Hard Bean Coffee & Booksellers
36 Market Space, Annapolis, MD, 21401
Hard Bean Coffee & Booksellers Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
36 Market Space
Annapolis, MD, 21401 - Phone (410) 263-8770
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Good for Working : Yes
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Phill H.
The prodigal son has returned to Annapolis. I graduated from the Academy in 2000, and returning after an extended absence I was pleasantly surprised to see that some things in DTA (Downtown Annapolis, for all you non-middies out there) hadn't changed. The place was chock full of plebes, parents, and tourists, and after wearing ourselves down with an exhausting whirlwind tour of the Yard, we needed some caffeine. I've got fond memories of many Saturdays spent in the City Dock cafe just a few doors down the street, but in the interest of fueling both an unholy lust for coffee and my passion for bookstores, I decided to try the Hard Bean. Everything on the surface was grand - books on the shelves, discounted from 10-40%. Coffee permeating the air like a London fog. Free Wi-Fi and people diligently tapping away on their Mac-Pads or whatever. And then it all fell apart like a Chinese motorcycle. I walked up to the register, and the perky girl behind the counter asked us for our order. Note the lack of specific instruction here. I had a sweet tooth, so I ordered myself a mocha. At this point the girl at the counter proceeds to tell me that due to a power surge the night before, their espresso machine was on the fritz, so they couldn't make any espresso drinks. "But here's a coupon for next time!" she says, as she hands me a small slip of paper that can be easily reproduced on a home printer. Since she failed to mention that 3/4 of the menu was now unavailable, I was rushed into selecting just a regular coffee. My friend, who ordered a chai, paid, and I was handed a cup for the coffee carafes that were located behind me, near the books. At this point, I'm a little confused, because I see at least five different brewed coffee flavors on the board, and only three carafes. I pour myself my coffee, and my friend gets her chai, and we go sit down. While looking around at the store, I find it a little odd that they have over twenty different volumes of L. Ron Hubbard's books, but only one book by William Gibson, and nothing by Neil Gaiman. My coffee tastes like cardboard, and my friend's chai is, in her words, "flavored water." I was also a little put off by the fact that the bathroom in the back has a digital code you have to ask the staff for if you need to make a trip to the loo. As far as cleanliness, it was on par with a busy coffee shop in DTA, but one of the tables had plates and cups from a previous customer that were left there, and no one came to clean the table off the entire 20-30 minutes we sat there choking down our drinks. Not a bad idea, but it needs more attention to detail if it's going to make a favorable impression. The City Dock Cafe, a few doors down, is an alternative, but I can't compare as it's been a while - but that right there should tell you something, it's been there for over 14 years. I don't see the Hard Bean lasting quite so long without some serious overhauls to what's really a great concept.
(2)Mattias C.
Good crab soup.
(4)sophie p.
I'm from san francisco the city of beat nik bookshop coffee joints and this place wasn't bad. A little commercial but the coffee was good, lots of space and tables the book selection was limited and it could've been cozier but I can see how the summertime in MD it would pay off to have all that open room. The quiche was good and the americanos were good too.
(4)Paul G.
Cyclist friendly and just plain friendly. One of the best iced chai lattes that I have ever had. Then again, I was 62 miles into a ride on a hot day, so that may have affected my tastebuds. But the staff was very friendly, service was nice and fast, and the shop had a great ambience. The location is ideal, with a beautiful view of the marina, especially from the outside seating (about 5 or 6 tables). The shop itself is pretty sizable (about 2-3 times the size of your average Starbucks). The shop is ideal for cyclists since that area is an ideal place to ride, they have a nice wide ramp into the shop, plenty of outside seating, and they carry some cold energy drinks along with the standard coffee shop fare and a moderate amount of pastries. I'm definitely going to make this a regular stop on my romps through the state capitol.
(4)Cat S.
