Recommended dishes: Bagel, Bacon Egg and Cheese, Muffin, Sandwich
Julia P.
Good local coffee shop! Only tried their coffee (brewed coffee) and it was pretty great. Very reasonable price as well: ~$4 for a 16oz coffee :) The place was crowded on a Thursday morning. Lots of spaces to sit down. Service was decent; said it was my first time visiting and they did a good job explaining different roasts. Generally a hip vibe, nothing fancy but I would definitely recommend getting coffee here over Starbucks if you are in the area. Much better coffee for a similar price point. Plus, support small biz!
Erum Mahmood
The egg and cheese bagel is always a hit. It’s one of the best that I’ve had.I’m a huge latte drinker and always like my coffee to be “milk with a splash of coffee” taste, but Mad City might convince me otherwise. The iced coffee tastes so good by itself that I’ve been trying different beans without milk!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Martin
I'm a specialty coffee roaster and I've also been a cafe manager for years. This coffee was beyond the pale... so much is sitting out in non vacuumed containers for months and months. I asked for a cortado and a drip coffee (one of their flavored ones). The older lady had no clue what I was asking for when I asked for drip coffee....I had to explain the process before they finally figured out what I was talking about. Both drinks were disgusting....I handed them back and left.I have traveled all over the world and I have never seen so much incompetence. They weren't busy and there were 4 people there on staff.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
StarWarsNerd
I had high hopes because this place seems to be local, but unfortunately I left disappointed. They didn’t have an ingredient for the drink I originally wanted so I took a recommendation from the barista. I didn’t know espresso could be bland, but here we are. Half the fun of a coffee shop is the ambience and the first thing that came to mind was grimy which takes the shine off of whatever charm it had left. I’m also pretty sure keeping clear glass jars of whole coffee beans on a window sills accessible to customers is recipe for quality.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Jeff Waltzer
Great atmosphere great coffee. Nice to be able to sit down and enjoy life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel
Laurel “Chef” Virago
Counter staff is very kind, welcoming and happy to answer any questions, no mater how nit-picky.Baked goods are made locally. Scones, muffin and biscotti are more caky and no amaretto. Several jewish desserts too.They also sell local artisan mugs and a few other items.Ask if you want a mug or plate for your items.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cohen selph
The latte tasted burnt and the egg was a microwave egg. Some people may be okay with that but it seems like the food here is very cheap and little effort is put in.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Rachel Goldman
Very great coffee. The day I came in, maybe they were short staffed but it was super slow and there was some attitudes among the stuff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Daniel Reyes
The first time I went, I was expecting at least decent coffee. The place bills itself as a coffeehouse which roasts its own beans (it does), so one expects they know how to brew. They don't. The espresso is bland and rather tasteless. The second time I visited it, I told myself to order a small double espresso with some water. They messed up and gave me a medium double americano. The staff is friendly and alert, but I just don't think they know how to make coffee. I ordered an egg and cheese sandwich on a toasted English muffin. Should be simple. The sandwich had a cold slice of cheddar on top of the egg (tasteless) and the bread was only warmed, not toasted.I won't be coming back.
Best coffee I’ve ever tasted and I’m a coffee snob. I moved out of the area and will now get it delivered to my home so I won’t go without.
Carolyn C.
There aren't many coffee shops in Maryland where one can actually sit, sip and work at! Mad City Coffee makes all the above possible and to top it off, they have a plethora of pastries and sandwiches to pick from when the work hour turns to 12pm. If you do want to sip and work, please be sure to check out their event listing since they tend to have live music.
William I.
Bill has been a landmark in the Hickory Ridge community for decades. Bringing in live music and arts at no cost many times and providing a service which we all need. Say no to corporate coffee! Support your local Mad City!
Zaina M.
Not really great vibes - distant area and just not very welcoming layout. The coffee was so flavorless and very watered down. Not my favorite coffee spot in this area at all. Workers were nice but I just don't think the drinks and atmosphere were.
