Mad City Coffee
10801 Hickory Ridge Rd, Columbia, MD, 21044
Mad City Coffee Menu
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Salads & Soups
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Day-starters
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Sandwiches
Healthy Meal suggestions for Mad City Coffee
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Salads & Soups
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Day-starters
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Sandwiches
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
10801 Hickory Ridge Rd
Columbia, MD, 21044 - Phone (410) 964-8671
- Website https://madcitycoffee.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Good for Working : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Andrew R.
Good enough. Entrance is hard to find if you have never been here before. Plus, no left turn out of the parking lot. I arrived early and the wifi didn't wok. Fortunately I had my personal hotspot. The guy at the table next to me had a low grade TB. Coughing, snorting phlegm... Well that doesn't help. I ordered coffee and bottled juice for me and my friend. We chatted for awhile, but the TB hound next to us made it hard to concentrate on what was being said.
(3)Margaret N.
Love their coffee! Would definitely recommend their caramel latte! So yummy and not overbearingly sweet!
(4)Tiffany V.
Came here to study. Service was alright, nothing special. Tried the tea, again not special. At least I got to study in a nice spot without the busyness of Starbucks. Oh yeah free WiFi was a plus!
(3)Scott C.
Nice spot for a morning cup of Joe and a breakfast sandwich. The service is fast and the staff is friendly. SKC
(4)Scott E.
My thoughts about Mad City Coffee should probably be taken with a grain of salt, as I was there on an unusual night. I was one of eleven writers taking part in a Saturday night event which included live music, book sales, etc., and the place was packed. But I will say that under those circumstances -- one of the regulars said the place was more crowded than she'd ever seen it -- the staff came through admirably, managing to keep the long line moving while remain smiling and upbeat. I didn't eat any of the soups or sandwiches, so I can't offer judgement on whether it's worth stopping in for a meal, but during the course of my 2-1/2 hours there, I ordered a peppermint tea, a turtle scone, a raspberry tea, and a pistachio biscottii. I enjoyed it all, but again, I can't tell you what the atmosphere would be like on a usual Saturday night. Seems like it would be a cool place to hang out ... but because of the circumstances, you'd better judge for yourself.
(3)Melissa B.
I really love coming to Mad City Coffee. The service is great and I really like Ron's Tuna sandwiches - he makes them the best :-) This coffee shop is just a nice place to come for study time, work time, or just to meet up and chat. Saturday nights there is live music from local artists which is a nice change of pace. The coffee is good, my favorite is the Tahitian Vanilla blend, it's very smooth and it has just the right amount of sweetness. The Cinnamon Hazelnut is very good also. Even if you're not a fan of coffee, it's still a great place to come.
(4)John P.
I really love this little cafe across from my old apartment...I wish we had one near Nottingham, MD. It's in a STRANGE location (but doesn't everything in Columbia look like an office building? Or in an office building?) but comfortable and has that "trying to be hip factor" common to Columbia....but it works! Decent roasts, nice & attractive staff....all sorts of odd customers (and I mean odd...really near the Columbia Johns Hopkins Hospital locale)...beats the Starbucks! Shop local!
(5)Ms B.
I had time to kill since I left my house too early so I made a bad decision to stop in here for a quick bite. I had a plain bagel with jam. Nasty is the best way to describe it. No crunch or freshness. For me, if you can't make a bagel, the rest of the products must be blah also. Nothing about my experience here would make me want to go back or recommend it to anyone else.
(2)Sloppy J.
Snails would provide faster service. There's a huge line and no one is in any particular hurry. Just because someone is waiting at the counter does NOT mean they are taking your order. Nice enough, the coffee truly mediocre, but way too slow if you're in any kind of rush. Also, they have an annoying habit of being out of everything you want (iced coffee, anyone? Oh sorry, they just ran out. Please.)
(2)Daniela M.
Is it necessary to devein shrimp? Some may think it's unnecessary, BUT it's unappetizing! I had a shrimp salad sandwich at Mad City Cafe and the shrimp were not properly deveined. Some were clean, some were half clean, and some were...well. Despite this "little" issue, the sandwich looked and tasted good. My husband had an egg salad sandwich and he really like it!
(2)Amanda M.
Nice little independent coffee shop. Decent coffee. I had an iced coffee the other day and while they didn't have simple syrup they added a flavor shot to sweeten it for me. The staff was pleasant and efficient. While this is a drive for me so I won't be a regular, I hope those that live nearby will support this place. We need more independents.
(3)Wade E.