As a former barista from Seattle, I'm a pretty tough critic when it comes to coffee. Yesterday, I came here to order an iced latte and the barista began steaming (!) the milk. Yuck. Steamed milk over ice. Am I the only person that thinks this might be a potential health/culinary disaster? In any case, I thought this was merely a mistake on part of a novice barista. This morning, I came in again to order the same thing and asked the barista (different from yesterday) if they steamed their milk for iced drinks and the answer was yes. So, I special ordered fresh milk for my iced latte and the barista was happy to do so. Aside from this, Hard Bean has a nice atmosphere with free internet, a quaint bookstore, and offers walking and trolley tours of Annapolis. I'll definitely come back, but will also remeber to "special order" my iced latte.
(3)Karl B.
After getting no service at 49 West we were happy to find the Hard Bean. I had an excellent mocha, one of the best I've ever had. It had a rich blend of coffee and chocolate flavors. My wife and I shared a carrot cake that was merely acceptable.
(4)Mike L.
In a word, Hard Bean gets a five star rating for one reason - you can get a fresh cup of Kona coffee served piping hot no where else in town. Hard Bean has a great cafe atmosphere. The bookstore aspect is a nice touch, as is the Internet bar (check you email or surf the web). They also have free WiFi service inside for customers. Stop by in the early afternoons Monday through Friday and chat about rock and roll, the blues or anything else music related with the ever present Daimian -- a Hall of Fame DJ from the old WHFS and currently with WRNR.
(5)Vanessa R.
I've been in the Hard Bean 5 or 6 times so far. I have decaf lattes, and the Hard Bean has delivered tasty, basic lattes most times. I like that the store is independently owned, and has a quaint atmosphere in keeping with the town, and includes a pretty extensive bookstore. I've purchased a couple of books on sale and am glad to be supporting a non-chain operation. The one mistake I have experienced as far as the drinks is being given a latte that I know was not decaf. It was too late by the time I realized it. It's very difficult to prove that the latte you just drank wasn't decaf, which is something that baristas, especially in small coffee shops, are well aware of. The downside of the Hard Bean is that the baristas/cashiers are often none too helpful or friendly. To be fair, I have encountered at least two friendly baristas here. They are counterbalanced by a fair share of surly/sleepy/bored/condescending baristas. This is something that I have experienced in stores and shops in two other historic towns- Fredericksburg, VA and Alexandria, VA. It is as if the employees have a sense of entitlement, acting as if they don't need you as a customer- you are probably an "out of towner." Today I went in to purchase loose leaf tea and experienced a series of irritations. Each one might have been overlookable on its own, but together they built up into a nonoptimal lunch hour store-visiting experience. When I asked the two baristas/cashiers behind the counter whether I could buy a type of loose leaf tea that did not come in a bag, per the signage in the tea section, I was met with surly looks and a reluctant answer- ya, if you see it there and if we have it....They did indeed have it, so I paid for it, along with a sandwhich and some tea filters. Wow- the total was $22- no matter, I thought- Those german or european or whatnot filters must have been expensive. I'll just check out the receipt to make sure everything is ok. Well, when the girl gave me the receipt, it was not itemized- it simply said $22. Oh well, I thought, not a big deal. Let's just get our tea and go. Well...of course the cashier behind the counter cannot find any bags in which to put my cup full o measured out loose leaf tea. He wanders around for a while behind the counter, then assists a customer with something at a different counter. Meanwhile, the girl that rang me up moves on to the next customer (there is a very busy line of one other person waiting behind me). Then the cashier disappears in the back, for all I know, to help the other customer at the other counter. The manager of the store appears and starts working the register. The girl moves behind him, leisurely leans on the counter and sips from a large coffee drink. Excuse me, ma'am, I say- can I have my tea please? She gives me a look like I'm crazy- he's getting a bag...Then the manager starts showing her how to insert a new register tape. He never looks at me. I am thinking, am I crazy here or are they really oblivious to my presence? At the same time that this is going on, there are loud, drilling and crunching noises because there is some construction going on in the front of the store. Man it is loud in here- I just want to get out of here, I think. Then the cashier appears again- I can't find any bags- he says to the manager. The manager says- they're right behind you in the corner...oh wait, no they're not, they're in the back. Go look in that box in the back...So the cashier disappears again. Still waiting, still wanting to get out of here...Finally the cashier slowly walks back from the back with a handful of bags. It takes him about 2 more minutes to get my tea into the bag. He can't seem to find me (standing directly in front of the front counter, where I have been all along). Oh, there I am. He gives me a half smile as he hands me the bag. There is no thank you, or sorry for your wait, from anyone. I am thinking- I'm not coming in here again. So that's my story of the Hard Bean today. Maybe I'll change my mind and go back. I'm sure I will.
