Typist Studios & Coffee doesn't look like much from the outside. The boxy white building is one of many along Dupont Street.

If not for the hand-painted sign and odd assortment of window decorations, it would be all too easy to pass it by.

Take a look inside, however, and you'll find that there's more to this coffee shop than meets the eye.

The main dining room is a large, cozy space filled with wooden tables and comfy couches.

The brick walls and exposed pipes give the space the appearance of a "shabby chic" cafe, while the paintings on the walls hint at a different sort of establishment: one where art plays a central role.

Nicole Bhersafi initially imagined Typist Studios as a haven for artists and writers. The idea to combine the studio with a coffee shop occurred to her while reflecting on the time she spent working as a barista.

The cafe's name, on the other hand, was inspired by a more unusual profession.

"You know those people who sit on the sidewalk in Kensington Market, writing poetry on typewriters? Yeah, that was me," admits Nicole.

Nicole spent several years as a busker, writing poems for people throughout the city. As a result, typewriters feature prominently in the cafe's signage and decor.

Don't let the emphasis on written work fool you, though — Typist Studios offers space to artists of all kinds. Painter Avleen Kaur is the cafe's current "artist in residence", as well as the creative mind behind the pieces on display in the dining room.A large room at the back of the building gives other artists a place to exhibit their work. It currently stands empty, but has been used for many different events since the cafe opened in early 2023.Additionally, Typist Studios promotes work by local artists. Dried florals, arranged by @cherrystudio.xx, are sold in wicker baskets and various zines can be found next to the service counter.The cafe's menu is a mix of traditional coffee shop fare and Middle Eastern dishes, inspired by Nicole's Lebanese background.One of my favourite drinks was the stunning blue matcha tea ($5.25). Though it doesn't taste too different from your standard green matcha, the colour is enough to make this comforting tea feel exciting and new.The iced orange blossom hibiscus tea ($3.75) is a sour drink with floral notes and a bittersweet aftertaste.

Like the blue matcha, its bright colour is a selling point, but its refreshingly tart flavour is the real star of the show.

Coffee options include lattes ($4.75), as well as macchiatos ($4), cortados ($4.50) and house-made mochas ($5).Muffins ($4) are hardly the flashiest item on the menu, but for what they lack in style, they make up for in taste.

Unwrap one and take a bite: you'll find that this pastry is bursting with fresh blueberries.The breakfast sandwich ($8) is a simple but effective meal, consisting of cheese, bacon and velvety eggs on a toasted english muffin.The tomato, za'atar and labneh bagel ($9) is one of two types of bagel. This savoury sandwich takes inspiration from Levantine cuisine, specifically the recipes that Nicole's mother taught her.The other bagel is filled with peanut butter, blueberry and honey ($6) and seasoned with a dash of cinnamon.

It's a sticky treat, but one well worth trying: the smooth peanut butter balances out the acidity of the blueberries, with the cinnamon adding a bit of spice.Za'atar bites ($3) were the result of a "happy accident", according to one of the staff members.

After a piece of leftover croissant dough was accidentally doused in Middle Eastern herbs, Nicole and company realized they could share their creation with the customers and made it a permanent fixture of the menu. "The thing I love most about this job is connecting with people," Nicole explains. "Once you get to know someone, you become a part of their world. You become a part of the ecosystem of other people's lives."Typist Studios & Coffee is located at 390 Dupont St.