From campus to coffee shop

After the daylong classes, leaning back and sipping a cup of cappuccino or latte, along with some laughter, jokes, and stories piling up, a few people gather in a small space. 

Some are there opening their laptops, working with a sip of coffee, and some sit alone with books. Music is playing in the sound box in the middle of the room in a very soft tone; through the big glass window, you can see the cars coming and going - where can you see a scene like this? 

You guessed it, in the coffee shop. But it becomes difficult for students of Dhaka University, BUET and Dhaka Medical College to enjoy this leisure as there is no big coffee shop nearby. 

Two young men stood up from this thought and took the initiative to fill the need gap. One is Mohammad Reyad Hossain, and the other is Riazur Rahman. 

Riyad Hossain studied in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Dhaka, while Riazur Rahman studied Microbiology at the same university. Both have recently completed their master's and have a penchant for business.

Riaz's coffee shop is located at the Bakshibazar intersection, opposite Bharta Bari restaurant, named Nineteenth Cafe. 

On one side of the wall, TSC, Dhaka Medical College, the image of Curzon are displayed to reflect the comfort zone of students in this area. Decorated with wooden tables and blue sofas and chairs, this small space also has a touch of plants. There is a big TV screen; videos of making coffee, Bangladesh's cricket matches, and many youth-friendly stuff keep playing on the screen. The smoking zone is like a small balcony when you open the glass door.

When Riaz was asked the reason for naming this 'Nineteenth,' he said, "The inspiration of this Nineteenth is actually from the Nineteen Hundred, i.e. the Twentieth Century. The establishment of the University of Dhaka was in 1921, the language movement of 1952, the liberation war of 1971, the anti-dictatorship movement of 1990, the march of young students like us was everywhere." 

Apart from coffee items like Espresso, Americano, Hazelnut Latte, Cappuccino, and Freddo, there are Red Velvet Cakes, Sandwiches, and flavoured teas like Raspberry. 

Anik Chowdhury, a regular cafe customer and a DU student, said, "I come to this cafe occasionally because it is near the campus. Sometimes for a chat with friends, sometimes to study quietly on my own, to do assignments. My favourite is hot chocolate."

CSE graduate Reyad Hossain's coffee shop is named 'Chalchitra,' located before the Lalbagh Chowrasta Mor. The coffee shop owner's distinct penchant for books and movies is not only in the name of the cafe but also in the interior decoration. 

The white walls are covered in black and white with scenes and quotes from various movies. A bookshelf is lined with books, Ludo for games, and a chess board. 

Cafe Chalchitra has some special initiatives; on Saturday, Chalchitra has candlelight coffee from 8 to 9 p.m. 

The shop has some special items besides coffee - yoghurt crackers, fruit salad, Bakarkhani, grilled chicken sandwiches, and brownies. Chalchitra has added monthly menstrual leave to its benefits for female servers or baristas.

Coffee and coffee shops are becoming more popular than tea in terms of fancy popularity among the current generation. Both Reyad and Riaz have won praise from the student community for taking such an initiative so close to the campus. 

Coffee shops are also filled with stories like coffee house songs. However, what worries both Riyaz and Riyad is the overall management cost of the cafe. 

Both cafe owners agree that considering the affordability of students, the bill for a cup of coffee at these coffee shops can sometimes seem better to avoid. But, as the price of everything increases, they have to increase the coffee price too, unwillingly. 

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