It wasn’t until husband-and-wife duo Morsy and Cynthia Soliman of Forks Township began selling their popular coffee and handmade espresso drinks at the Nazareth Farmers Market that the couple realized they could be onto a new brewing business venture.
Cynthia Soliman’s handcrafted bath and body line was already a fixture at the downtown market, where she began selling two years ago. Morsy Soliman, a chemist by trade, then began crafting espresso in the spring alongside his wife.
It wasn’t long before a line would form with patrons having no problem waiting a good 15 to 20 minutes to score a cup.
“It just bloomed and people became very excited,” Cynthia Soliman told lehighvalleylive.com about the coffee. “The line was incredible every weekend.”
The Solimans were inundated with folks telling them they really should embark on opening a physical location. They listened closely to one VIP who had a space available for the venture — Jason Nale, owner of Nazareth Sign Co. at 6 S. Broad St. in Nazareth. Nale would be vacating by the end of the year for a larger space along North Spruce Street in the borough.
The Solimans moved into the space and by Dec. 23, softly opened their Bella Bean Bara Boom coffee shop. Another soft opening followed for employees over New Years weekend. On Jan. 6, they hosted a grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the public.
“We just jumped at this opportunity,” Cynthia Soliman said.
Cup of java
The Solimans moved about five years ago to the Lehigh Valley from California.
Morsy Soliman’s earned his chemistry degree from Alexandria University in Egypt. Cynthia Soliman earned a business degree from Bakersfield College in California and has spent decades pursuing various ventures as an entrepreneur. They merged both their expertise into the coffee shop, Cynthia Soliman said.
Prior to opening, the pair spent months renovating Nale’s former 360-square-foot space into a cozy nook for patrons. The space has since become a hot spot for college students to study, couples and friends to enjoy lunch dates, and business folks discussing new projects.
The vibe is modern, with signs reading, “CoFFeE” and bar stools, lounge chairs and small tables scattered throughout. There’s restored flooring, fresh lighting fixtures and an Italian-imported espresso machine. Additionally, the space pays homage to Morsy Soliman’s chemistry background with some signs depicting chemical compounds and elements of the periodic table.
The shop’s slogan: “All you need is love and a cup of Bella Bean coffee.”
“We strive to create a welcoming space for coffee enthusiasts to escape the bustle of their day,” Cynthia Soliman said.
On the menu is everything from drip coffee to cold brew and nitro brew to a variety of espresso beverages. The process includes grinding beans imported from Latin America that are fresh to order for each beverage.
Among the espresso choices are Americano Red Eye; lattes mixed with choice of flavored syrups; and cappuccino or espresso. Syrups are more unique with such choices as lavender or strawberry. Various milks, including oat, almond and coconut, also are available for an additional charge.
Coffee aficionados might opt for a “latte flight,” featuring a choice of four mini selections. Additionally, there’s a variety of hot tea selections, such as chai, lemon ginger and orange spice. Boba tea — made both classic style and with signature milk — is offered in at least a half dozen different flavors. There’s mango, strawberry, taro and matcha.
To satisfy a sweet tooth, patrons can opt for bear claws, cookies, brownies, muffins, danishes, scones, turnovers or other pastries. For those seeking something more savory, they might opt for a slice of avocado toast, spinach feta puffs or a bagel.
Most popular since the shop’s opening seems to be the macchiatos, especially the peppermint mocha and white hazelnut mocha flavors.
Hot drip coffee is available in three sizes, starting at $2.50. Other beverages can range approximately $5.50 to $6.75, depending on milk selection. Food and sweet treat selections range $2 to $9.
Filling a void
The Solimans hope Bella Bean Bara Boom will help fulfill a void in that there aren’t too many independent coffee shops in the Nazareth area. There’s many bakeries and other businesses that might sell coffee, but none that have coffee as the main attraction, Cynthia Soliman said.
“What we were hearing in the community was, ‘We needed this. We needed a coffee shop,’ “ Cynthia Soliman recalled. “I think this is what Nazareth really needed.”
The couple recently implemented outdoor seating, alongside heaters, in a covered outdoor dining area. In the spring, there’ll be outdoor space for about 20 guests and the Solimans hope to incorporate some live music and other entertainment into the mix.
Cynthia Soliman additionally recently added some items she previously sold at the Nazareth Farmers Market to the coffee’s shop merchandise table. Guests there can browse through handcrafted soaps, lotions and candles. Coffee in to-go bags also is available for purchase.
The couple plans to continue selling the artisan goods, as well as cold brew and nitro brew, at the Nazareth Farmers Market this spring.
Hours for Bella Bean Bara Boom are from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Extended hours will be made available in the warmer months, the Solimons said. Online ordering also is available through the business’ website.
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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at [email protected].
