This place is the cutest, and the people are always really nice! I love that they have so many delicious vegan baked goods, and it's always nice to be able to order the elusive Level 5 donuts before going in, so I know that they won't be sold out. Everything I've had here has been fresh and wonderful. Always a nice experience. read more

Cute little spot. Coffee was fine. Vegan spot so no milk for your drink. Barista was friendly. Pastries were so-so. Chairs are mostly uncomfortable. read more

Chai is literally oat milk with a tea bag. Milk tastes sour too. The few stars are for the decor, that's it. Also very minimal menu and bakery items. Awkward environment, barista was nice though. read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cozy and just about my favorite place to get away from the modern world. Nothing beats getting up early to grab a great coffee and any of their superb vegan pastries. This place feels like a warm retro hug. Knowledgeable staff who are interesting to talk to. read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Pastry and coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Arrived on bicycle (a solid bike rack is right outside the front door area) to meet a friend for coffee. The location was quiet at 9:15 on a weekday morning. Used my Bicycle Benefits sticker and bought a large iced coffee with Oat Milk. Service was friendly and efficient. All good! read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Stopped in for a quick latte to-go. Coffee was good, the people working were very nice. Soy and oat were the milk options available. Looks like a good place to work/study from - it was quiet on a late Friday morning. read more

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Had a large cupcake. The icing was boring - almost like a whipped cream icing. The chocolate cake, however, was sweet, rich, and moist. All of the baked goods were vegan when I went. The cafe gives very much hipster, dive vibes. read more

this place is absolutely wonderful, even as someone that does not like coffee. it is a small but wonderful place, and the atmosphere is quiet and calm. the service could be a bit better, and I would go here more if they expanded their bakery options, but it is nonetheless a great local shop that deserves more love (especially since it seems to be a magnet for car crashes.) read more

Had such an awesome experience here today! The coffee was good and my barista Suz was even better!!!

Totally vegan and very VERY delicious. Love the ambiance of the "around the corner coffee shop". One of the best chai lattes I've had. Must note, they do not accept standard card: only PayPal and cash (a bit old school). Just a heads up when trying to pay/tip. read more

Great local coffee shop. Bring cash. Support local business. Also their treats are wonderful.

Do not waste your money here. 1) it's cash only (wasn't an issue for me but just so you know, not convenient) 2) they serve uncooked raw samosas & have patrons microwave them... just appropriating Indian culture but not even doing it correctly so disappointing 3) I ordered an Italian soda & kombucha (both so nasty, we were forced to throw it away) Just don't even bother trying this place, or else you're just a fool. read more

Very willy st in the most willy st way. Vegan cash only weird run down building and terrible chairs. I have been hunting for a really good americano in Madison for a long time and this place is a top contender. Their espresso is just really good and yummy. The barista was kind and chill. He recommended a great tea combo that I really liked. Not too expensive either I think the americano was under 4$ which can be rare in Madison right now sadly. read more

Mother Fool's is casual, locally owned, and independent. You can count on them for great coffee and vegan pastries, as well as friendly staff. It's my go-to spot for cappuccino when I need a caffeine lift. On my most recent visit I ordered a rhubarb cherry Danish and it was flaky and delicious. It wasn't too sweet so the rhubarb's tartness and cherry wan't overwhelmed with sugar. read more

Bro, really? a coffee house that doesn't let you choose half and half ? I went there like 15 years ago and it was much better warmer experience. read more

Love them. An all vegan coffeehouse. MF is a Madison institution. Never have I ever had so many delicious vegan baked treats available in one place. SO good, even nonvegans will love them. And they're great to work with for catering too. read more