(2)Merrill F.
It is not, nor will it ever be, 49 West. However, the bookstore is a nice touch, I enjoy being able to find something to read for when I'm enjoying a cup of (insert whatever I'm in the mood for here) . I also like that they have internet access, which (at last check) most of the other coffehouses in Annapolis did not have. It's a nice place to try--go up and down Main Street/West Street and try them all.
(3)Courtney K.
Bottom Line: An eclectic place to take a break from the busy sidewalks of downtown Annapolis. Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers has a little bit of everything going on - Jellybeans, coffee beans, vanilla bean ice cream, etc. They also have some light nosh, an array of books and even a few souvenirs. They have tables and chairs so this can be a good spot to take a quick break from Maryland humidity or snow. The atmosphere is eclectic and there is a lot to look at. Overall, I would say its more of a place you visit out of convenience rather than it being a destination.
(3)Ann F.
The macchiato was less than mediocre. The attitude, cockiness, and rudeness of the barrista on the other hand was unheard off. When I made the mistake to point out to myfriends the macchiato wasn't what I was expecting. He jumped -actually jumped- and said that this was real macchiato not what you get at Starbucks. you obviously didn't know the difference! Oh you little man with even littler view of the world. Shame Yelp doesn't offer minuses ratings.
(1)Meredith L.
AWFUL coffee! Latte didn't taste like coffee(large claims to have 4 shots in it), didn't taste like milk, just tasted like....water. Looked and tasted like powdered latte w water added, and I watched her make it!!! Tried to ask he if there was something wrong or if she could add another shot of espresso possibly, but she was so into her conversation with the other guy behind the counter that she didn't even acknowledge me. This is clearly a glorified tourist junk store that also happens to sell "coffee", not an actual coffee shop. Shame, because it was a real bookstore and coffee shop at one time...long, long ago.
(1)Amber F.
My dad and I always come here when I visit him in Annapolis. It's right next to the harbor so we can grab our coffee/tea and breakfast and take a walk around. My dad liked the coffee, but I'm not a big fan of their teas. Tried the oolong, pomegranate, and verry berry tea, didn't like any of them. They have a large variety of breakfast items, nothing particularly stands out but no complaints. The reason we frequent here is because of its laid back atmosphere. There's no servers but staff are very friendly. My dad and I get to sit and talk for a couple hours and enjoy breakfast. They also sell some books and souvenirs, which makes the place very cozy. Perfect to hangout with friends and family or grab a quick bite when you're hungry and don't want a full service breakfast.
(3)Maria B.
After church me and my Friend want to grab a bite to eat. I ordered the lunch special which was grilled cheese with your choice of meet - I wanted to add tomatoes ( there was an extra charge of $2.00 just for tomatoes ). Didn't add it . The lunch special came with the sandwich drink and chips. The grilled cheese was with choice of cheese. It was a really good grilled cheese and they did add enough meat. I also had a small coffee after my meal. Really good coffee here - I had the sea salted caramel mocha- cheap and good. The ambience was ok for a coffee shop- the lights were not comforting. They have a small bookstore in the back that I did not have the chance to browse. There is only one bathroom ( unisex). This place looked ok As far as how clean it looked. That's all I can say for now. More to come on future visit.
(3)Angela C.
Got iced chai and egg and cheese on a crossaint. The crossaint was fresh. Yum! Didn't like the chai. Had funny taste. Decent atmosphere.
(3)Patrick W.