I like going to local coffee shops, and this is one of the only ones around. I've purchased whole bean coffee there a couple times, and it has been great. I've ordered coffee drinks there a few times, and it was tasty, but the service wasn't as timely as some other coffee shops in the area. I do like how the whole place smells of fresh roasted coffee, they have a nice pastry selection, and live music. Definitely worth popping into every once in a while if you're not on your way to something in a hurry.
(3)Jordan W.
People are being too harsh...this is the best coffee in the town (for flavored coffee in particular). My new thing is to get 1/2 pound or a pound of a delicious flavor as thank you gifts, bday gifts, housewarming gifts, etc. Some of the best flavors include: Caramel Nut Chocolate Fudge (Favorite) Coconut Cream French Toast (Other Favorite) French Vanilla Southern Toasted Pecan Vanilla Almond I still have plenty left to try. The breakfast sandwiches are decent...I think lakeside cafe and deli does them better but they aren't bad here. The pastries are good too but I honestly only come for the coffee and to buy whole beans. When you go, you have 4-6 options on their brews of the day (and they always have 1-2 decaf). Staff is friendly as well!
(4)Russell R.
I go for the coffee, a light breakfast, and that coffee house atmosphere. Occasionally have something sweet and have never been disappointed. The Wi-Fi tends to be slow, so if you're like me and do some web surfing while enjoying coffee, this is a minor nuisance.
(3)Standards H.
I'm giving Mad City a 3 star rating because it beats places like Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks simply because it's not a generic chain. The coffee is good. The food is just ok, but I don't ever expect great food at a coffee shop. The employees seem a bit strange but again that beats out the alternative of the generic robot type.
(3)Jean G.
I frequent this place often simply because I work across the street. It tries REALLY hard to be quirky and hippie, which it does achieve, but lacks in everything else. I actually like some of the sandwiches, but I reeeeeaallly question their food safety when I peak around the corner and watch them prepare it from ingredients pulled out of tubs that look like they have never been washed. Most of the teenagers, who spend most of the time chatting with each other in front of you, could be more "presentable". I guess that's part of the atmosphere they are going for. Service can be really slow as well, 50/50. The coffee is mediocre, I guess, I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I can tell you that only ONE time out of the ten or so times I have ordered a pumpkin latte, has it actually tasted like pumpkin. Not to mention, you think this place would be pretty cheap for just being a little hippie dive, but it costs the same as starbucks for a cup of coffee.
(2)Frederick A.
Typical nice coffee shop. That's good. Comfortable. Good coffee selection. Quiet, but not too quiet. Free Internet, and the tables along the walls *all* have electrical outlets! Nice touch. Behind the counter staff friendly. It is Columbia, so you cannot see it from the road. Ample parking.
(4)Justin L.
I have just didn't like the consistency of coffee. I don't know if there is an inconsistency with the roast or the extraction. I see potential, but just haven't tasted it yet.
(2)Melody C.
This little coffee shop offers fresh roasted coffee and sandwiches. I've never had their sandwiches before though. Just coffee. I wish this place had good coffee, then I will be here everyday because its so close to me! But even with the flavored they offer, the coffee isn't strong enough. This place is good for studying.
(2)Scott K.
So after my unpleasant dining experience at Asian Palace Fusion which is right next door ( See my review if you're curious about the food ) I was looking forward to a tasty pastry and some good coffee. From the outside, the it smells fantastic. You can smell fresh brewed coffee and sweet butter, but it was like a siren's call. After some contemplation I decided to try their cream cheese muffin. I contemplated because I saw a fruit fly flying around in the display case and was a bit turned off but I really wanted something decent after my meal. So, against better judgement, I got it along with a cup of irish cream coffee. The coffee was okay. It wasn't offensive but it didn't taste like irish cream. It had a subtle spice to it, but I can't put my finger on it. I still prefer starbucks over this place, and does not even come close to barefoot coffee. The reason why I give this place one star is due to the muffin. I took one bite, literally one bite and immediately spat it out and the muffin went straight into the trash. The taste was so offensive I could not stomach it. I mean... WOW! I went from bouncy steamed buns to rancid muffins... Maybe I'm just not having a good food day. If y'all insist on coming here, I would say just get the coffee and steer clear of any baked goods...
(1)Stephanie B.
