Indie cafes pop up in Toronto quicker than we can keep track of them, but in the case of The Bean on College Street, the opening happened so gradually that it took us a little while to realize it was even new. The space was home to African coffee house Kahawa, but when the owner decided to get into distribution and wholesale, Fausto Carvajal and his partner Natalie Sorokos swooped in. They ran it for a few months as Kahawa and used it as a makeshift testing-ground focus-group and eventually, seamlessly, became The Bean.

Replacing the African focus with a more worldwide selection, The Bean trades in small batches, micro-roasting, and single-origin beans. The Bean's key focus is on roasting daily in batches of only one pound at a time, which allows them the flexibility to seek out rare and coveted beans and feature them one month at a time. Fausto acts as the personal roastmaster, constantly researching and sourcing beans himself, which considering his full-time job (general manager of infamous Gay Village nightclub, Goodhandy's), is both impressive and surprising.

Well that's not exactly true. One of The Bean's most substantial additions to the former Kahawa is its liquor license. Unlike many of Toronto's new café-in-the-morning-lounge-at-night spots ( Blondie's, Charlie's Gallery, and SpiceSafar), however, The Bean's atmosphere stays consistent throughout the day and it's community-centric night-time open-mic performances, local art exhibitions, and stand-up comedy acts couldn't be any further from Goodhandy's "pansexual playground" vibe if it tried. "The Bean is a lounge in that you can literally lounge here. We wanted it to create a lounge environment without being stuffy or pretentious. There's no dress code or loud music, just a comfortable place to hang out."

In fact, beyond bottles of Steamwhistle and Mill Street Organic and $5 glasses of house red and white, all of the cocktails are coffee-based. With drink selections like the Beantini (Kahlua, Vodka, and espresso) and the Fragile Bean (Frangelico, Bailey's, and coffee topped with whipped cream), early morning drinking is a viable option at The Bean (just don't tell your boss). The café doesn't make any of its food in house (yet), but the list of caterers reads like a who's who of Toronto food-sourcers. Between Circles and Squares pastries, Empire Foods, Amy's Sugar Shack, and more, the café is fully stocked with fresh sandwiches, soups, scones, muffins, banana breads, and samosas.

Despite its grand re-opening, The Bean isn't done evolving just yet. With the owners in the café every day talking to customers and garnering suggestions, adding more night events, and changing the art on the walls, it's still a work in progress. But then, that's the norm.