg; the Beefsteak Tomato Toast topped with avocado smash, buffalo mozzarella, and fried egg; and the Southwest Chicken Sausage Frittata with new potatoes, peppers, house bacon, and cheddar cheese.
The lunch menu features a selection of salads, bowls, and sandwiches, such as the Roasted Asian Chicken tossed with Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, crispy wontons, and sesame shoyu dressing; the Veggie Bowl, which is filled with heirloom carrots, quinoa, goat cheese, spinach, and marinated cherry tomatoes; and the Steak Sandwich, which is layered with peppercorn seared flank steak, arugula, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli.
The evening hours can extend to accommodate private parties of up to 50, with both prix fixe menus and custom menus available.
Bottle & Bean’s space includes an outdoor seating area with a lavish green lawn that has room for large groups and families, and where guests can enjoy themed, pop-up picnics created specially by the locale. There’s also a private dining room that seats up to 40 and has an 85-inch television screen for presentations, making it ideal for both business and celebratory events. And, a retail area offers coffee and wine varietals from across the globe, as well as glassware, greeting cards, and gifts.
“We believe in learning, tasting, and enjoying not only with wine, coffee, and food, but also in life,” says Lawrence. “We enjoy bringing concepts that our community needs and desires.”