Worst , weakest, espresso ever. Pastries were old , stale and dry.. Great location but owners clearly just don't know or don't care enough to utilize such a great spot... This place could be something but it's incredibly lack luster !
(1)Alex B.
Great place for coffee or tea. The store is large and pets friendly. I love their mocha coffee - but be careful, it is very strong. I always buy one of their muffin. They offer it cold or warm - your choice. Really nice place.
(5)Scott S.
Planned to have breakfast here but very disappointed. Bagel sandwich was dry. And as simple as having the proper cream for coffee / tea they could not handle
(1)Dawn R.
I really want to like this place more. I love the location, and it has SUCH potential with the used books, the many flavors of ice cream, the variety of coffees, and sandwiches. But the staff are very young, and I think that's the problem. I don't see any sign of decent leadership here, and wonder how much training they get as baristas. I actually stopped in twice today, once this morning on my way to southern Maryland, and again this evening to relax at one of their outside tables and enjoy the book I bought this morning. But both times, I was disappointed. This morning, I got their "jazzy java" coffee.....I love the flavor, but this time it was very weak, as if the barista used too much water or not enough coffee when making it. And it wasn't even hot, just lukewarm. Also, I ordered a cheese danish to go....my mistake for not watching her put it in the box, but when I was halfway to my destination I opened it up to find that it was NOT in fact a cheese danish, but some form of pastry that was literally so dry I almost choked on it. Not even the cold coffee was enough to get that down. Ugh! So I gave them another shot this evening, and ordered a chai latte. The barista asked me if I wanted vanilla or honey, and I told her vanilla, but I'm 99% sure that she used honey. Sorry, but I'm not a fan of honey in chai. Of course, when I went back in to tell her it tasted like honey, she insisted it wasn't.....so rather than fight, I just drank it. It was clear she wasn't going to try to make it right. One other thing that's just a big pet peeve of mine: Two "mature" ladies were ahead of me in line this evening and ordered glasses of wine. These women were at least in their 60's, and yet the young man at the register refused to serve them until they produced ID for the wine. Neither of them had their ID with them, and they actually had to leave the store and go to their car and get it and return. RIDICULOUS! Sorry, but any time I'm in an establishment and they insist on seeing ID just because "we have to ask everyone", I get pissed off. What ever happened to common sense? And to make these elderly ladies go back to their car (a block away) when it was OBVIOUS they were over 21 was just lousy customer service.
(2)Sean C.
This was a great place to grab a cup of coffee and some hot chocolate for the kids after the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It's nice to have an alternative to Starbucks. They have a selection of books, souvenirs and gifts, though I'm not sure I would call it a fully stocked book store. I liked that they had a selection of different coffees, including some flavored ones, that you can pour yourself. It looked like they had a bar as well and could make Irish coffees or other drinks as well. Maybe next time.
(4)Nushi C.
The location is fantastic, right there in down town, and a few steps away from the docks. The coffee is fine, they have a nice selection of teas. Their cakes and simple food options are very nice. There a new management that came in about 2-3 months ago and service has improved exponentially. For a friendly meeting/gatherig I highly recommend it.
(4)Cynthia R.