I keep coming back here because it is the closest coffee shop around, but it just keeps losing points in my book. The service here is usually... odd to say the least. The last time the person taking our order was intentionally (and obviously) putting on a fake, pretensious British accent.... Uh, ok, way to make your customers feel uncomfortable.. Other times the service has just been kind of cold, or too busy to be very helpful. Also, we tend to buy a pound or so of whole bean to drink at home for a week or two, but we've tried two flavors here and both were very meh. We prefer the darker, smooth roasts, and Mad City's were very dry and bitter/off tasting. If you live around 108/Harpers Farm, it's worth your while to go over to Ann's Roastery near the Giant on 108.
(2)Michael C.
Coffee is pretty good but the real perk is the live local artists who play. I'd definitely recommend coming here for a relaxing and slow Saturday or Friday night.
(4)D M.
Had a BLT here yesterday, everything about the place seemed positive, the tomato was mushy and tasteless. All good on other fronts.
(3)Andrea B.
" In my experience, this place just does not live up to its potential. It is one of the last independent (and quirky) coffee houses around (aka not a Starbucks), which I find refreshing. Products are good. But have you ever been there on a Saturday morning? The staff epitomize "I'd rather be anywhere but here." My food order has been executed incorrectly on more than one occasion because they do not listen to me. I've actually heard them guessing what my order was, and ultimately getting it wrong. So, needless to say, I am less than impressed. " 12/9/11 ...That was my opinion a year and a half ago. I felt the need to amend my review, since I think Mad City has made vast improvements in their customer service. The current staff is helpful, friendly and conscientious. I go back more and more frequently, now that I actually feel welcome. I happily enjoy their excellent selection of the FRESHEST coffee around!!
(5)Tiffani N.
Service here is just not good and the place isn't as clean as it could be. Kind of junky and cluttered, but in a messy not quirky way. Ordered some strange chicken and bacon wrap concoction that tasted horrible. Also, had to go back up to the counter to get the wrap because it was just sitting there. I finally noticed it after a few minutes but no one ever announced it was ready, although I was sitting directly adjacent to the counter. Not good.
(2)M. M.
We were passing by one afternoon and saw this place. "Oh boy, a coffee shop that isn't a Starbucks! Let's have a cup!" we exclaimed excitedly. Unfortunately, our joy was short-lived. We ordered a cup of coffee and a single cappucino with a flavor. The coffee was lukewarm-just-verging-on-cold. The cappucino shot was on the skimpy side and I could barely taste the flavoring. I was also bummed that there weren't any "interesting" coffee drinks. I'm not looking for the Caribou Coffee sickly-sweet whipped-cream-deluxe stuff all over the menu, but in my experience many independent coffee places have a few specialties beyond just the usual coffee, latte, cappucino, espresso. Didn't see a one. They did have a pretty big pastry selection, the only drawback being that most of the selections were big enough to feed three people. I guess that's typical of Columbia but I don't really want a cinnamon roll bigger than my head, I just want a normal size one. Maybe it was the time of day we came (afternoon) but almost everybody in the place was a senior citizen and the music being played (some ersatz Joni Mitchell stuff) didn't really do it for me. As someone else noted, this place really doesn't have much personality or atmosphere (again, typical of Columbia). We probably won't be back unless it's to buy whole bean coffee to take home, of which they do have a reasonably good selection.
(2)Michael M.
Your local independently owned coffee shop that also serves sandwiches and baked goods. It makes for a great hangout, which is probably why I have become a weekly regular. They have many different flavors of coffee (including decaf) which is all roasted by them. You can buy a cup of the flavors they decided to brew that day, get a specialty coffee or tea, or even a smoothie for something to drink. The sandwiches are freshly made when you order them and there's more choices in breads than you see at most coffee shops. I recommend the Club, Roast Beef, or Chicken Salad. All of their coffee is also sold as whole bean and they'll grind it for you. If you have a flavored coffee lover in the house, drop in here for an easy gift. They do offer free wi-fi for those who do want to kick back with their laptop, and since it is free, be nice and actually buy something while you're there instead of taking up space and bandwidth.
(5)Dan N.
At first glance, Mad City Coffee is a standard small independent coffee house. Free WiFi, places to plug in your notebook, food and coffee tasty, and pretty fairly priced. What I found really less than acceptable was the service. The workers were pretty bored, and really didn't even seem to be interested in being friendly. This is not what I would characterize as a cool, fun neighborhood hangout with character. If you want to go somewhere and not be bothered however, this may be your type of place. I on the other hand, at least prefer a place where people are friendly....
(2)Hope V.
