The first The Human Bean location, a drive-thru espresso stand, opened in 1998 in Ashland, Oregon. The brand is now present in 15 U.S. states, largely concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. While a handful of locations feature dining rooms, the majority are still drive-thru only.

Unlike many franchisors, The Human Bean does not charge a percent-of-sales royalty fee. Instead, the franchisor makes revenue from bulk sales of coffee and other supplies to its franchisees.