If you are looking to send a 1990s postcard from Las Vegas from somewhere in Madison, this is your place! This is a cool little coffee shop on Willy Street. Enjoyed a refreshing house blended cold brew here. The coffee was a little over $3 for those trying to compare with other local prices. CASH and CHECKS only accepted here but they do have an ATM available if you need one. They also seem to have a wide selection of vegan treats if that is something you are looking for. Really interesting seating. A few tables available and a lot of couches too. There are outlets all throughout for people looking for a place to work. I enjoyed the colorful and eclectic interior. Different sorts of lights around. Staff was really friendly. David Bowie playing while I am working which is always a plus. Overall, a good relaxing place to get a little bit of work done in the afternoon. Edit: 11/17 This has been a long time coming. I'm changing my review from 4 to 5 stars because this has quickly become my favorite cafe on the East Side. The staff is always so friendly and patient. The music is generally excellent. It is a place where different kinds of people feel welcome. The coffee is really good. I even enjoy the desserts, and I'm not someone that looks for vegan options (love their pecan sandies). Especially as it is getting colder outside now, if you are looking for nice cozy couch to get some reading or other work in, this is the spot. read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Velvet couch, cold brew, and some Bowie. Not bad. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The coffee barista was not friendly at all, and frankly the coffee was bitter. I had to find out it was a vegan coffee shop AFTER I purchased my non drinkable coffee. I respect their decision to be vegan, but I do not agree with not providing options to non vegans. Every other coffee shop offers coffee black or with different non dairy options...why tell me with your lack of diversity that I don't matter. Your business sucks, and I will spend my money elsewhere. read more

We used to get coffee here and it was fine. Recently stopped for coffee not realizing they are now vegan. Unfriendly barista, no Splenda only equal, cash only, no milk or cream.... Will never go back. read more

I would have rated today's lunch spot 5 stars if there were a few more options, but my lentil soup (from Green Owl Cafe) was delicious, although Vanessa didn't seem to enjoy her Miso soup w/ tofu and carrots quite as much as I did mine. The atmosphere and attentive service were delightful. I'm glad I didn't pay attention to my Google Maps copilot last night and discovered Mother Fool's Coffeehouse and this lovely neighborhood. The vegan hot chocolate was just right for this snow covered day in Madison. read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great Colectivo coffee, a homey, welcoming aura, and interesting art are great features of this charmingly divey little coffee shop. Plenty of well used vintage mix-matched upholstered chairs and couches to settle into, as well as a fifties style dining room table and chairs to accomodate larger gatherings. I love the mosaic wall that frames the front entrance. Vegans will appreciate the wide variety of bakery and soup offerings daily. You can even buy organic seeds for the garden here, and Colectivo coffee by the pound as well. Live music and other performances are offered frequently, a nice bonus. Big glass front windows means great people watching opportunities while you sip your beverage, if that's your thing, something that's never boring on Willy St. You will need cash or check, they don't accept cards. Four stars for wifi that is somewhat intermittently functioning, at least the last time I tried using it. read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Love the mirrored mosaic counter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I haven't been coming here for very long, but so far I really like it. I don't drink coffee, so I can't speak to that, but they have a decent tea selection (some loose leaf, some in bags) plus Izze sodas, which I enjoy. They have a vegan fruit bar which is delicious and a great accompaniment to a mug of tea. I think it has a reasonable amount of seating for the size. I've never been unable to find a spot to sit, even though I generally need an outlet for my laptop. I've also only had trouble connecting to the wi-fi once and when another customer told the staff she was having difficulty connecting they re-started the router for her right away. I love that they're open late - until 11, as there aren't many places around here that are, and I've never been made to feel bad for staying for a while and enjoying my beverage. read more

I have to admit, Mother Fool's Coffeehouse was actually outstanding. Can not talk highly enough about Mother Fool's Coffeehouse. Every thing I've tried thus far is extremely good. The customer service here was like nothing I have ever experienced. It was a wonderful experience. read more

