Kwento and Nile Coffee Club are a match made in heaven - what could be better than cake and coffee? 

The collaborative retail space opened at the beginning of July 2024. Although small, the shop on the corner of Dundas West and Brock Avenue is hard to miss.

Vibrant and playful, with colourful geometric shapes adorning the storefront, it's a fun spot to unwind, chat, eat a cupcake or bite of tiramisu, and sip on their signature blend. 

​​Inside, there's even more fun to explore. An entire wall is dedicated to an array of delightful items: candles for your next celebration, birthday cards, branded tees, mugs, and even an incense holder.

A large clear display case showcases several beautifully decorated cakes, and behind it, you'll likely spot Shannon Nocos, the owner of Kwento, baking away. 

Nocos, who comes from a design and management background, chose to pursue baking more seriously during the pandemic. Her experiments in the kitchen quickly revealed how hand-in-hand the two go together. 

"I really loved the canvas that I would get with cakes, and coming from a design background, it kind of all made sense," Nocos shared with blogTO. "Composition, texture, colour, all of those things are what I use when I design cakes."

Kwento has quite an extensive cake menu with eight flavours ranging from Citrus Olive Oil to Carrot Mascarpone. Their mini cakes ($30-40) serve two to four people, and their medium cakes ($55-65) serve eight to ten. 

The self-taught baker is well known for her distinct maximalist style, with each cake showcasing plenty of colour and texture. 

The fringe-style cakes have a furry appearance and immediately reminded me of the characters from Sesame Street. 

There are also the Marie Antoinette-inspired classic piping cakes, often topped with maraschino cherries. 

The cupcakes are equally exciting (one for $4.40, four for $17). Popular flavours include the Chocolate Guinness and Salted Caramel or the Ube Butter. Many of the flavours, like the ube, are Filipino-inspired. 

Another favourite is the Vanilla Cardamom and Salted Caramel layered with Yema, a sweetened condensed milk. The vanilla cupcake was light and airy, and I loved the sweet and salty notes.

Flavours also vary seasonally, with the Raspberry Lemon and Cream Cheese being in the current rotation. 

Kwento is the Filipino word for story. While studying at culinary school in the Philippines, Nocos often heard the term used among classmates.

"When my classmates and I would go out for drinks or coffee after class, they would say 'Let's make kwento.' So it means to share stories and the building of friendships and relationships," Nocos explained. 

Nile Coffee Club shares similar values. 

Born from a chance meeting on a coffee bench, Nile Coffee Club believes coffee isn't just a beverage but a point of connection. 

The Black-owned coffee brand started by Sandrine Somé, Taher Elsheikh and Jahmal Padmore, hopes to serve as a place of community, creativity and collaboration.

They're also all about rejecting the hustle culture often associated with coffee, and instead, encouraging people to slow down and savour the moment with every sip. 

All of their blends are crafted from premium, high-quality beans. The popular Diaspora blend, made with Ethiopian and Brazilian beans, boasts a rich and deeply flavourful profile with notes of chocolate and cherry.

You can purchase bags of this blend in-store (250 g for $22, 5 lbs for $120) or drink a freshly brewed cup prepared by one of the baristas.

The Cappuccino ($4.25) was delicious. It was smooth and velvety with the perfect amount of frothy foam. 

Their other blend, Limón, fuses select beans from Costa Rica, South America, and Africa. It's a lighter, refreshing roast with notes of blueberry, citrus, and cocoa. 

Aside from coffee, Nile Coffee Club also serves up a great Iced Matcha ($5.50). Cool and creamy, it's the perfect refreshment for a sunny day. 

There's also a seasonal menu to try from as well. The Strawberry Lychee Kwencher ($5.00) is fruity and bright. 

To go with your beverage, I recommend trying one of the muffins ($4.50). The Banana and Chocolate Miso was my favourite, but if you prefer something lighter, the Lemon and Wild Blueberry is also excellent.

The food item that best represents Kwento and Nile Coffee Club's partnership is the Tiramisu ($12), made with the Diaspora blend.

This layered dessert is perfectly balanced - sweet and bitter, rich yet light. It was one of my most memorable bites, and you get a fairly generous portion.

Just as Kwento and Nile Coffee Club have joined forces, they're excited to have a space that brings customers together and look forward to welcoming new faces to their colourful outdoor benches.

Kwento and Nile Coffee Club are located at 1637 Dundas St West.