Bernard Lampe
I came here a lot during my Ph.D. years. The food, cleanliness, and service have degraded. A person asked me for $2 while I was sitting and drinking my tea. Sad to see it in this state.
I love this small shop that always hits the spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel, Bacon Egg and Cheese, Muffin, Sandwich
Good local coffee shop! Only tried their coffee (brewed coffee) and it was pretty great. Very reasonable price as well: ~$4 for a 16oz coffee :) The place was crowded on a Thursday morning. Lots of spaces to sit down. Service was decent; said it was my first time visiting and they did a good job explaining different roasts. Generally a hip vibe, nothing fancy but I would definitely recommend getting coffee here over Starbucks if you are in the area. Much better coffee for a similar price point. Plus, support small biz!
The egg and cheese bagel is always a hit. It’s one of the best that I’ve had.I’m a huge latte drinker and always like my coffee to be “milk with a splash of coffee” taste, but Mad City might convince me otherwise. The iced coffee tastes so good by itself that I’ve been trying different beans without milk!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm a specialty coffee roaster and I've also been a cafe manager for years. This coffee was beyond the pale... so much is sitting out in non vacuumed containers for months and months. I asked for a cortado and a drip coffee (one of their flavored ones). The older lady had no clue what I was asking for when I asked for drip coffee....I had to explain the process before they finally figured out what I was talking about. Both drinks were disgusting....I handed them back and left.I have traveled all over the world and I have never seen so much incompetence. They weren't busy and there were 4 people there on staff.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
I had high hopes because this place seems to be local, but unfortunately I left disappointed. They didn’t have an ingredient for the drink I originally wanted so I took a recommendation from the barista. I didn’t know espresso could be bland, but here we are. Half the fun of a coffee shop is the ambience and the first thing that came to mind was grimy which takes the shine off of whatever charm it had left. I’m also pretty sure keeping clear glass jars of whole coffee beans on a window sills accessible to customers is recipe for quality.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Great atmosphere great coffee. Nice to be able to sit down and enjoy life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel
Counter staff is very kind, welcoming and happy to answer any questions, no mater how nit-picky.Baked goods are made locally. Scones, muffin and biscotti are more caky and no amaretto. Several jewish desserts too.They also sell local artisan mugs and a few other items.Ask if you want a mug or plate for your items.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The latte tasted burnt and the egg was a microwave egg. Some people may be okay with that but it seems like the food here is very cheap and little effort is put in.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Very great coffee. The day I came in, maybe they were short staffed but it was super slow and there was some attitudes among the stuff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
The first time I went, I was expecting at least decent coffee. The place bills itself as a coffeehouse which roasts its own beans (it does), so one expects they know how to brew. They don't. The espresso is bland and rather tasteless. The second time I visited it, I told myself to order a small double espresso with some water. They messed up and gave me a medium double americano. The staff is friendly and alert, but I just don't think they know how to make coffee. I ordered an egg and cheese sandwich on a toasted English muffin. Should be simple. The sandwich had a cold slice of cheddar on top of the egg (tasteless) and the bread was only warmed, not toasted.I won't be coming back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Best coffee I’ve ever tasted and I’m a coffee snob. I moved out of the area and will now get it delivered to my home so I won’t go without.
There aren't many coffee shops in Maryland where one can actually sit, sip and work at! Mad City Coffee makes all the above possible and to top it off, they have a plethora of pastries and sandwiches to pick from when the work hour turns to 12pm. If you do want to sip and work, please be sure to check out their event listing since they tend to have live music.
Bill has been a landmark in the Hickory Ridge community for decades. Bringing in live music and arts at no cost many times and providing a service which we all need. Say no to corporate coffee! Support your local Mad City!
Not really great vibes - distant area and just not very welcoming layout. The coffee was so flavorless and very watered down. Not my favorite coffee spot in this area at all. Workers were nice but I just don't think the drinks and atmosphere were.
I came here a lot during my Ph.D. years. The food, cleanliness, and service have degraded. A person asked me for $2 while I was sitting and drinking my tea. Sad to see it in this state.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1