About Us
Sentient (adj): having sense of perception; conscious. “I think that I am a sentient being” or “Where is the Sentient Bean anyway?”
Warm colors, high ceilings, and delicious smells greet each customer at The Sentient Bean, Savannah’s only vegetarian restaurant; The Bean attracts a diverse crowd, giving the neighborhood a place to relax and socialize while sipping a cappuccino or nibbling on a scone. Seating is available inside and in our unique funky outdoor courtyard.
The Sentient Bean coffee house is converted to a performance space most nights, sometimes an intimate crowd of 20 listening to music, sometimes standing room only for spoken work artists. The Bean presents an eclectic array of events from ultra indie movies & cult films, to nationally acclaimed acoustic bands & solo acts, to poetry and literary readings, to educational and community forums. During shows, the coffee house offers light meals, fresh baked goods and dessert, as well as coffee, tea, and smoothies.
Read the Times, play a game or listen to the staff regale you with tales of their trips to the coffeelands. There is always great music in the air along with the smell of organic, fair trade coffee and teas. Our brew is matched by a daily menu of inspired high-quality cuisine, including panini sandwiches, home-baked scones, and a variety of beverages and goodies using mainly organic ingredients and lots of local produce.
Our name, The Sentient Bean, is more than just a play on words; it is an expression of our ethic. We serve all organic and fair trade coffee, which guarantees that low-income farmers and artisans receive a fair price for their products so they may feed, educate, and care for their families. We are conscious of our impact on our community and our world.
Read about the beginning, check us out in news, or come visit us yourself.
Bean Staff
The Founders
Kelli Pearson
Tall and mischievous, Kelli can usually be found enjoying a good laugh with the New Yorker and rocking out to Dick Dale. Now she’s off to travel the world, but you may still catch a glimpse of her in The Bean in between adventures.
Kristin Russell
Rosie the Riveter meets Julia Child, but oh so much more. Kristin has the brains, the brawn, the best overalls, and now a business to run by herself. Yikes.
Bean Posse
John Baizley, hummus genius
Okay, so he doesn’t work for us anymore. We just keep him on here because he’s getting more famous by the day as the lead in the band Baroness.
Joemy Buschur
Always ready with a jolly laugh and a sweet and saucy demeanor. What exactly is in that coffee she’s drinking? Give me some. Special Events manager and newsletter guru too.
Linda Reno
Reno finally left us, holding the record for beanie longevity. We wish her all the best in grad school and are all watching for cheap tickets to Texas.
Claren Jamerson, manager – soon to be part owner
You’ll know her by her coolness, you’ll remember her by her speed. Up for anything and down with it all, she’s a bean between her travels.
Rushelle Frazier
She’s here, no she’s traveling.. wait, no, she’s back… and gone again. Who can keep track. We just always let her back on staff because no one works as hard as this woman.
Corrine Pease
That last name is no accident, the lady never has a bad word to say about anyone. She just speeds around like an Indy driver and gets it done… whatever “it” is.
Sarah Noll
She’s the one all our customers ask about because her smile is unforgettable. She may have to ask you twice, but the care she gives your order will be worth it.
Ronnie Cline
A travellin’ man by most accounts, fluent in a variety of languages and culture, we are thrilled that he has parked his shiny melon here for a while so we can all soak in his cosmopolitan suave.
Jere Wilson
Surfing, skate-boarding, helping out a friend… J.A.W. is 100% kind and always willing to pitch in. If he ever settles down, he’ll make someone very happy.
Shabnum Gideon
A new baker? What? Dark and mysterious, in the tradition of Larz, she is mixing a whole lotta healthy in without missing a single flavor beat.
Lara . . . . .Evans? Howell?
Brown lady with the orange afro? Beautiful and in demand – for her cleaning skills as much as her lattes.
Annie Barclay
Our cook. Our neighbors over at Local l1Ten borrow her in the evenings, but she belongs to her Sunday Brunch.
Sara Howerter
A Savannahian and our token SCAD student. Quick, bright, and doesn’t seem to need sleep.
Frank Wright
Frankus to us, we’re a little worried he’s too suave to stay, but maybe he needs some grit to keep it real.
Emily Earl
New, really new. She has to quit in 4 years when her mother retires and becomes a barista, but for now we’re thoroughly enjoying her eager gullibility.
Rebecca Tanner
Rescued from the downtown bar scene, this Milwaukee transplant will soon have us all making latte art and wearing plaid skirts.