Coffee shops have proliferated in the Penh over the past few years to the extent that some expats now question whether we have too many of them.

But this is not the opinion of Sean C. Kang, president of CGI Cambodia Inc, the licensed franchisee of California-based outfit The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

The upscale café opened just over a month ago in the lounge of the lobby floor of the swank new Phnom Penh Tower.

Kang told 7Days that Cambodia is the 26th country “to experience the international tastes of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.”  

He said it was difficult for him to decide to invest in the franchise here, given Cambodia’s relatively small population. But he added, “I saw that Cambodian people like meeting and talking in the coffee shops, and we saw that the economy and lifestyle energy has grown compared to several years ago, so we decided to open here. We are not only selling the coffee but also sharing culture.”

The café purveys 28 varieties of the “finest” Arabica coffee from “special selected estates,” and is home to the exclusive Original Ice Blended concoction, and “unique” Tea Latte drinks.

In fact, it’s the range of teas that could give this café the edge: teas such as Vanilla Ceylon, Moroccan Mint, English Breakfast, Tropical Passion, and that Asian favourite, Chai.