The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) has opened its first cafe in the Maldives, located in Hulhumalé, as part of the Jollibee Group’s expansion in the global specialty coffee and tea market.
The new beachfront cafe, which seats up to 35 guests, offers CBTL’s signature Ice Blended drinks, specialty coffees, premium teas and freshly prepared meals. It is operated by franchisee Waterscape Investments Pvt. Ltd., which is committed to growing the brand across the Maldives. The cafe is located along the beachfront of Hulhumalé’s Central Park.
“This is a significant milestone for us, and we are confident that together, we will create a unique and welcoming space where the people of the Maldives can enjoy our handcrafted beverages and experience the authentic, flavors we’ve perfected over decades,” said The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chief executive Pepot Miñana.
Miñana said the opening is part of CBTL’s vision “to become one of the top specialty coffee and tea chains in the world.”
CBTL is the Jollibee Group’s flagship brand for coffee and tea and now has over 1,200 locations across more than 20 countries.
The brand meticulously selects from the top one percent of Arabica beans globally and partners with family-owned estates across Sri Lanka, China, Thailand and Japan for its tea offerings. The company is known for creating the Original Ice Blended drink in 1987 at its Westwood, California store.
“We value our collaboration with Waterscape Investments, whose deep understanding of the local market and commitment to excellence mirrors our own values,” Miñana said.
The opening reinforces CBTL’s position in the Jollibee Group’s portfolio, strengthening the Group’s global presence in the coffee and tea category.
