Decent coffee with friendly staff but they miss the mark in a few areas. First, the service is very slow. I know they're working hard but when it's packed I've noticed they forget orders. Second, the cash only under $10. I understand they don't want the transaction charge but often that means I go elsewhere. Overall not a bad place and the staff seem friendly but I'm disappointed this place isn't better. read more

I think most of the previous reviews are really accurate about this place. Essentially the owner does treat his staff poorly, is really unpleasant to customers, and generally seems like not a nice person. That being said the coffee is good. But I realized that what you spend your money on is one of the largest expressions of what you value and after witnessing yet another example of unpleasant behavior from the owner I'd rather not contribute to this place anymore. Thankfully with equally good coffee shops recently opening nearby (hello Fuel America and Blue State!) it's not much of a sacrifice to stop patronizing such an awful owner. ps David S. - loved your review. I totally caught the irony of an small business owner who could easily choose to be a "cash-only" business if he really wanted to practice what he preached instead choosing to lecture you about using your debit/credit card. read more

We love Cafe Fixe. The whole point of this place is that Macks, the owner, has created a perfect coffee environment - a place where he would like to go for coffee. Therefore, Cafe Fixe is Macks' World, the rest of us are just visiting. In Macks' World the ingredients are top of the line, and all the coffee is perfect (even if it takes a long time to make and, if necessary, is made twice). In Macks' world you do not bring beverages from other coffee shops (if you do you are asked to vacate Macks' World). In Macks' World children behave (if not, see above). In Macks' World you do not spend all day on your computer (Macks has had the outlets removed from the walls.). In Macks' World you get the best coffee in Boston, if not New England. We who appreciate Macks' World feel compelled to write a second review of Cafe Fixe after reading a few of the negative comments about it. We have been regular visitors since shorty after Cafe Fixe opened. We appreciate good coffee and can't find another coffee shop within 25 miles that can match the quality of this store. We respect Macks' World. If you don't, go to Starbucks. It is right across the street. Macks won't mind. read more

When I am in town, I start my day with a latte (hot, or lately, iced) at Cafe Fixe perhaps three or four times a week. Their coffee is dark and rich. If you like dark chocolate, this is your kind of coffee. Quality and craftsmanship mean something to me, whether it's a piece of furniture, a plumbing repair, or a cup of coffee - and the staff at Cafe Fixe definitely cares for the quality of their product. Sometimes this means that they will not cater to every customer request, if they feel that so doing will force them to compromise on quality. For example, no drip coffee after a certain time of day (when? I dunno, I drink espresso). Why? The drip sells well in the morning, but later in the day ends up sitting around and losing flavor. You might disagree with this business decision, but it does prevent customers from getting a bad cup of coffee. Anyway, I like Cafe Fixe, I don't find the staff pretentious (odd? I suppose so - find me a coffeeshop where they don't have some odd baristas - good luck!), and I am happy to pay marginally more than Starbucks for a WAY better drink. PS - Several negative reviewers complained about the minimum for credit cards, including a comment about how "humiliating" it was to be asked to pay cash.... Folks should bear in mind that a small business like any local cafe pays high fees to accept credit cards. Putting $4 for a latte on your credit card will likely cost the store about $1 to process, which is a lot for any business to absorb. read more

How this place has only 3.5 stars is beyond me. I live in Brooklyn, mecca of coffee these days, and this place is easily on the level of any of the better places in Brooklyn or Manhattan. The baristas are absolutely top-notch, the coffee is outstanding, and there are many nice touches--multiple roasters, all thoughtfully chosen; a beautiful space; and good tunes on the record player. The place is faultless, and also friendly. I make a point of stopping in whenever I'm nearby, and you should too. I wish them much success, and hope it will be clear that the negative reviews here are written by people who just don't know what they're talking about. read more

Ever since Cafe Fixe opened up, I've stopped roasting my own coffee. I started roasting beans (well, I enjoy it too) because I couldn't get anything worth grinding locally and was tired of doing mail order and having to pay shipping charges. I think the place is fantastic. I've been waiting for a coffee shop like this to open up in this area for a long time. It's so nice to be able to walk and get some coffee that isn't burnt beyond belief or so bitter that you need to dump endless amounts of sugar it just to get it down. Be sure to try the pour overs and before you put cream and sugar in, take few sips just to taste the flavors. All the beans they have are top rate and extremely fresh. I think besides Simon's in Cambridge and maybe Diesel, it's the only place in the Boston area that you can get an espresso that is properly prepared. I love their guest espresso that they carry. Stumptown roasts some of the best, be sure to try it out. I'm all for setting a limit on Internet usage or work. People shouldn't camp for hours taking up the valuable real estate. A cafe is not an all day study hall or conference room. As far as a CC min. order, it makes perfect sense. With the fees involved, it's really not worth it to allow a CC charge of anything under $10, so I think the $5 minimum charge is quite fair. All their prices are in line with expectations. If you are looking for a 24oz milk drink, that's across the street. read more

owner is a jerk. just left after using the bathroom. as i was leaving he tells my bathroom is for customers only, which i tell him i have been a customer. to which he didnt know what to say. i informed him ill never be back. and the one time i did get coffee he was wicked rude to my girlfriend. they are slow, overpriced and the coffee sucks!!! and so does the owner. read more

A regular weekend morning treat...when I need my "fixe"! Seriously some of the best espresso-based drinks I've had in the Boston area. Pastries are always high quality and super fresh. Staff have always been very friendly and accommodating to me. I only wish they had a few more locations---wink/wink/nudge/nudge! read more

Good luck finding better coffee in Boston: you'll have to drive to NYC to find comparably excellent lattes, cappuccinos etc. At Fixe, the owner is often behind the counter, preparing your drinks.. it always seems to boost quality immeasurably when the person(s) who own the business are there in person, ensuring that your experience as a customer will keep you coming back for more. read more

I like it! I'm a minimalist fan, so the interior is heaven to me. The menu is great, and the caps/strets/coffees are great! Met friends there at 7am to get a table to sit for an hour, we sat for 2 and didn't get sent packing. Plus the owner was talking to me about all kinds of cool things (namely milk, beans and coffee machinery) so thats ok by me. Its not a starbucks, I would venture to say its not intended to be starbucks, this is more like a martini bar for coffee aficionados sans the ciggies. read more

I live for these iced lattes. They have set a new standard in my life about what coffee can be. Kind, efficient, phenomenal!

Finally...a chill coffee shop in Brookline that attracts a crowd whose simply looking for good coffee (and tea) vs a drink that takes a novel to list out all its ingredients. My friend and I sat for a while, and watch the tables have a nice mix of lingerer (like us) and those who were in and out. The place is too small for strollers, but perfect for those with a laptop or book. I think the secret is already out on Cafe Fixe, but hopefully it will continue to attract a relaxed crowd that appreciates a drink that's been lovingly made just for you. read more

Let's see... ordered a large cold brew, a pastry and a bottle of water. It came up to $8.50. Still not enough to hit their minimum. Instead of saying "close enough", the barista said that they had a $10 minimum. I walked out. Terrible customer service and a terrible policy. How do you spend $10 in the morning at a coffee shop without buying for multiple people. If they had sandwiches or other items to help hit the minimum, the policy would make more sense. Even if they charged .25 to use a credit, I would be fine with that. Don't just turn away customers. I live across the street and would love to have a local shop to support. I hopped in my car and drove to Kookoo Cafe read more

Although it can be frustratingly difficult to find good espresso in Boston, there are a few establishments that pull great shots. Not only is Cafe Fixe among them, I believe that it is at the head of the pack. The appear to use beans from Stumptown and other specialty roasters. The espresso I had was bright and crisp with citrus notes. It was a bit short on crema, if anything, but still excellent. Based on other reviews, you should realize that there are at least two types of cafes: One, epitomized by Starbucks, serves drinks that are sweet or bland and appeal to a wide range of palates. They strive to accomodate whatever the customer wants. The other, specializes in perfecting the very specific craft of making traditional espresso drinks. These are two very different types of establishments which really cannot be compared. Both are equally valid. The latter may seem pretentious, but there is nothing pretentious about trying to make something wonderful and share it with others if the customer is willing to try something new. To summarize: This place has the best espresso in Boston, hands down. The atmosphere is straight out of Portland. No inane hipster undergrads. No trashy tourists or red sox fans. No wifi. Bright and clean, but not pretentiously so. Busy, but not mobbed. If a cafe could be a bright Sunday morning, this would be it. Love it. read more

Have been debating whether a good coffee is more important than friendly staff. I write this form Sbx across the street so clearly service is the trump card, especially when coffees are not that great either. Such a rude owner! So after several attempts to like the place, final verdict - will not go back again! Sbx and Athans are just as cozy and yappie-ish if that's what you are looking for! All the posts attest that I am not the only one echoing this message... read more

In regard to the few angry negative reviews that are posted here - in today's consumer economy it's hard for people to imagine, that some businesses out there don't want their money, and will not bend over backwards to cater to their every whim. This place is about high quality coffee, and nothing else. It's admirable to see that the owner will maintain the highest standard in the product that he provides, but will not let all this superfluous internet noise change his business to rake in as much as possible. There are many things that Max has consciously decided not to provide or do, that could increase his business, but would destroy the character of his cafe. If that's going to keep some people out - great! Natural selection does work. Happy 1st birthday, and keep doing what you're doing. read more

Cafe Fixe was the single reason I was sad to leave Brookline. I sure as hell wasn't going to miss the C line, my overpriced cockroach infested apartment, or the obscene amount of furry Russian hats, but I do miss my sunny window seat and the incredible coffee selection here. Try the Ethiopian drip coffee if they have it- by far the best coffee I've had in Boston. read more

Great crema and texture sullied by poor beans. The texture of the latte was beautiful. It was so smooth and rich. The problem was the flavor. It just wasn't good. The cafe looks like a high quality espresso bar and if they change their beans, they'll be one. They probably have the best texture in the Boston area. I'll go back in 6 months expecting to be wowed. read more

In the world of great quality coffee, Cafe Fixe meets (and exceeds) all of the standards. It has a lovely, jazzy, & calm atmosphere for sitting down with a book or with a friend. Without Wifi, this isn't quite the sit-down-all-day place where you can easily drink/eat/work your way through an entire day. It is, however, a fantastic break spot for any time of your day. Customer service has only been adequate during my visits, but the product meets my expectations! It'd be 5 stars for slightly faster service (or a statement on when you can expect your drink to be ready) and a smile or two when being served. Would highly recommend stopping by for your own Cafe Fixe experience! read more

This cafe is like a rorschach test for Brookline. If you are generally a happy person who likes excellent coffee, you will like Cafe Fixe. As for the haters in the comments, well it's plenty busy without you and there's a SBUX across the street. read more

I saw this place while driving by and it looked very cute and comfy. I wanted to see if they had wifi there so I could sit down, enjoy a cup of coffee, and do a little work on my laptop while enjoying the atmosphere. So I called: I called: "Hi, do you have wifi there? Manager: "I cannot tell you that over the phone" Me: "Excuse me? You can't tell me that over the phone?" Manager: "Yes, I cannot tell you if we have wifi over the phone" Me: "Ok, well, I'm right down the street. I just didn't want to waste a trip. I'll come over and find out" Now, a little perturbed, I thought, "well, whatever, that's just the policy." I parked my car, came inside and approached the front counter. I asked the employee, who I assume now after reading the reviews is the manager or owner: Me: "Hi, I called a minute ago wondering about your wifi?" Manager: "We have wifi, but we are not that kind of establishment" he said with a very condescending attitude and look. Me: "I'm sorry, what do you mean by that?" - honest question here, not being smart. Manager: "You would probably be better off at a Starbucks" Me: "Okkkayy, I would've appreciated if you told me you had no wifi on the phone. I will gladly take my business elsewhere." I'm sorry, but I don't take my business to a place that does not treat its customers right. I don't care how authentic the coffee is or how European the feel is at this place, if you're rude to your customers, or even the customers you DONT WANT because they don't fit your atmosphere, then I don't ever want to be here. AND PLEASE TELL ME NEXT TIME ON THE PHONE if you don't have wifi - don't waste my time. read more

Best tasting coffee in in the Boston area. Located in the great Washington Square of Brookline, this cafe is a great place to come and think. The employees are very nice. read more

After hearing great things about Cafe Fixe, I was pretty excited to give it a try. There was no line (granted, I was there pretty early) and the guys behind the counter were all pretty friendly. But the positives stop there. I found the prices to be a bit high and the end result subpar (though I did enjoy the leaf design in the foam of my latte). Both my boyfriend and I felt the coffee missed the mark - a cardinal sin a 7 am on a Saturday morning. I also noticed, while waiting for my latte, that there are no outlets . Odd, right? I guess I'll just stick with Starbucks or Athan's when I need my caffeine fix/remote work location. read more

Be aware that they have a $10 minimum on credit cards! This seems silly at a coffee shop where most purchases are under $5. There is a small coffee shop near my apartment that has a $5 minimum but even they will charge a $0.50 surcharge if you're under. Cafe fixe said they would "spot" me, I.e. They would charge me the full $10 and next time I came in they would "spot" me. No thanks. Could have easily been part of my morning routine to go here but I left without ordering. read more

Coffee was delicious and way over priced. Service wasn't bad, though it wasn't great either. It was worth a try, but I can't see myself going back here. read more

I had the worst experience ever at Cafe Fixe--not to be believed, in fact. I am a regular customer and bring my husband sometimes, too. I get their cappucchino, cookies, and granola. Today I walked I went in to buy a cookie. My grave mistake was that I walked in with a green iced tea/lemonade from Starbucks. I was not going to sit down, just buy the cookie and scoot. I was about to buy a fig bar (they were out of cookies) when the guy behind the counter--who I believe owns Cafe Fixe--tells me that they do sell tea there--he said it twice-- (although I am certain they don't have green ice tea/lemonade) and if I am going to walk into his store with a Starbucks drink, I should buy my cookies at Starbucks! He kicked me out of his store!! In the past, I have found the place to be snooty beyond belief--almost comical--but I liked the food. Too bad. A small shop like this could have a charming, welcoming community feel, but they really blow it and make it seem like they are doing YOU a favor when they make the drinks. As I said, I have never had such a weird experience and believe it is short-sighted of them. They've lost several customers by booting me--not that they care! read more

The owner is extremely condescending to his customers. The coffee is acidic. I will never go back.

Horrible coffee. Not much else to say... With so many great coffee houses popping up around Boston just avoid this place. Pretentious. Bitter and unpleasant tasting... read more

The iced latte was great but the large has the SAME shot number?? Just more milk. How does that make any sense?? So I got a small to get the coffee flavor. Isn't that the point? 4 stars for small iced latte. 3 stars for not thinking logically about your customer. Avg: 3.5 stars read more

This is a really great place to get a cup of coffee and a little afternoon snack. The coffee here is consistently good, the chai latte is great (not too sweet like Starbucks chai), and their tea selection is great as well. I absolutely love their toffee cookies (seriously the best cookie on the planet-- and I am a bit of a connoisseur of cookies). The hello dolly bar is rich, but a unique treat, and their croissants are also pretty good. The place is clean and neat. The ambiance is understated and nice. The staff are friendly and pretty helpful. This place does get busy on the weekends and there isn't a ton of seating (although the tables they do have are nice and big). I've never sat there for more than an hour when they weren't busy so I have not had some of the problems others have mentioned. During the summer there are a couple tables outside for seating as well which is nice. Overall, this is a great place to grab a cup of coffee. It is probably not a place where you could sit nursing the same cup of hot water for 5hrs while writing a final paper, but fair enough, it is still probably the best cafe in Washington Square. read more

