In Toronto’s crowded coffee scene, it takes more than an exposed brick wall to stand out.

Storefront of Colombian café Maderas on Ossington Street featuring a coffee bean in a simple but distinct design.

As I was sitting in a café with my friends a few days ago, we talked about it: the dreaded six-dollar coffee. Nobody has to have it, and yet, it’s always hard to resist. There must be something psychological about being presented with a hot drink by someone else in an environment that isn’t your living room or kitchen.

Regardless of the reasoning behind it, we recognized that spending so much on coffee wasn’t sustainable. Together, we pledged to make more coffee at home instead of going out and make a conscious effort to resist the urge of the regular coffee shops we visit.

In the search for new places where I can occasionally splash out on coffee this year, you can check out five cafés that I’ve frequented across Toronto, each with a unique atmosphere that made them stand out from the noise.

The Creative One: The Maker Bean Cafe

The entrance to the Maker Bean Cafe with its distinct red sign that makes it stand out amongst dozens of stores on Bloor Street.

Nestled in-between the Dufferin and Ossington subway stations at 1052 Bloor St. W., the Maker Bean Cafe is distinct from other cafés because of its offerings beyond coffee.

A 3D printing machine allows for the printing of preset or custom designs, and laser cutting lets you cut and engrave designs to make things like coasters, cutting boards, and Christmas ornaments.

Coffee-wise, Maker Bean has a more typical but still tasty selection of classics like a cappuccino and iced beverages. It also serves seasonal menus with newer drinks like a pumpkin spice latte or peppermint mocha.

Verdict: The Maker Bean is perfect for coffee and beyond with the comfortable indoor workspace and the ability to create makes a unique combination in the Toronto café scene.

Big city living: Dineen Coffee

Dineen Coffee has a modern all-glass store on the ground floor of the recently renovated historic Dineen building, originally built in 1897.

Located on the corner of Yonge and Temperance Streets at 140 Yonge St., Dineen Coffee embodies the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto.

From waiting for the right time to snag one of the constantly packed tables to overhearing conversations between lawyers and business people waiting for their coffee, Dineen definitely isn’t for those looking for some downtime.

Like the other cafés on this list, Dineen serves food and drinks in proper mugs and dishware if you tell baristas that you’re dining in. This makes for a fully-fledged and environmentally-friendly dining experience.

Verdict: Dineen Coffee is a chic blend of a modern downtown surrounding tucked inside a fully restored historic building from the late 19th century. Additionally, the space features a small patio space in warmer months. Lattes, mochas, and other drinks deliver a rich-tasting experience, but the plain espresso leans slightly to the sour side.

Backyard bliss: Cafe23

At first glance, Cafe 23 appears as a narrow space on Queen Street. Behind its minimalist street sign, the café has a deep plot of land that houses a patio.

Sitting on Queen St. a quick walk from Trinity Bellwoods Park at 728 Queen St. W., Cafe 23 stands out from the other shops on the street with its distinctive subway-Esque sign that boldly features the number 23.

While the inside of the café is comparatively small, it is decorated nicely with an assortment of books, mirrors, plants, and art on the walls that give it a cozy atmosphere.

The main attraction, however, is Cafe 23’s backyard patio. Isolated extremely well from the loud noise on Queen St., the patio has a good number of tables and chairs in the backyard as well as on the elevated first-floor porch of the building exterior. With a selection of trees along the fence, cute birds looking for crumbs also frequent the backyard space.

On the drinks menu, Cafe 23 has the most consistent taste across its lineup from all the cafés featured on this list. This ensures a great cup of joe every time you go.

Verdict: The café with one of the most secluded and expansive patios you can find in Toronto’s core, Cafe 23 is great for enjoying the sun and fresh air when sitting down for coffee. Their baked goods are sometimes too dry, but their coffee beverages consistently taste good.

Workspace in the summer: Versus Coffee

Inside a newer building in Toronto’s core, Versus Coffee has a full window storefront with views onto its patio and Adelaide Street.

Because of traffic and its proximity to main streets like Yonge and Queen, finding a comfortable and relatively quiet café in the downtown St. Lawrence Market neighborhood isn’t easy. Versus Coffee, located at 70 Adelaide St. E., was exactly what I was looking for.

With a smaller indoor space, Versus’ main feature is its outdoor patio. In the spring and summer, the patio has plenty of seating and sits nicely in the sun. It also has enough umbrellas to allow for sitting outside while enjoying the weather without being blinded by the sun.

Intricate latte art is featured on all coffee, which shines the most in the dine-in mugs that Versus uses at the café. The coffee menu itself is classic, and most drinks have iced-coffee counterparts that create a good selection of drinks for warmer weather. The flat white served at Versus is my favourite of the cafés on this list.

Verdict: Versus is my go-to for coffee when I’m downtown in the summer. A patio in the sun and insta-worthy latte art make it one of the best places to catch a break with friends or go solo and read a book or get work done.

Living room vibes: Field Trip Cafe

Field Trip is accessible by walking, public transit, and easy bike parking directly outside. Its patio with a small fence gives some privacy from noise on the street.

When I’m looking for my ‘home away from home’ coffee shop, Field Trip is my place to go. Located in Bloorcourt Village close to the Maker Bean Cafe, Field Trip is just off Bloor Street at 3 Westmoreland Ave.

Inside, the atmosphere immediately transports you to a cozy living room: an assortment of plants sits on shelves and hangs from the ceiling, and mirrors and artwork decorate the walls. The selection of seating with tall bar stools, school desks with attached chairs, and more traditional chairs and tables adds to the fun and laid-back atmosphere.

From a standard coffee menu to tasty seasonal drinks like ginger apple cider in the winter and iced teas in the summer, field trip has drinks that satisfy a range of tastes. The lineup of sweet drinks like the mocha or hot chocolate is on the sweet side.

Verdict: When I’m looking for somewhere to study or sit back for a Zoom meeting or series on Netflix that isn’t at home, I eventually end up at Field Trip because it feels so inviting. The indoor space is filled with green and art, unlike the stark and minimalist interiors of many new cafés. The patio is comfortable for drinking coffee and watching sparrows fly in for a visit in warmer months.