I'm slowly becoming a dirty old lady. I like to watch Midshipmen pass by the windows while I'm comfortably settled in a seat at Hard Bean. :) Ah, Midshipmen. And really, really good coffee... Owner Gary Amoth did right by Annapolitans when he opened his doors in 2002, blending the right amount of coffee, great reads and a comfy, relaxed atmosphere all on City Dock. No matter what time of year, the view is always busy and bustling, the sounds of boats are near and you can smell the Chesapeake (for good or bad) all from the seats in the front of Hard Bean. And did I mention all the Midshipmen? In dress whites?? yea... The most important aspect, the coffee, is something Gary has taken great care to select and even greater care in presenting. From grinding, to brewing, to actually selling it, he and his help really know what's up with those beans and they make absolutely sure the coffee is perfect every time. Hard Bean is one of the rare places when I know I can get a plain, old coffee and it's going to taste like a gourmet treat. And don't get me started on treats...quiche, sandwiches, cookies, pies and all manner of fat incurring goodies are there as well and all are freshly made locally. The recent introduction of Hershey's Ice Cream and my personal favorite...a liquor license, just made this little slice o' heaven even more tempting. And I would gladly buy a Midshipman an ice cream. Okay, so I just covered the front of the store. Then there's the back...chock full of books, many local and speciality titles, all reasonably priced, all there to peruse while sipping your gorgeously black Kona, while watching Midshipmen pass by the windows. Hard Bean also saved my hide once when I had a computer malfunction. There are four PCs, with free internet access, all stationed at the front of the coffee counter, there for anyone to use at no charge, though a little gratuity is always appreciated. When I can manage to pull my gaze away from the plethora of the Navy's bounty walking along the Dock, I notice the ever changing display of local artist and photographers artfully arranged on the walls of Hard Bean. Honestly, all kidding about Mid-stalking aside, Hard Bean is a really great addition to City Dock. Rain or Shine, it is truly a haven amongst the touristy bustle of old Annapolis and I'm very glad it's there. If you visit, do yourself a favor and stop by, say hello to Gary (who is a super friendly guy), and enjoy all his coffee heaven has to order. And smile at the Midshipmen when they walk by. :)
(5)Russell R.
I like the coffee here and the overall atmosphere. I think the pastries could be better, especially the bagels.
(3)Anie S.
This is a nice place to get ice cream, coffee, a little snack, or browse some of the books. The staff is quick, the food is good, and the coffee is OK. The store is fairly large, so you can relax and sit down for a bit before heading out and exploring the rest of Annapolis.
(4)Darrell K.
Coffee is good, with multiple selections and a nice sugar/cream counter. The only thing I didn't like was that the coffee was stored in thermos away from the register, which means you don't have any idea how long it was sitting there and the coffee seemed warm not hot.
(3)Alyssa O.
It's so nice to know a cute little coffee spot like this that is affordable and gives you $1 refills on their great selection of coffee. They give you descriptions of their coffee and offer plenty of the whatever's you put in your coffee. I'm a coffee lover. And I would pick this place any day and sit out by the water. It's so relaxing.
(4)Viola B.
I was thinking to have a meeting with a few more people in there, because of the nice location and the possibility to sit outside but...... when I went a few weeks ago with my visitors it was just disappointing. Coffee was bad. I can confirm the team was working slow and did not take a lot of an effort to serve customers. I was asking for an ice cream and the girl behind the counter just did not want to come out from there to help out. Till I said: I need your help please come over! Man! If that would be my store I have to say I would change quickly a lots of things and try to hire a motivated team and the business would roll!
(1)Leah K.
Busy, but not as busy as the other one a block away. Tables indoors and out, books and knick knack gift shop type stuff. Coffee and other drinks, some food and baked goods, etc... I actually was here twice, about two or three hours apart. I tried to order the same thing each time (cafe mocha, half the chocolate) but the guy at the register said their system has trouble with more than one transaction for the same amount on the same card in the same day. He swiped my card about 8 times trying to get the 2nd transaction to go through, but said he couldn't get it. He tried to talk me into adding something to my order to change the total, but I decided to get an iced mocha instead for slightly cheaper. That one went through just fine on the first try. Will update this review if there's anything hinky when I check my account in a few days to make sure I didn't get charged for more than two coffees.
(3)Joe K.
Overall a fair place to get a cup. Located less than a few seconds from the harbor, Hard Bean Coffee and Book sellers is A-OK. Service is iffy, and I have had the long wait, and a times were I was in and out. It's too inconsistent which is the issue. One time I had someone ninja chop from behind the counter in regards to some sort of conversation we were having... I wasn't paying attention, he was going on about something.... My drinks have been good when it's a simple cup of coffee. Though competent in knowing what a dry cappuccino is, the Batista managed to burnt milk and poured a terrible shot. The whole drink was too hot and just not what i was expecting. This place is however able to offer a more adult coffee beverage, with Kahlua and Bailie's they can make custom coffee based drinks upon your request. Overall the shop is pretty messy, there is a book store/ coffee bar / eatery ( which serves hot dogs...). There is the ability to pick from a carafe different brewed coffees. And there is an extensive tea selection. If the service was more contestant and the Batista's were a lot better it would be a no brainier but with Dockside Coffee house a mear block around the corner, and so is a Starbucks, there is certainly better options for a brew. 3 Stars.