Went to this location a couple weeks ago with my fiancé, they were having a live music night. This was my first time there, and I thought it was a nice place. A bit small, but there are a decent amount of tables to sit at, and it was fairly busy. A lot of the staff are young girls who aren't the most knowledgable when it comes to coffee, but everyone was nice. There's a young man named Alex who makes great drinks and seems to be a favorite among the customers. My favorite drink from there is the chai latte, absolutely delicious. They also have some breakfast foods, sandwiches, and pastries.
(4)Allison L.
OK... I got a groupon deal here and decided to give this place a whirl for breakfast one morning. We walk in and say good morning to a girl behind the pasty display and she gives us a nasty look and continues back to reading her magazine. As we walk up to the counter we are greeted by an obnoxious young man who was speaking as if he was a boxing announcer (you know, the lets get ready to rummmmbbbleee guy?) He was completely cheesy and ridiculous. We weren't familiar with the menu and were trying to read the chalkboard menu but it didn't help that it was partially erased as if someone leaned up against it and smudged everything. We got two cafe au laits, two sausage egg and cheese sandwiches and a cinnamon bun. The coffee drinks were AWFUL. I would have rather drank sour milk. The breakfast sandwiches were decent but the cinnamon bun followed suit with the coffee. The bun tasted like it had been sitting in the case for days, it was hard as a rock and did not have a strong cinnamon taste at all. I do not recommend this place and am so glad I had a groupon and didn't pay full price for the items purchased.
(1)Dy U.
The decor is not the reason to go to Mad City, the coffee should be the only reason you classify a true coffee shop as such. This is definitely not Starf*cks- The owner regularly roasts his own coffee which tastes great and make the shop smell wonderful! If you like a dark roast, I definitely recommend stopping by on Friday when Bill brews Italian Roast!!!
(5)Bryan T.
It's not really a cafe, at least not in the sense that I and perhaps others would imagine. It's more like a "lunch place." The decor is basically non-existent and looks a lot like a place where lot of people in suits would go to lunch. I can't speak of the nighttime activities and music I have read about. I was looking for a new place to do daytime work near me. I have two basic criteria, wifi and coffee. Mad City Coffee meets these two very rudimentary requirements. And that's about all. The seats are extraordinarily uncomfortable, and as noted by other reviewers, they are lined up in rows just like in gradeschool. There is a mix of the most inoffensive and boring satellite radio on, which adds to the ho-humness of the atmosphere. The coffee is a lot like you would find in a gas station. Having free wifi is cool, but there is so much unfulfilled potential here. I have no plans to return unless every other cafe in Columbia goes under, and/or I hear they have made some changes.
(2)Danny L.
Neighborhood coffee house. NOT starbucks which is a plus.
(4)Jennifer M.
I would like to come to this place more and support an independent coffee house, but every time I come service is very slow and lack luster. I used to be a barista, as well as own an organic coffee shop and the "burnt taste" to the coffee is just too much espresso being put in the beverages. My main complaints are: coffee always scalding hot (an i have yet to see one barista there use a thermometer to make sure it doesn't go over 120 degrees, 110 to 120 being ideal temp), too much espresso in lattes for the size, not enough flavoring in drinks, slow service, and the sandwiches are expensive, time consuming, and really plain (like something you could make at home). The other day i got a latte at 6:30pm, waited 10 mins, burnt my tongue for the third day in a row, and had to wait til 7:20 until my coffee was finally sip-able. The sizes of their drinks is also strange, just call a large a large and not an extra super large or whatever it is. Whats more confusing is there seems to be five to eight people behind the counter and service is still slow. I used to run a shop that size by myself, cooking and making drinks. No one ever had to wait more than two minutes for anything. Everybody seems to be in everyones way due to inconvenient set up and no one having a set job to do. Im not crazy about the location either, seems a very poor choice, tucked outta sight in an empty office building. On the plus side it is spacious and the decor is cute. They have quality espresso when they arent loading you up with it, and local artist jewlery on display. They could def offer baked goods in smaller portions, everything looks delicious but i cant buy a muffin the size of my head.
(2)Jayne M.
This place is ok. The coffee sometimes has a bit of a burnt taste to it. The staff are a bit quirky, some friendly, some never managing to crack a smile. It's been better in the last year or so since the mostly teenage staff (and their noisy friends hanging out) who would mess up your order then act like you were creating a problem by complaining have given way to the more experienced folks. When you ask for a toasted sandwich, if you want it toasted as opposed to just being warm bread, you have to ask them to put it through twice. If you want a really relaxing cosy coffee shop experience, this probably isn't it. The tables and chairs are set up almost in rows, a bit too close to each other, and unless you get a seat by the window, the ambiance is not up to much. In the summer, you can sit outside, but you are really in a strip mall parking lot, there aren't even any outdoor plants in pots to make you feel the love. It's noisy when cars come in and out, and smelly if they park next to your table. Three stars for a coffee shop that's really ok, not great, not bad. Sorry I don't know 'Bill' like the other reviewer so I won't say hi.
