LIT Espresso Bar is one of the major players in the Toronto independent coffeehouse scene. The location is spacious and comfortable, unassuming. Decor is much like what you'd find at most indie cafes (seriously someone has to break the mold and go for something really unique, like retro-future chic or...Something!) Unique to LIT is that they project movies up against a wall (volume off) and you can glance over to see anything from When Harry Met Sally to National Geographic specials to cartoons for the kiddies on weekends (note to staff, silent films would be choice).
Also unique to this cafe is that they are the only cafe in Toronto (that I know of) that serves Stumptown Coffee. Stumptown is one of the more heralded North American coffee roasters located in Portland, Oregon, notable home to half naked Goth girls (don't know why I put that here, guess I got Suicide Girls on the brain-haw, haw!) Stumptown's Hair Bender Espresso is well regarded but not unlike Intelligentsia's Black Cat Espresso it's something you're either a huge fan of or just merely find it OK. Their drip coffee is exceptional no question.
What else to tell...Service here is really friendly. I mean the staff are actually sociable while still being able to do their jobs. Shots are competently pulled so no worries of a bitter espresso. They also have a good range of snacks as well as coffee beans to go and the odd coffee brewing device. There seems to be free WiFi as I always see laptoppers (it's a word, I invented it) here.
On the College W. strip this is one of the best places to go for coffee. Rock on, rock on.