Pretty cute coffee house that's relatively close to my house. Though to me it has nothing on the coffee place that I had reviewed about before this. But still pretty good. Walked into the cute, little, yet busy coffee house, and the barista was ready to take our order right when we walked in. This was the first time here for all of us, so we took a few to check out the menu (which was kind of all over the place, Had about three chalk boards with menu items, then another sign in the back with just flavors, as well as menu items on the cash register.) My roommates got a regular black coffee, and the other a double shot Pumpkin Spice Latte. I on the other had wanted something more soothing rather than something was going to keep me up since we went there around 8:30 in the evening. So I opted for the Hot Apple Cider...it was good. Nothing special, it was store bought cider out of a jug that they warm up. But it did what I was intending it on doing, soothed, and warmed me up! I'll probably give this place another shot, and try some other things on the menu. **They Do Not accept cards, but they do have an ATM on site** read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - Hot Apple Cider - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Good coffee. Bad food selection, and they only take cash. And pricier than Starbucks.

What's not to love? Good coffee (collectivo), beautiful atmosphere, the best vegan cupcakes in the world, sometimes live music, and cool people? All of those there are here. Definitely get a cupcake, but the other vegan baked goods are good too. Good prices and a helpful staff were a plus! read more

Delicious vegan pastries, relaxing and quirky atmosphere, kind cafe staff! can't wait to go back! So grateful to have found such an amazing vegan gem in Madison! Try the rhubarb danish!!!! read more

So - I've only been here twice but both experiences have been great. First and foremost - the ambience is so great. You instantly feel comfortable, especially if you need to study or do some work. The coffeehouse allows you to just relax and focus yet appreciate the bustle of the Near East. A few things worthy of mentioning - wifi speed is pretty good, their herbal iced tea is refreshing, there is ample seating to your preference (tables, couches, loveseats, etc). I also had the lentil rice soup the other day and it was pretty decent. Did the trick! I'll definitely be making this my to-go place as a Badger graduate student! read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - View from inside Mother Fool's! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

No credit cards, yo Soups are vegan, get an amazing fougasse to accompany it to make a filling meal. But save room for the awesome vegan baked goods :) sooooo many choices of cookies, muffins, cupcakes- YUM! tasty coffee grungy hipster vibe. read more

Love, love, love this vegan only baked goods coffee shop!!! Not pretentious at all. Friendly staff and Array of coffee and they'll make it to your preference. Also sell a few food staples. Cozy too! read more

A small cozy space to spend the whole night. Too bad they don't accept any cards... Haven't tried the food yet, but would definitely like to try it in the near future! read more

Mother Fool's Coffeehouse - A relaxing place for the day ;) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Just a weird place. I've been meaning to try it for over a year but every time I think to it's closed. Finally made it today and was generally underwhelmed by their products. The cold brew was fine but it's Just Coffee so you can get it anywhere. The cashier was weirdly short with both me and the person in front of me. Also they only take cash, PayPal or check. I didn't realize until I got to register because the sign was so small so I had to install paypal at checkout. No card? No Venmo? I went to a pottery sale in someone's back yard just last week and even they had a card reader. read more

A lovely near-East spot to hunker down for an afternoon of work. Mother Fool's has got a homey feel with mixed and matched furniture, doodles, and knick-knacks that reminds you of hanging out at your one hippie friend's house in college. The baristas have been invariably nice and I've only had one issue with the WiFi cutting in and out over the years. They offer herbal iced teas which is nice for caffeine-free folks like me. I've tried a handful of the vegan baked goods and they've been hit or miss. Some are great and some have been on the dry/crumbly side. My first visit to Mother Fool's was ten or so years ago for a concert with Hayward Williams - they turned all the furniture to face the front and it was a fun and cozy night, especially since we snagged a couch. They've got a distinct building that'll catch your eye; next time you notice it stop in! read more