(3)Sarah G.
MadCity is probably ranks 2nd of 3 coffee shops I frequent in Columbia. But, it gets major points for having better coffee and more seating than the other two (Anna's and Riverside). The coffee is great, I love how they keep the fresh beans in big glass jars all over the shop. The chai is your standard powdered mix but they ask if you want it more chai or more latte which I appreciate. The baristas seem really friendly and I enjoy that they have rewards cards for coffees. Their food menu doesn't really peak my interest- it's mostly sandwiches- I usually stick to the daily soups which are good. Dan H, I don't know what time of day you come here but each time I've been, it was packed! Not that I have to fight to find a seat, but it's definitely not the quietest of workplaces. I tend to get there between 3 and 4 and stay til 5 when I go. I do wish it was more convenient to get to, but it won't stop me from coming back!
(4)Nadia M.
Powerhouse sandwich never disappoints! Extra hummus. Quick pick me up protein (vegetarian) gets me through the day. Thank you!
(5)Reezle W.
Mad City gets 4 stars today. 5 for food, since the chili was great and my power house with egg was perfect. 4 stars for service though. Things got a little confusing at the front counter, they brought our chili out before I could even finish ordering and paying, and then another employee started ringing up another customer at the only register mid order. It was chaos, so I was flustered by the time I got to sit down for lunch. It's a minor thing, but I'm glad we stopped by for lunch.
(4)Jean-Philippe D.
Great location but.... Coffee is disappointing. "Brown water" kind. This place has great potential but really needs to make better choices in their selection. Almond croissant was evidently old. Croissant sandwich (not good) had ridiculous amount of tasteless scrumble egg. Need to review proportions and recipes..
(1)Sam K.
Good coffee, good wifi, nice people! Good work environment as well.
(4)Yuchen L.
All kinds of bugs on the muffins in the summer! The coffee is not hot! You can buy coffee beans here but please do not buy any dessert !
(1)Dan H.
Love this place, it's comfortable, quiet, never crowded, and the staff are knowledgeable and pleasant. I always support local, independent businesses when I can, so I drive by four Starbucks to get here! Lol The food is good, fresh, and made to order. The coffees and teas are excellent and fairly priced. My only complaint is the shelf life of their beans for purchase. I counted 30 10lb? glass jars of different flavored roasts. None had roast dates on them, they were in glass jars that were not air-tight, and exposed to direct sunlight. I'm not sure what the turnover is on these beans, but I doubt the fall flavors I saw were roasted in the last week. If they turn over beans that quickly, good for them! But, I'm suspicious. Don't let that keep you from checking this place out though.
(4)Maria P.
4.5 stars This place is wonderful! It kinda reminds me of a candy shop, but with coffee grinds and flavors instead of candy. You'll see what I mean when you come here. The baristas are extremely friendly and helpful when it comes to picking out a drink. My go-to would be a chai latte, but upon checking in an offer for a $3.99 double-flavored latte popped up. Who am I to turn it down? After much debate (which was done directly in front of the cash wrap with the help of both customers AND baristas) I decided on a Raspberry Amaretto soy latte. I know my friend was thrilled :P MMMM. The drink was perfect. So perfect that I would consider driving 20 miles out for some quality book and/or laptop time! Not convinced yet? They also have food. Breakfast items, soups, sandwiches...and if you go to their website, they have coupons! I love coupons. Coupons=money saved. Coupons are awesome. :D
(4)Brooke T.
I've been wanting to try this place out, just because the name is pretty dang cool. I'm a geek, I know. So it is located in this building odd location IMO, can't say it is super noticeable from the street. Inside is kind of kitschy... just a bunch of... stuff. I used my yelp app to check in and got a discount drink (score), caramel mocha. It was a bit bitter initially, but the staff quickly adjusted it to my liking. Apparently they have a loyalty card, food, and scones that look yummy. They also have a wall of just about every type of coffee you can think of. I don't frequent that area, but if I'm around I'll go back.
(4)Brook H.
