This restaurant is cute and I really enjoyed my hot vanilla chai. It was my first time there and the staff was accommodating. This time I chose to get the egg salad sandwich, which was filling and also could have used a little seasoning. I would return for the chai and try something else from the menu. read more

Representing 2024 in alphabet series, M is for Mad City Coffee. Like 2023 M, another mixed bag 3-star review. I had been to Mad City multiple times in the 2020's, but I shied away from them in 2025 after a couple of not so good times there. I really like their iced chai. That's what I get every time I go and sometimes dirty with espresso shot depending on my energy level. Multiple circular tables and not a bad place to WiFi. It can get a bit crowded and set up is a bit awkward as there are coffee bags, plants, etc. that can get in the way, and sometimes just a bit narrow for a time when it's crowded. I've generally liked the music overall with Sirius XM 60's, 80's, Jazz, Christmas music, etc. As I write about 60's music, I'm hearing Beach Boy's "Good Vibrations" where I'm wifi now, but Mad City doesn't give me such good vibrations any more and has even lived up to their name making me mad. There was one time more recently like in 2024 I was annoyed with whatever the music was, but I made do. The first time I went might have been during Covid with my girlfriend at that time in July 2020, and I was impressed with the chai tea. In October 2020, my company wanted to do something social during this tough year. So, we had a company golf outing where we could be outside. Afterward, I went to Mad City to wifi and did so outside on that nice 75 F day. I think I wifi another time more recently as it was busy inside and was a nice day, and my computer was well enough charged. One of the last times I visited in 2024, I wanted to get the extra large iced chai as I always do. This is more price efficient to get 32 oz as opposed to 24 oz for only 30 cents more. The cashier was snippy & said we don't do the extra large for the iced chai. I said I've always gotten the XL and been coming here for years. They ultimately honored my request, but I was annoyed we got into an argument about it. They have frequent customer cards. This is old school as a lot of places use apps & digital way to track your visits. I don't mind. I'd hand them this card from my wallet, and they'd mark my visit. The very next visit after they argued about not doing the extra large iced chai, I handed my frequent customer card, and I think a different cashier who was also snippy, said oh we don't mark the drink card for chai. I said you always have, and she said it's an "Espresso/Coffee Drink Card", not for tea. I said that was dumb, but I still got the iced chai as that's what I wanted. The next time I went I told the manager, and he did honor the card saying that they don't deny. However, I already was annoyed with Mad City two consecutive times. read more

I wanted to like this place since it's close to my work but I was so disappointed. Very cheap cysco products, from the baked goods to the produce it's about the same quality if not lower than a Panera. Was terribly disappointed with the bland latte and could see they were using the basic syrups, nothing house made. There are a ton of better coffee shops and breakfast spots around. Roco coffee has amazing house baked pastries and better coffee, they even have breakfast tacos. If you're looking for a good breakfast Cafe Easy is light years ahead of mad city. read more

They use expired milk and make jokes about bringing in ICE for a free coffee program. Not safe for immigrants, POC, or anyone in the LGBTQ community. Racist ambiance and crappy coffee. Stay away! read more

The coffee was horrible. Tasted like sour milk was used. Way better coffee places in the area to spend your hard earned money at.

Post-exam day one jitters solved with a stop here for a dependable pour of drip coffee. Cool standard coffee-shop vibe with tons of seating and an extensive drink selection! read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I went to this shop a week ago and was treated very poorly. When I walked in, I had to wait 20 minutes for someone to come to the register and take my order. While I was waiting, I saw a white gentleman who I assume is the owner keep looking at me but refused to take my order. Meanwhile, as I continued to wait, a white woman came into the shop and the owner took her order right away. As soon as he took the white woman's order, he continued to ignore me and hide in the back. While I was in the shop, I overheard him on the phone saying "I cannot wait until these blacks are put back into slavery". This place is not a safe place for black people or POC. read more

Located in the Hickory Ridge Park, this is a cute cafe. Was nearby and looking for coffee, but not a chain. This place popped up in my search. After a few missed turns I found Mad City. O ordered the chocolate raspberry drip coffee to go. It was pretty good. There's plenty of seating inside. I received great service by Jaslin! read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Went for coffee, not too many options odd, isn't a coffee shop?. Staff was not very knowledgeable. Not to many options for breakfast either.

I had an early appointment in the area and was looking for a place to grab morning coffee and do some work for a few minutes. Fortunately, there was someone in front of me in line, which gave me just enough time to realize I didn't want to patronize or spend another moment in that place. The military has taken me to many locations throughout my life and Maryland has been a welcomed respite after living in certain areas for many years. Especially in Howard county, there seems to be an overall mentality of civility, respect and basic human decency. It's unfortunate to walk into some establishments and be instantly reminded that there are pockets of the opposite everywhere. -Also unfortunate to be reminded that our service protects those who use their establishments to spread ideas in direct conflict to the values we serve to defend. But I guess that's the current climate. I just won't be spending my money there. read more

I was overwhelmed with how many coffee options were on this menu. It was a little confusing at first looking at their menu in person, but their menu online clarifies all of their options. The food was also great and filling! I loved how light the egg was. It was busy on a Tuesday morning so it took some time to get the coffee and food. The table space was a little tight but there were plenty of tables if you wanted to dine in. read more

Mad City Coffee - Egg and cheddar cheese croissant with cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Delightful staff, smooth espresso, and yummo pastries make Mad City a must for your neighborhood caffeine fix. I recommend the black and white cookie, and chocolate cake. Tum tum engaged... cheers! read more

Mad City Coffee - Black and White Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

8.26.23 Stopped in to wish our niece a happy birthday. While there, hubby and I each ordered an iced mocha coffee and I got a chocolate chip cookie. Didn't know they could make iced mocha. It was really good. read more

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Great place to grab a coffee and something to eat. Love the atmosphere and customer service , cool place to bring your laptop and study or get some work done. I would definitely recommend it to anyone :) read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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! read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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The coffee is always delicious and there are several different varieties in flavors brewing at one time. The sandwiches are generous and flavorful. Service is excellent for such a tiny shop. We love it there and so does the rest of Columbia, apparently :-) read more

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. read more

It's just okay. The shop is cute. Staff were nice. I got a sandwich and a dessert. It as over $20. The egg salad sandwich was the blandest thing ever. I didn't finish because honestly it was a waste of chewing. The bread was the most flavorful aspect. read more

Mad City Coffee is the best coffee in Columbia, MD. Good food and nice service, always busy on a weekend and quiet atmosphere considering how much foot traffic there often is. Nice location away from some of the more developed areas but lots of old trees and walking paths near by. I bring out of town guests here and would again. Recommend. Some of my favorite highlights are the rotating daily coffee selections and muffins are amazing with lots of interesting options. read more

It's very interesting that about a year ago Lisa l. Had the same experience as I did today That shows how much the owners don't care about customer service ! The very young girl that took my order was really not caring about her job and customer service not paying attention, acknowledging the customer not even thanking me after I left her a 30 percent tip She then handed me my coffee that was pretty cold and watery and after about 20 min I have to ask for my sandwich and the girl that was making sandwiches ( it's not her fault she was very sweet very nice but overwhelmed with tasks) noticed that she had forgot to put cheese on the sandwich so when I got my sandwich everything was cold and soggy As many other have mentioned no body is trained none of the young girls care about their job and the customers the only one that was doing her job was the girl making the sandwiches The owner or manager obviously doesn't care if their customers are being served right or the staff is trained and aware of their duties I guess since the business is good who cares about customers This is my last time here , will never spend a dime here ! read more

This place is good and I'm sure I'll be back at some point. The Powerhouse was tasty and a reasonable size. The place smells amazing. If you like coffee, you'll love the selection. The chairs are not the most comfortable so I can't see staying here too long. read more

Unlike a chain coffee shop, this local roaster is really unique. You can buy beans from all parts of the world along with flavored (20+ flavors) coffee beans. Which is very delicious. They also have great breakfast sandwiches that are affordable & the staff is very friendly. Highly recommend if you wanna try a new spot! read more

Atmosphere is great here! Employees are fantastic! And clearly this is the popular place in town! Today was my first visit, I had planned to have a breakfast sandwich and coffee and browse the internet for a little bit. There were not too many tables left, I ended up taking the easiest one to get to which was in the corner, halfway back to the left of the entrance in front of a window. They were clearly busy and it was understandable that the tables were not getting cleaned, there was plenty of hand sanitizer in napkins available to do the trick. I sat down, got my coffee and sandwich out and my computer out and as I was getting settled in people started dumping their food into the trash can. That was only a couple feet away, a foot away if I had someone with me sitting in the seat across from me. For a moment I thought I could deal with this, until from started coming off of the plates and landing on the table. I don't believe that is the best place for a table, especially for someone sitting directly beside the trash can. I decided to take my beverage and food and enjoy it outside of the cafe. I purchased a quad hot toasted marshmallow latte. The coffee was mediocre, seemed watered down... I'm sure that was not the case, that was just how it tasted... not a lot of flavor, almost as if it was missing a shot of syrup. I also purchased a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with cheddar cheese on a croissant... also mediocre. Despite the food and beverage that I purchased not being the best, I want to emphasize that this place was popping/super busy, the atmosphere was great and the employees were awesome! read more

Mad City Coffee - Hot quad toasted marshmallow latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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What a pleasant surprise that Mad City was! I stopped by on a Sunday morning to try the coffee and was welcomed with the cute designs I side the little store. There are signs to enforce their social distancing measures, with limited seating spaces inside and outside. There is also ample parking in the shopping complex so you won't have to worry about that. I tried the macadamia ice latte which was amazing! And also tried the amaretto the very next day which was equally refreshing and full of flavor without compromising the classic coffee taste. I also tried the egg, cheese, and bacon croissant which was very generous with the egg portion. I enjoyed that as well. There were 2 cute coffee machines on display and jars of coffee beans used to decorate interior. Don't hesitate to stop by this little establishment whenever you're in Columbia! read more

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Really nice hidden gem in Columbia. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They sell their coffee by the cup or in bulk so you can take your favorite beans home. They also offer a large selection of pastries and breakfast sandwiches. read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Good food and coffee. Plenty of places to sit as long as you like. Easy, ample parking right in front. Great place to get work done.

Great coffee, customer service and a friendly shop. Wide range of customers, young to older folks enjoying coffee, pastries, sandwiches and the company of others. read more

I was in the area and desperately wanted a cup of coffee after running a few errands. I decided to go onto Yelp to see what local shops were around and I essentially bumped into Mad City. It was early afternoon around 2:15 PM on a Thursday and as I walked closer to the shop, you notice that the windows seem a bit tinted and it feels as if no one is inside. However, when you actually walk in, it's definitely filled with customers. Mad City Coffee has a discount with your first flavored latte purchase and so I opted for the Irish Cream per their recommendation. Well balanced of sweetness and that nice coffee flavor. I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in trying it. They have a ton of other food and beverages to choose from as well as punch cards and gift cards you can purchase. It can be slightly overwhelming when you walk in, but it's filled with friendly staff and customers who are doing their own work or having a small chat. Would definitely like to come back for a visit. read more

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Great coffee and cute cafe. It was a pleasant spot to sit and sip. I also enjoyed the chocolate cake! I shared it with a friend as it was so rich I would never have been able to eat it all myself. read more

I can here to catch up with a friend for coffee. We both ordered the chicken salad sandwich. I also got a medium caramel latte. It was a unique taste but was drinkable. Overall not a bad coffee shop. read more

Mad city is the Wet Willie's of coffee! I mean this place is overwhelming for all the right reasons. Coffee every darn where (& I mean this literally). High quality coffee , cozy spot, good for remote work and studying. They have food and baked goods and merchandise as well. I'm a fan of chocolate and hazelnut flavors so the barista whip up a special blend for me and it was love. You will have to visit more than once to experience the possible flavor profiles . I throughly enjoyed my visit. Starbucks could NEVER! read more

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The aroma of fresh coffee smells so strong but delicious and it hits you as soon as you open the door. However, the customer service sucked. I'm not sure if the lady who rang me up was an employee or manager but she was clearly annoyed with either me, the staff, or the whole world and was doing a horrible job covering it up. It's okay, I didn't let her mood or passive aggressive attitude ruin my day. As for what I ordered, it was an ice coffee, breakfast sandwich, and a danish. I was surprised that almost all the tables were full but then again, it's a cozy little coffee shop overall. Back to my order - the breakfast sandwich was good. Thinly sliced ham but there were several slices and a thick piece of egg. I could've done without the egg, it was too much. I ended picking it off. As for the coffee, it was diluted. Anyways, I might come back, I might not. read more

Great local coffee shop. I was heading to work over by Howard community college and was feeling and little sluggish before work so I decided to get a pick me up jolt of caffeine. I haven't been in the area in a while and had completely forgotten about Mad City. I was going to go to a Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks but they were all out of the way and conveniently I was going to drive right past Mad City so I stopped in. They have a huge selection of different coffee blends. I opted for a Jamaican variety. Service was quick and the staff there is friendly. If you don't know what you are in the mood for they would be more than happy to offer a suggestion or two. The price is great as well. Only a little bit more expensive than Dunkin' and cheaper than Starbucks with a better quality than both in my opinion. I took my coffee to go on this occasion. They do have a sitting area spaced out due to Covid of course. There are a few tables and a nice atmosphere if you want to enjoy your coffee there. Over all a awesome place and I highly recommend it. read more

They do not have roast beef sandwiches and never offered. Mad City Coffee does have awesome coffee, other varieties of sandwiches, muffins and cookies. It's a nice place to meet a friend or two for coffee/tea. It's a great place to get out of your home and read, study, or play online games. FREE WIFI OFFERED. read more

We live walking distance from Mad City Coffee-when picking up Sushi in the complex next door, the inside always looks so inviting, but we've never had the chance to just go hang out. We decided this weekend to get out of the house, popping in for a warm drink, while hanging out to play games. The atmosphere is great! Everyone is super friendly, the variety of coffee being brewed makes the place smell amazing, and there was ample seating. We nestled in with a Cafe Mocha & a Sticky Toffee Caramel Coffee, with Gingerbread creamer. They actually ended up giving us the wrong order, but re-made ours quickly. I drank the Double shot latte we accidentally got, and I loved it-going to be a to-go-order for me in the future. I could have skipped the creamer because the coffee had a sweet quality. I really enjoyed hanging out for a drink-though their food prices were a bit high. The $4 scones didn't seem worth it for the size-so I skipped buying one-but who knows maybe they taste amazing! read more

Mad City Coffee - Great place for a brew and some relaxing - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

In town for a soccer gane at the nearby high school.. Dropped the player off and went in search of breakfast...and found this establishment. Waited out a socially-distant 10 minute line,, and ordered a breakfast bagel sandwich and a cup of coffee.. Friendly counter service...a cop of coffee...and a wait for the sandwich.. Cool establishment. I'd have trouble believing Columbia has many other coffee shops as well stocked with blends as this. Certainly something for everyone. Lots of coffee stuff for a coffee aficionado. Took the sandwich outside to see the dog, patiently waiting in the car- and watched a bike ride group arrive, saddle up, and roll...yes! Exactly where I'd want my Sunday ride to end also! Centrally located in a business area, I am sure this place gets hit hard all week long. Good sandwich, solid cup of coffee...win- win! read more

Mad City Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Great spot for coffee, tea and a biscotti. So many coffee beans! Lots of seating inside. read more

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I was more comfortable there yesterday because the maskless employee was not there. I know the mandate has been lifted but people are still getting Covid and dying. In my family. My thanks to the staff who are trying to keep us safe the only obvious way they can. Besides getting vaccinated. read more

Just stopped in this cafe and not sure who or where the owner is but why you would leave three young girls to run this place by them selves is insane. Everything was wrong. The breakfast sandwiches were wrong and the coffee was wrong. I didn't say anything because honestly I don't blame the staff I blame the owner. They could not handle the volume at all and were frazzled but trying to do their best. Won't be back. It was a waste of $64.00. The atmosphere is super cute. read more

If you have a coffee shop you could at least try to have good coffee. My triple mocha should have had some flavor, it didn't. I really think I could do better at 7 eleven. Never again read more