I want to like this place. The coffee is better than most places in town, they have vegan baked goods, and it's just a few blocks from my house. If I want to chat with a friend or read a book, it's definitely a good place to go. BUT...this is a university town, I am a student, and I need my internet access to be consistent. I'm fine with restaurants and cafes not offering internet, but Mother Fool's is just a tease. If there are more than a few people using the connection, it fizzles out and I can't use my computer. Even worse, I mentioned the problem to an employee, and she told me that internet is seen as "a courtesy" here, and not something they have to provide. Sure - they don't have to provide it to customers, but it seems like they get a lot of business from wi-fi users, and maybe they could get more from people like me if we knew the internet was working at all times. read more

Mother Fool's has a cool, edgy, artistic vibe and is also quite cozy. Maybe it's a little bit too cozy, as the place is small and single people tend to sprawl out with laptops, hunker-down for hours and take up tables designed for two or more people. As such, my friend and I had a hard time finding a place to sit down even though the place wasn't busy by any means. We eventually found a table tucked in a back nook, separated from the main room. The lighting needs improvement back there, as each table has a tiny desk lamp with a mega-high-wattage CFL bulb, which are blinding in tight, confined spaces like that. Kudos for using eco-friendly CFLs, but we had to put our lamp on the floor because it was too bright at eye-level (but shutting it off would have put us in the dark). I liked that they had loose-leaf teas. Their baked goods are all vegan and we tried their gingerbread cookie and also a cranberry scone. The cookie was decent, but nothing spectacular. The scone was oily, soft and completely under-baked, but still tasted okay, oddly enough. What I liked best were the prices: the baked goods maxed out at $2 each, with most hovering around $1.50-$1.90. That's cheap. Nice atmosphere and nice prices at Mother Fool's. It just needs more space and better lighting. The baked goods could use a quality upgrade, but at least they're inexpensive. read more

All the recommendations were on point! The right price, delicious cupcakes and great coffee! I will come back. Has a good atmosphere and nice staff. read more

Home of the realest, quietest, milkiest Chai in Madison.

Love the decor and the ever-changing local art. Hate the spotty internet (only count on it if there are less than 5 laptops open in the whole place), and the fact they serve hot 16oz drinks in water glasses - hard on the hands! The staff are very variable in their friendliness - some are really nice, some make you feel like you aren't cool enough to be in the cafe. Overall, I prefer Ground Zero a few blocks down the street. read more

ATMOSPHERE: Music is usually grunge or alternative, can make some people uncomfortable. I'd also say it's too loud to be able to study or read anything that needs a lot of attention. Tables are small but there is a back room that has comfy couches/chairs and is a wee bit quieter. Definitely has the feel of a certain crowd. COFFEE: Great coffee drinks. They also don't make you pay extra to substitute soy for milk, which is unique. They are very pro-vegan. FOOD/BAKERY: Their bakery is almost exclusively vegan with the exception of their cream cheese. The cookies are amazing, I'd suggest the chocolate walnut cookie. Good value, filling. PRICE: Good prices, especially for those avoiding milk. Lattes will run you about $3.50 even with soy (good deal) and bakery items are all about $2. Very good value for the price. Overall, I say this is a great coffee shop but a bit intimidating for the usual crowd. Most staff is semi-friendly but the place is a bit "loud" for me and my friends agree. However, if you want to rock out to some Foo Fighters or Nirvana while reading The Isthmus and you want to make some eco-friendly choices, this is the place for you. read more

I like this place, but I'm working on loving it. I still can't 100% get over the feeling that, a) Some of the staff thinks I'm not hip enough to be there, and that b) The customers who are looking at their MacBooks are actually listening to my conversation and judging me. Paranoid? Yes. But there you have it. Anyway, I reeeeally want to love MoFo's. I think a few more time's exposure and it'll happen. I already love the decor (the color of the walls has such a warm tone), the paintings are always fun to look at, the fact that you can buy plant & veggie seeds there is awesome, the baked goods are vegan (I'm not vegan, but I love when places cater to crowds that are smaller than the general populace), and let's face it: The iced coffee is amazing. Let's give it up for cold-brew processing! read more