I'll be honest and say I'm not a coffee drinker. Not that I don't like the taste, but I avoid caffeine for the most part. Still, sometimes you find yourself in a coffee shop like I did when I met with a local politician. When in Rome... Well, get me a toga. This place is pretty good! I mean, Starbucks isn't bad but it's so commercialized. The coffee here was pretty decent and the food was nice. Had myself a nice breakfast sandwich that was quite tasty. Less McDonald's and more Country Kitchen, with the cheese melted just right on the egg. So, while I cannot guarantee I'll go to a coffee shop anytime soon, I can say if I'm in the area this one is just right.
(4)Yimei W.
I was mad hungry before going to Patient First and yes I would advise people to grab food before you go for your urgent care visit (it's generally pretty fast, but you do have to wait a bit between nursing stations.) I managed to eat half a powerhouse sandwich while waiting for my turn. And that powerhouse sandwich was from Mad City Coffee. I didn't have coffee, so no comment there. But the cashier recommended the powerhouse sandwich and I got that. For about $8, at least it was worth it in size and had fresh ingredients. I was able to eat half and be quite satisfied, and save the other half for later. They offered it on bread or wrap, and there's avocado in it. I felt it was kind of expensive for a mostly veggie sandwich though, usually I'm used to paying $6-7 for veggie and $7-9 for meat sandwiches. I felt the seating area was ok, the sunlight wasn't coming in very bright so it was probably nice if you wanted some shade. Overall, it was kind of a dim atmosphere, even though it was about noontime. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but if I ever need to go to Patient First again (ugh) I know here's a decent place to grab something healthy pretty quickly. THERE IS A CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE YOU WAIT FOR YOUR COFFEE! AND AN IPAD TO USE WHILE YOU CHARGE UP--SWEET.
(3)Jane A.
Was here to do some work while waiting on my boyfriend. The menu is confusing for those of us who order pretty simple coffee (aka the Dunkin variety and not Starbucks gold card members). I wanted to try their caramel vanilla coffee, as I saw the beans out to be sold. I was told that the couldn't serve me that but that their coffee of the day was some Bavarian chocolate. Too confusing. Just got a regular black coffee and it was just okay. I set up my laptop to do work, connected to the wifi and discovered over the next hour that the wifi was spotty even if the computer said there was a good connection. There weren't a lot of people there and on computers, so it isn't like the bandwidth was being eaten up. It's just a slow, poor connection. I probably won't be back for coffee or to do work.
(2)Courtney W.
I used to love it here because it was a cute and unique locally-owned coffee shop. They had great customer service, which made up for their slightly weak coffee. Well that is no more! The people behind the counter are completely unenthusiastic and do not even greet you or say goodbye to you when you leave. The guy taking my order made me feel like he was doing me some kind of favor by coming to work today. On top of that the trash cans are overflowing even though there are three people on shift.
(2)EmilyGrace D.
Came here a couple days ago for some live music. The staff and everyone in the cafe were all very welcoming and that atmosphere was very nice. My boyfriend and I ordered a hot chocolate, caramel frappachino and a black and white cookie. Where I've never had a black and white cookie I've liked this one was really bad, the drinks took about ten minutes to get to us but were both very tasty. Wish they had a few more options on their menu though. This place also has free wifi and when they aren't having bands play it's pretty quiet so it's a good place to go and get some work done.
(3)Jen Y.
So far, I always have a good coffee experience here.. (my iced latte today tasted like skim milk for some reason.. but that's okay, could be my taste buds not feeling well from last week).
(5)Evelyn H.
This was my first visit. I stopped in to get a quick cup of coffee on a Saturday afternoon. The interior was dirty and the door to enter was grimy & covered with hand prints. Needless to say, there was nothing quick about this cup of coffee. The staff was super slow with a line of about three people. While I waited, I watched a gentleman leave in frustration because he had asked for the self-serve cream container to be refilled and he was ignored by staff. When I finally got to the register the attendant pressed some buttons & stared at me without offering a total amount so I knew how much to pay. Really strange. As I was leaving I heard a patron say, "there sandwiches are like half the size that they used to be...". Don't think I'll be back.
(2)Sara A.
There is a new gal working there, Dayna, who is beyond amazing! Always so polite and bubbly, she's made several recommendations to food we've order and they were bang on! The service and food has definitely improved since she started!
(4)Ray W.