(3)Dmytro A.
I lived a whole summer at the Hard Bean. Really, I did - I was studying for the California Bar Exam. I passed the exam, and I really have to give some credit to the Bean. Every day that summer I biked to the Bean and grabbed a seat on the bench near the window. I had a plug for my laptop, an adequately sized table, easy access to food and drink, and a GREAT view of Ego Alley and of people. My study breaks often consisted of enjoying a most excellent drink (teas and coffees are top notch here), and ogling the delicious imports, i.e., ladies, who stop through Annapolis as part of their summer vacations. The Hard Bean is a great place to meet people. It is somewhat of a local hangout for "the kids" (15-21) despite, or perhaps due to, its early closing time (9 or 10PM). I ended up befriending a young college student who used to work there and still popped in every so often, and eventually noticed that I was ALWAYS THERE (studying). I also happened to meet a very attractive, older yoga instructor. Heck, I even ran into a fellow student from my law school that I didn't know lives in the area. In short, you can meet all sorts of folks at the Hard Bean: tourists, yoga instructors, HS and college students, or recent law grads. As for FOOD...The quiches are amazing! Truly delicious little pies that you should try to get before 2PM. The reason for that is that they heat it up for you in the microwave, and I find that after 2PM the quiche becomes a little TOO firm when warmed and served. The sandwiches are unfortunate little pieces, and I can't recommend them. Finally, make sure you get a token for the restroom! Tokens are free, even for non-patrons, but you have to have a token to get into the bathroom. Otherwise, "THOU SHALT NOT PASS!" (No, really, the lock only opens with a token).
(4)Dan P.
My wife and I had a delightful and relaxed lunch (melted tuna and a mild French coffee). The manager, Mina, and all the staff were friendly. We will return.
(5)Amy O.
Nice place to relax on a weekend afternoon and people watch. It has a good selection of baked goods as well as fair trade coffee.
(4)Meghan E.
I really can't stand this place. The book selection is horrible, the coffee is very lack-luster, and I find it annoying that they now carry bottled beers and Hershey's Ice Cream. Hard Bean used to be a haven because of its free wi-fi and free computers for customer use. I was urked when an employee told me that the computers by the front desk were only for 'paying customers'. I guess he missed the fact that I had a black and white cup of tea sitting next to me. The attitude was unnecessary. I also used to buy books from this place to support local business. Good books are scarce in this place...and expensive. The coffee leaves something to be desired. The baristas are young, inexperienced and don't really know what they're doing. I was shocked when I ordered an ICED white mocha one day and they STEAMED THE MILK!!! I walked down the street and took a sip of CURDLED MOCHA. It was disgusting. I went back and the barista told me that it 'tastes better' that way. I put my drink on the counter and let the Barista know that the little floaty things in my mocha were doing nothing to compliment the taste and that steaming milk for an inced drink creates a health hazard. The curdled milk was the last straw. I no longer support this place, and now stick strictly to City Dock and Caffe Pronto. You should do the same.
(2)Fenny L.
