It was the retro Pepsi sign that first drew me into Wild Thing , the Annex's newest cafe and the latest business to sprout up on Harbord Street west of Spadina. Formerly home to Manny's Coffee Shop which had been at this location for twenty or thirty years, Wild Thing is the lovechild of Daniel Cohen, an ex software engineer who traded in his twelve years of writing code for the chance to feed the caffeine-cravings of local residents.

Inside, the refurbished space features a long coffee bar anchored by an Elektra espresso machine and a handful of seating options where patrons can connect to the free WiFi and beat the heat with Daniels' homemade gelato.

Worth checking our are Wild Thing's original flavours including Pineapple and Basil, Mayan Chocolate, Ruby Red Grapefruit with Vodka, Halva and Espresso. All are made with Harmony organic milk and organic sugar.

Also on the menu are three types of panini (all $6.50), salad, fresh lemonade, various iced drinks and the usual assortment of coffee options. The beans used here are not fair trade but are from 49th Parallel , considered by many to make the best espresso blend in North America.

But if you go here, and you're in the mood, the thing to get is their affogato , a scoop of gelato (raspberry, chocolate or vanilla is recommended) with a double shot of espresso. Daniel calls this a small piece of heaven.

More photos: