Hunter Coffee Shop may be named for Ryan Hunter, but is very much so the brainchild of his partner Lori Duncan.

The angular space has played host to a mixed bag of businesses over the years, but now shines as a bright spot along a sleepy strip.

Design spearheaded by the pair of owners was brought to life with the help of architect Margaret Krawecka.

Dreamy textures, tones and materials like exposed brick, peach and marble collage together in the bare-bones takeout space, where about half a dozen squat stools provide minimal seating, light spilling in through a floor-to-ceiling front window.

Coffee is custom roasted in small batches by Classic Gourmet in Concord, Ontario, the espresso somewhere between a light and a medium roast and used for all espresso-based drinks.

There’s also a custom dark roast and light roast used for drip, the dark standing up a little better to milk for those that prefer it that way, the light a little better black.

However, when Hunter and Duncan collaborated with Classic Gourmet they didn’t go too far in either the light or dark direction, or too extreme with flavours. Bags are $14 to take home.

They’re using a hand-me-down Simonelli Aurelia II, though you’d never know from how it’s been revamped in sleek white.

A cappuccino ($3.50 for a single) is rendered with pretty latte art, and they have Califia almond milk and Pacific Barista Series soy as well. Ceramics by Michele Hickey Gemin throughout the space add an extra touch of design flair. Ice anything, like a latte ($4.25 single shot) for 50 cents.

Food items like vegan overnight oats with chia soaked in coconut milk are provided by Sovereign not far away.

They also do a variety of sweet and savoury scones ($3).

Mini quiches are $5, and there are even vegan patties from Sovereign.

The hidden find here are gelato bars ($5.50) from nearby stall Bar Ape, in ever-changing artisanal flavours like lemon, raspberry, or coconut and toasted almond and coveted throughout the city.

Croissants both butter ($2.75) and chocolate ($3) are provided by another institution in the neighbourhod, beloved French bakery Pain Perdu.

There’s no WiFi or table space here to speak of, so don’t count on this being your new laptop work session spot. But as a place to pop in and enjoy some well-made local products, this darling cafe is everything it needs to be.