I think coffee is the only thing that anchors my husband in this realm of existence. As my brother can attest (he's only seen my husband mad once - and it was before he had his morning cup), like an Elder God from the Necronomicon, my husband would unleash his unholy wrath upon the world, causing despair, mayhem and insanity to all that encounter his continence, if it wasn't for regular infusions of coffee. So, I think you can imagine the fear that stalked my heart when we pulled into Annapolis for an afternoon of blitheful wanderings, and I saw the dark crazed look creep into my husband's eyes. Fortunately, we parked a mere block away from Hard Bean. I quickly ushered him into the warm confines before many more small children could be traumatized, and promptly got in line, at the WORLD'S SLOWEST CASHIER EVER. There was a party of naval cadets before us. From what I could gather, the party of 4 was trying to order 2 lattes, and 2 coffees, but the cashier seemed to be having a hard time keeping the order straight. Eh. 8 minutes later (yes, I time people, let me be in my neurosis), we get to the counter, and my husband tries to order 1 (singular) cup of regular drip coffee. In the amount of time it took for the cashier to ring my husband up, take his money, and hand him a cup, I was able to: 1) tweet about how slow she was 2) update my FB status on how slow she was 3) check into foursquare.com 4) bookmark on Yelp to review this place 5) text my BFF on going to MoMA for the Tim Burton exhibit when I go up to see her 6) send my mom a text message, just to confuse her (she's learning texting...bwhaha!) and 7) dig through my purse to find chapstick, use it, then realize I grabbed the wrong chapstick, put it back in the purse, rummage again, until I got my Yelp passion fruit flavored chapstick, apply, ask my husband if he wanted any, then put it back into my purse. Ridiculous? Yes, I believe it was. There is a very adorable indie bookstore as a part of this coffee shop, with plenty of seating. I would have been interested in browsing around, however, after waiting so long to get coffee, I just got too antsy and wasn't in the mood - no matter how cute this place looked. So 2 stars, because the bookstore definitely looked cute, and because the coffee was hot and strong enough to keep my husband from devolving into a multi-tenticled angry mass of destruction.
(2)M H.
There have been significant changes at Hard Bean, recentlly. I have to say that I am sad to see a large volume of the books go. The coffee and teas are excellent and the staff is friendly. Though the selection of sandwiches is limited, they do all of them extremely well. Finally, there is an excellent assortment of baked goods that taste as good as they look.
(5)John C.
Great coffee and bagels, a great Christmas Morning tradition. Thanks for being open!!
(4)Corinne D.
This place is so confusing. A long time ago it was just a bookstore and coffee shop which is like a good idea and cute and everything. I went to the midnight release of the 5th Harry Potter book here. I just looked it up and apparently that was nine years ago... So, since then they have super shrunk down the bookstore part of the store so it's basically just a corner in the back. Then they sell a bunch of stupid touristy knick knacks, and coffee, and ice cream, and hot dogs (???), and alcohol. Like they really just keep adding things that don't relate to each other and selling them and none of them are good. And the windows are just covered in tons of tacky signs advertising the deals on hot dogs and ice cream and all that. I think they stay in business because of tourists who don't know better, but really it's just terrible. Really you can get everything they sell here at other places downtown that are way better! If you want coffee go to City Dock. If you want books go to the Annapolis Bookstore. If you want ice cream go to Annapolis Ice Cream Company. If you want a hot dog go to Pip's. And if you want either touristy knick knacks or alcohol you have basically a thousand options and they are all probably better than here.
(1)Jen L.
Its interesting to find a coffee/book store that also serves alcohol. Their Irish coffees are the best! As far as book selection, I am still in favor of Barnes and Nobles or ordering online. But if you are looking for local books about Maryland, the Naval Academy and the Chesapeake this is the place to be. They do quite a few book signings by local authors here so if you are into reading local books, this is a good place to find them. During the weekday is the best time to go. On the weekends, you might come across a lot of midshipmen studying in there. They don't have much seating area, so it may not be a good quiet cozy place to have some coffee.
(4)Drew M.
Update 8-18-12 So here we go again, downgrade the rating because of service. The service is so inconsistant. Today it was the kid crew who are utterly confused and unfocused. They let the coffee run out, they forget that they are brewing new coffee and never put it out, just utter confusion and poor service. it a real turn off and makes me think twice about going.
(2)Angela U.
Everything I'm going to say has been said anyway, but I'll add my thoughts, too. I'm always pulling for local businesses, and prefer local coffee houses over big national chains any day. That being said, Hard Bean wins the award for making the WORST Chai Latte I have ever had. Ever. I met a former colleague there for a cup and chat this past week, and she offered to pay so I felt obligated to drink the entire thing. Let me tell you, it was painful. The atmosphere is incredible... perfect location, lots of little snack and light fare choices, and a lot less books than there used to be, but still, a small handpicked selection. If you're there to relax, I recommend it. If you're there for the coffee, try Caffe Pronto on Forest Drive instead.
(2)Phil V.
I'm an outta towner and my friends decided to show me around a bit. Lovely little downtown. Nice shops. Etc. But I'm driven to try the coffee shops. It's just something I do. Walk into this place. My friend, knowing I'm a coffee freak, asks the lady behind the counter what kind of grinder they use. More of an inside joke between us. But she merely shrugs her shoulders and says, "a really big one". Hmm. not a great answer to a snob like me. I walk around to inspect the place. Turns out they have very nice equipment. Nuova Simonelli 4 Group machine with a Mazzer grinder. An excellent set of tools. Now, if they could only learn to use them. I ordered my usual machiatto and instead I received a ridiculously awful shot of black bitterness. No crema. Milk was poorly frothed, and needed an equal volume of sugar to make it drinkable. Out of morbid curiosity I asked where they get their beans and how old they are. She just showed me a bag but it was so non-descript it could have been found in the vaults of the Titanic. And it might have been that old. Just awful. Keep walking.
(1)Christine C.
This place definitely get's three starts for location and atmosphere. It's situated right down in Annapolis proper... where all the action is. Their wide open doors are very much so welcoming and the smell is wonderful. You walk in and you are surrounded by books and tables in no particular order. It's cozy alright and there always seems to be a line on Sunday Mornings. So we went Sunday morning. Citydock was just too crowded. I ordered an iced coffee and parfait and Neil had a sandwich. No matter how much sugar I put in the iced coffee it just never got sweet. The coffee was soooo bitter there was no salving it. So that went to the garbage. The parfait must have been made earlier earlier. The granola was completely soggy in the yogurt and it had the texture of oatmeal. Not sure if that was the culinary experience they were going for, but it took me off guard. Mush... but it was tastey. Neil's sandwich was kinda on the small side but it must have been ok, he ate it all. They have many local books and there are some tables in the store that you can just turn around and grab one and take it for a test run. It's a neat little place, but I would probably order a mocha thingy next time and skip the parfait. (They have delicious looking quiches that I do want to try another time).
(3)r. h.
Convenient. This independently owned bookstore/cafe locates at the heart of downtown Annapolis, next to the docks and the USNA. Although it's neither a spectacular bookstore nor a fabulous cafe, the downtown area definitely has a need for this place. It's a good pit stop for tourists after walking down Main St. or touring the USNA. If you're short on pulp fiction, this place can replenish your stash. It has free wi-fi, and the bathroom is reasonably clean. It is more spacious than the nearby City Dock, has more to offer than the branch CityDock on Maryland Ave, and runs more efficiently than 49 West.
(3)Adam T.
This is a nice little coffee / book shop. It's a good place to go and read and enjoy a coffee. They also have some other snacks and ice cream. Some day I might try one of the baked goods, but I've usually stopped off for ice cream before going here.
(3)Will M.
Came in visiting from Baltimore. 8 people on staff on a very unbusy Saturday. Ordered a large coffee. This establishment has 7 or 8 coffee dispensers. My first two options were cold to the touch. I figured it was reasonable at this point to ask for my two bucks back. They seemed totally taken aback by this request, telling me to try the third option, assuring me THIS selection would be hot. I gave up and filled my cup with what ended up being an indistinguishable burnt mess of coffee. Went to the back for a quick whizoo in the trash strewn restroom. A lot of restaurants will encourage you to mention if the restroom is untidy, so I gently let the dude manning the place's hot dog station that "hey just as a headsup, there's garbage in the restroom.". "Yeah, it gets that way." I guess that explains a nice space like this being used so lamely. I guess it just "gets that way" when none of the staff who aren't doing anything at all can be bothered to pick up some paper towel scraps. edited for grammar and spelling.
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