I like independent ventures. If they are locally-owned, so much the better. Such enterprises get automatic credit. In other words, I will overlook or minimize some things, since the experience is about more than the experience. In a different locale, Mad City would be an average independent coffee shop. It is above-average for the area, as it is one of the few around. If you are a serious coffee person, you will have quibbles and complaints. I get it. But Mad City is a roasted oasis in a desolate landscape. It's in a weird location--tucked away in a small office park. It has a parking lot that is a colossal pain in the arse to access and egress (it's a Columbia thing...never make it easy to get to a place...). But once there, you can tuck in and chill. I won't go into coffee nerdness. I am not a coffee nerd, but I know many, and I know what they would say. Visit yourself and form your own opinions. I do enjoy their light roast, though... A few notes: * Don't be put off by the greeter/cashier guy with the voice. At first I thought it was an ironic joke. Another visit confirmed that the voice is part of persona or it is natural. Either way, just roll with it. * I was surprised by the absence of "fixins" for the coffee--nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. It may be their "thing". Sugar, yes. Spices, not to be found. * Relax. It's a good atmosphere, and it is surrounded by contrived, Columbia-office-space soul destruction. So enjoy your cuppa and drink in the aromas.
(4)Olivia M.
I'm a big fan of their tuna salad on pump. It's very well done. Their coffee selection is good and they have a great variety of flavors to boost the java! Only downside is that it's not open early enough to replace Starbucks (I think they open at 8). The bars on the counter are organic and varied but high priced and somewhat strange. I picked up something that I thought was a brownie but had apricot and fig instead. Not what I expected.
(3)Mitch M.
Wide selection of whole bean varieties and roasts. Like 30 flavored syrups. Different daily brews from all over. Food is a coin flip. Stay away from breakfast foods except pastries because the egg meat cheese combos are made with precooked ingredients. Their lunch sandwiches are pretty great though. Iced drinks aren't worth the time either. They use prebrewed coffee from a pitcher kept in the fridge. That would be ok if the price was right. Their dessert case has lots of good stuff but the lighting for it doesn't help it sell. Advice- try some stuff out for yourself. One more thing- the staff are mostly 18ish or younger and are all weird in the best way. You'll either love em or hate em. They do good work
(3)Joel L.
Nice place to stop. Excellent Wi-Fi and friendly staff. A hard working local business with an additional location in the hospital across the street in the main lobby. I am a volunteer there and I send them many a customer. The sandwich menu is very popular, I may try it yet. Note: They are roasters, the coffees tend to be rather strong.
(4)Patricia A.
When in this area of Columbia I like to stop in for lunch. My favorite sandwiches are chicken salad and egg salad. The portions are generous. Mad City also has a decent selection of pastries, and I have indulged from time to time. Even though this place is styled as a coffee shop I've never actually tried their coffee because lunchtime is simply too late for me to drink caffeine. I should also add that the people behind the counter have always been very polite.
(4)Danyelle J.
This place is right across from my new job which is fantastic! The service there is always good. The seem very interested in making sure my orders are correct. The have free wifi so there is some points. Plenty of tables! They have a feeling of a old back in the day coffee shop. Kind of Antique decor. Chalk board menu. The coffee there is okay. They have plenty of different flavors coffees. Their pastries are really fresh! I get the banana nut muffin. Yum! (however I usually go when they first open up if you come later in the day that might change) They have small lunch menu that has the basic sandwiches and wraps. Only negative to me is it's a little too pricey for basic food!
(3)Emmet T.
OK, I have to admit I've been back to Mad City several times and have really grown to like this local coffe shop that isn't a chain. Service has always been decent since the one loser that waited on me over a year ago. Some of Today's Special coffees are great.
(4)Elena I.
Woke up on a Saturday excited for the weekend when we realized we were out of coffee!!!! We decided to go here since its close to our house...got two coffees and breakfast bagels! They were fresh and delicious and the coffee was strong and delicious! Great prices too! Will definitely go back for the live music.
(4)Mike G.
Nice independent coffee shop. Comfortable place to sit and do some work. Good coffee (Triple Cappuccino in my case). Nice menu. My sausage, egg and cheese bagel hit the spot. Very friendly staff.
(4)Justin F.
My 2nd coffee joint in 2 days. They brew a bazillion flavors, and I'm enjoying the Hazelnut coffee now. Nice vibe (U2 on radio, folks on computers, comfy tables/chairs), and the sight of cakes, sweets, bagels and salads in the counter case.
(5)Fuad K.
I was hoping for real ceramic cofee mugs like Sidamo Coffee in Laurel. No such luck, but prices are up there; almost $8 for a medium raspberry mocha (after coupon) and a cookie. Internet speed is sad... 0.1 Mbps download. If you don't need coffee better to go down the street to HCC campus, free Internet at over 30 Mbps.
