If you ever wanted to just sit down for a coffee and read a book in peace or your phone’s battery died and you don’t know how the analog world works anymore, Nerdy Beans Coffee Haus got you covered.
The cafe offers all-day breakfast, sandwiches, pastries, coffee and shakes and alot more. What sets them apart is their library, from where you can grab a book and sit down with a piping hot coffee for hours.
“Initially, many bookworms came in to enjoy solitude, read, and eat. However, a business cannot serve as both a library and a café, as noise from one will disrupt the other. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy a good breakfast, relax, and borrow a book from our shelves,” said founder Masru Hasan Kamol.
Food
We began our meal with their signature English breakfast. While they have a lot of variations for eggs, we went with a cheese omelette paired with baked beans, an extra sausage and a toasted bread with butter on the side. While this is a classic breakfast, the fact that they are able to retain quality is commendable.
The eggs were wonderfully fluffy and oozing with cheese, seasoned perfectly and bursting with savory goodness—demonstrating that even a simple dish can shine when prepared well.
The baked beans were a great accompaniment, adding a touch of sweetness to the predominantly savory combination of eggs and sausage. This breakfast ensemble truly exuded understated elegance and was thoroughly delectable.
We next had the fan-favourite brownies, which were firm on the outside and soft on the inside. The softness inside is noteworthy, with a distinct and punchy chocolate flavour that takes over your palate while still remaining light.
The sweetness tamed the slight bitter taste of cocoa, masterfully balancing both the sweetness and slight bitterness.
Then came the chocolate cake, which was soft and velvety all the way through, while the chocolate cake was also good, it was somewhat similar to the brownie we were served, making it difficult to distinguish between the two, if anything, the brownie was more nuanced and enjoyable than the cake because of the complex texture and better balance of flavours.
We were served a plate of shortbread cookies, which were enjoyable, and would have benefited from a more pronounced hint of butter to elevate their flavor. We paired the cookies with a steaming hot caramel mocha, and that combination was a delightful revelation that truly hit the spot.
The warm, velvety sweetness of the mocha paired perfectly with the delicate crunch of the shortbread cookies, enhancing our enjoyment of each bite. We highly recommend always pairing shortbread cookies with a hot cup of coffee. We do feel that they could do better to make the shortbread cookies more satisfying as a stand-alone cookie.
Lastly, we tried an iced caramel macchiato, which was incredibly refreshing. The drink leaned towards the sweeter side, featuring a robust hit of caramel while still delivering a strong coffee flavor. Although the caramel could have been dialed back just a bit, if you are a fan of caramel, this drink will definitely hit the spot. They also offer a wide variety of other caffeinated beverages to satisfy your caffeine cravings.
The price range for a meal at Nerdy beans is Tk100 to Tk550, excluding VAT.
Ambience
Nerdy Beans is a cozy cafe located in the Ahmed and Kazi Tower in Dhanmondi, inspired by European coffee houses abroad. It features shelves filled with books for avid readers, a fireplace and customized paintings and art pieces–Many of which are cherished gifts from customers.
“We keep every small thing that customers fondly give us as a memory,” said Masru.
Challenges
Nerdy Beans opened its doors in December 2017, situated in a competitive area alongside other coffee shops. What sets them apart is their cozy and welcoming atmosphere, where customers are encouraged to stay, even if they haven't ordered food or beverages. This unique approach, combined with their inviting interior, quickly garnered attention and spread through word of mouth.
“I initially felt a bit skeptical, as we opened around the same time as North End and Bengal Book. However, people appreciated our welcoming atmosphere and liked the interior. As a result, word of mouth helped us thrive,” said founder Masru Hasan Kamol.
Kamol passes on his own recipes to the staff and initially makes the food himself before officially putting it on the menu or teaching his staff. He said quality control and consistency remain one of their biggest challenges.
"I create everything myself, including the recipes, but ensuring quality control becomes challenging when I pass tasks on to the staff. They may not share the same level of passion that I have for the work. Additionally, since the staff changes from time to time, this can create further hurdles," he added.
Verdict
Their English breakfasts and variations of omelettes are all must-tries. We highly recommend the cheese omelette. Their coffees are also a fan favorite, but if you are trying their shortbread cookies, don't forget to order a cup of hot coffee first.