Stopped by for some caffeine on the go. Mr Beffrey's cappuccino was very well made, delicious and you could tell was made with high quality beans that were expertly roasted. Ms Beffrey's Iced Chai was a tad disappointing. The chai spices tasted diluted, further exacerbated as the ice melted into the drink. It's minimally sweet to start with so you can add more sugar or simple syrup to your liking. The cafe itself is cute. On the smaller end of cafes with about a half dozen tables, lots of light coming through the windows, bright and minimal. read more

This place has probably the creamiest latte I've ever had. However. The actual flavor of the espresso is hit or miss and expensive, the pastries are lackluster, there's never any available seats because people apparently camp out at the tables for their entire weekend, and the attitude is unbearably pretentious. Honestly, most of the time i don't have the energy for this place and go across the street to the Starbucks. read more

This is my favorite coffeeshop on Beacon. Super peaceful, and a great place to bring a book on a rainy day. I've seen quite a few reviews that complain about the lack of wifi, but I think that's a bit ridiculous. Not all coffeeshops are obligated to serve as workplaces. Cafe Fixe is doing something different, and has made an experience out of getting coffee. I also really appreciate that they have vegan options! While most coffeeshops have milk alternatives, Cafe Fixe also serves some yummy vegan pastries. I ordered a vegan banana snickerdoodle the other day that was to die for. Would highly recommend. read more

Nice little place. Friendly, quiet. Great to have coffee shops in the 'hood.

Five years ago I moved to Greater Boston and began a quest to find truly great coffee in (or around) this city. I quickly gave up. Most of the coffee shops I found sucked; the best were merely mediocre. Since then I've changed neighborhoods a number of times, and I've found a few places with pretty good coffee here and there. Last summer, returning to one of my old neighborhoods (Washington Square) for lunch, I saw a new Cafe and thought I'd give it a go... ...Cafe Fixe has what I'm told is the #1 top espresso machine in the world. I have had the ins and outs of this masterpiece of modern coffee technology explained to me before, and the explanation always ended with "there are very few people in the world who deserve to pull Espresso from that machine..." Wow, their coffee is good. The espresso is so well balanced that the pull between sour and bitter doesn't even factor into the equation. The subtlest flavors of the beans shine through and stand on their own. Whether fruity, flowery or spicy, it's always always worth the trip. This is it, the truly great coffee I'd despaired of ever finding in Boston. If you love coffee check this place out. Like others have said, the menu is short and the service is, shall we say, "Russian," but such good Coffee! read more

Attractive but uncomfortably elite atmosphere. Delicious latte; good chai, but by no means my best. Mainly caters to a middle- to late- aged and predominantly white clientele. Wifi wasn't working while we were there. Won't be back any time soon. read more

I stopped there today for the first time and I was really pleased with everything. The service was great, coffee was really good and the ambience is awesome! I loved the place, really cozy, beautiful, nice music... everything was just great! read more

Easy, jazzy music and great coffee. Standard coffee menu with a limited range of snacks (cookies, muffins, etc). Simplicity is the key here, no frills. Simple menu to the left of the register, simple chairs, (a table or two), and simple coffee made really well. Cappuccino will run you slightly less than $3. read more

Better coffee exists in Brookline. I am addicted to coffee but do not enjoy coming here anymore . Not sure why. Never had the warm coffee shop feel. Steel and cold. Update: Not going to return. The coffee is good and expensive (no issue there). They do have a premium product. I didn't meet the minimum for CC charge and was asked to buy something else to fill in the gap.. Hard boiled egg. That bugs me to no end. If your coffee cost a buck I would understand the cash min. But come on. You are rubbing people the wrong way. read more

Had a triple restretto like I've only found in Italy. Thick and black like a liquified tire, but bitter and delicious. I'll probably have fever dreams tonight, but hopefully of this coffee. read more