(2)Scott H.
I'm not sure this coffee shop is for me. It's weird, because everything about it on first sight suggested it would be. As it turns out, I'm not sure what it's supposed to be. I care a lot about the quality of coffee I make, so I come here mostly to buy their whole coffee beans. They are one of the few options in the immediate area. I didn't like Anna's because they either had garbage beans or lied about the roasting date. I gave them 3 stars because they consistently had a decent selection of well-labeled single source beans that were (mostly) roasted weekly. The Kenyan and Ethiopian coffee was pretty much my go-to. Unfortunately, they make some weird decisions like roasting the high dollar stuff (Hawaiian Kona for example) in large batches and then letting sit there for months. It's now been at least a month since they ran out of most of their expensive stuff and they haven't felt like getting any more. I know this from bits and pieces of interacting with the cashiers who mostly don't care at all. It's hard to know whether they roasted one type of coffee on the roasting day (Thursday) and the people there always get surly and impatient when I ask. They had an awesome older guy (compared to the teenagers who work there at least) who absolutely knew his beans and was great at telling me what I needed to know. Haven't seen him there in a while, so I suspect he's left. I don't even know how to review them as a coffee shop. I usually order a macchiato from a coffee place to get a feel of their quality, but they don't make those here. In fact, most espresso drinks other than cappuccinos or cafe lates are nowhere to be seen. I got a cappuccino and it tasted like one from any Starbucks or similar push-button coffee place. Their black coffee was unremarkable. I only had food here once, and I got a lox bagel. It was pretty solid, but not enough to make me come here rather than other local spots like Charter Deli. Ultimately, this place is a jack of all trades and master at none. It has food, but it's alright. It does coffee drinks, but none of the ones fancy enough to justify a standalone place. It sells whole bean coffee, but not reliably. Thank god I'm moving to a place (Houston) with awesome coffee shops and roasters that cater to snobs like me who take it a bit too seriously.
(3)Wayne G.
The place is fairly clean, the coffee tastes to me like they short change the number of beans, and the pastry seems aged and seeing them in plastic wrap adds to the suspicion. The brownie I ate was old and the non-flavored coffee of the day was weak. The place is clean though the bathroom could use some work. The upsides of this place are you feel like you are in a coffee shop (beans all over the place for ambiance) and the staff is very attentive. It is unlikely we'll visit again in spite of the attentive staff. The coffee and food are short of the mark.
(2)Ji Ye Y.
Heard of the place from a friend. Came by one afternoon to grab some coffee and to just chill and study. Great cozy atmosphere. Good coffee. Will definitely come back to try different blends.
(4)Asa B.
I was with my little niece to pick up my mom at Patient First so in the meantime waiting for her to get out my niece was feeling hungry and I suggested her to go to Mad City Coffee to get breakfast sandwich I ordered egg and cheese on corrisant with sweet ice tea which was unsweet! My niece got egg and cheese with bacon on toast bread and grapefruit juice! The total was $13.70 including tax, our food was ready very quick the eggs were thick, large and tasty but the corrisant was very sweet unlike i get all the time at other places, the employees were very very nice, professional and patient I really like the environment there, thats still one of a good places out there that I know treat customers well and with respect, they have free wifi and free cellphone charging station!
(3)Aamir N.
Very friendly staff and great selections. Near the hospital and medical offices so a great place to visit before or after a doctors visit.
(4)Mary M.
Nice local coffee shop. Not as busy as others in the area. They roast and grind their own coffee so it's pretty fresh. They have a good assortment of teas too.
(3)Sasha H.
First time I went there I ordered a latte. It tasted burnt & the milk wasn't steamed right. When done correctly the milk tastes sweet. Yesterday & today I went there for ice coffee. I noticed yesterday they had pumpkin spice coffee brewing for hot coffee (I remembered because it's July!). So today I went in and they had pumpkin spice on the menu for iced coffee. I asked the girl at the counter (with a scowl on her face) if the ice coffee was brewed yesterday, she told me it was & they didn't have any fresh iced coffee. I won't be going back. I'd rather drive to Starbucks. Yuck & Lame are the two best words for this place!
(2)Adam S.
Definitely a nice little find in Columbia. The staff was friendly and the food was decent for a coffee shop. Would come here again. Didnt try their coffee because I had already had a few cups that day but nice place to do some work.
(3)