MAD FiX Coffee

San Diego, United States

4.7

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 619-362-1648
Website:
madfixcoffee.com
Address:
621 W Fir St, San Diego, CA, 92101
b/t Kettner Blvd & India St
Little Italy
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miCounty Center/Little Italy
0.5 miSanta Fe Depot
0.5 miAmerica Plaza
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Good for Working
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (San Diego) 11:23 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Espresso drinks, pour-​over, cold brew, teas and local treats!

History

Established in 2013.

M.A.D FiX Coffee started as a street side coffee cart in Downtown San Diego! After a year we moved inside a store called X-​Hale smoke shop and shared space, we had plenty of outside seating for the coffee café. The owner Dottie decided to close up shop from Downtown (in dec 2014) until found a new location of it’s own.

In early March 2015, M.A.D FiX Coffe is making a comeback and found it’s new home in Little Italy on Fir St.

It’s a full service café and has a bathroom, outdoor seating and many coffee and pastry options.

And the story continues from there! Re-​Opens Mid MAY 2015

So enjoy and get your mad fix on!

Meet the Business Owner

Dottie N.

Business Owner

Female entrepreneur in her early 30s from Detroit, MI. Residing in San Diego since 2006 and has a very special love for this city. She founded M.A.D FiX Coffee in February 2013. Attended college in Florida, for media and digital graphic design as well as online college for business and marketing. She comes from a family that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit, several of her relatives owning successful businesses (in San Diego & Detroit) gave her a great example to follow. Worked in several coffee shops as a minor and had always dreamed of owning her own one day. She now works tirelessly to share her love and passion for the art of coffee and its surrounding culture. With Mad Fix’s new location also brings a new business partner into the fold, Brandi Kirschbaum, who similarly has also always wanted to own a coffee shop, now these two are fulfilling their dreams of making crafted amazing coffee and great experiences. Now come on out and see what the Buzz is about already!

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20 reviews of MAD FiX Coffee

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Imperial Beach, CA
This place is really cute. It’s tucked away on a side street of Little Italy. It was a perfect place to meet a friend and catch up.
I don’t usually order sweet coffee drinks, but I got a drink that I can’t remember the name. It was espress, coconut milk, cardamom, and a little bit of coconut syrup. SOOOOO GOOOOD!
I highly recommend this place for a quiet coffee in a cool neighborhood.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
This coffeeshop is really tucked away. Like really. It’s tiny, quaint, eclectic, and there’s some outdoor seating available. I visited on a Saturday afternoon and the tables were pretty full. They seem very dog friendly which is cool.
Mad Fix sells pretty good quality coffee (Calabria if you’re familiar with them) and mix up specialty drinks like coconut cold brews and horchata lattes. I tried the regular cold brew and the coconut cold brew; the regular cold brew was good– smooth, no bitterness, and what you’d expect from good quality cold brew. The coconut cold brew was a little too sweet for my liking but still pretty good. They also sell food/​snacks like donuts, empanadas, and even quiche! It’s an interesting mix that has a little something for everyone. It’s definitely a nice spot to pop into if you’re in Little Italy.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
We stumbled across this little gem after a hearty (delicious) meal a block or two away.
This little coffee shop is tucked behind an aromatic, eclectic store. Being that my recent obsession with coffee has given me super powers that can find even the most hidden coffee spots, I was able to find my way here. And I wasn’t disappointed. The barista was friendly and patient (my tiny human may have been mercilessly & curiously exploring the small space). Now I cannot remember what I ordered specifically, but it was an iced coffee that was perfection. And, since it was such a beautiful day, we sat in their small patio. The best part as a mom, there was a kiddie table with crayons, paper & kiddie books… Any parent knows that ANYtime ANY place is kid-​friendly, they are a Godsend! This little activity table kept my little one so occupied and entertained that we were able to sit there for quite a while (at least an hour), basking in the San Diego sun while having a nice chat with another parent couple to a brand new baby.
Anyway, the point is, this place is awesome and you should go. Oh! The variety of grown up books they had was pretty great, too. All around great place.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
This is definitely a different environment as far as a coffee spot. It’s a converted garage and driveway that serves coffee. It’s very electic and different. It’s like hanging out in someone’s driveway for coffee but it’s in Little Italy so it’s a nice area. The iced coffee was standard and pretty hard to mess that up. I am gonna have to try the other coffee options here next trip. Service was nice from the barista (might have also been the owner).
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
My new fave. M.A.D Fix is the perfect place for a late-​morning hang. Pretty much all of the seating is outdoors, but with ample shade, so it’s pretty comfortable. If you scroll through the pictures you’ll get an idea of just how funky cool it is.
I had the Love & Aesthetics iced coffee, which is the same as the Vietnamese (meaning iced coffee with condensed milk and a shot of espresso)…but with cardamom! Delish. I also had a doughnut covered in granulated sugar, and with a vanilla-​based pastry. Fab. The woman who served me (the owner, I think?) was super friendly, and offered helpful info on the different drinks.
I love that it feels like a little getaway, even though you’re right in the middle of bustling Little Italy. Sooo basically, I’m saying you shouldn’t come here, because I like it feeling like my own private coffee oasis. K bye.
Place rating: 5
Long Beach, CA
They have Vietnamese iced coffee! My all-​time favorite! I haven’t been able to find it before unless at a Vietnamese restaurant or coffee shop. It was perfect– the flavor was good and it was strong and a little sweet just like it should be. Everyone working was nice and seemed to be enjoying themselves while at work.
Super excited I have a new spot I can rely on to get exactly what I want for my morning coffee. Def. check this place out.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Excellent first experience at this new coffee shop in Little Italy. I had missed my train and decided to use Maps on my iPhone to get my morning fix and this location was one of the top rated around my area and I soon discovered why. (By the way the new iOS 9 integration of Unilocal is working so awesome together)
The location is a hidden gem on the corner of Fir and India street, nestled between two smaller buildings. They have a great intimate sitting area to the right of the shop as you are about to walk in with additional outdoor seating available to the public at the corner of Fir and India (Fun little fountain, umbrellas, etc.).
I had the pleasure of having Dottie (I really hope I did not butcher her name) help me. She was so polite, charming, and welcoming. I let her know it was my first time and asked what she recommends. She steered me to a Vietnamese Iced Coffee which was absolutely delicious! The espresso and coffee was perfectly balanced and brewed. Not too sweet with just the right amount of kick.
Thy have a small selection of merchandise, donuts, and sweets available for purchase, my mission on this visit unfortunately was for caffeine.
They take advantage of Square Register which made paying absolutely painless with my card.
I look forward to coming back and exploring more of their coffee concoctions and enjoying the Little Italy neighborhood a little more!
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
I am so in love with this quaint little place! I got an iced coffee was pretty strong. I really only needed half of my 16 oz. They also have empanadas that are from Civico 1855 (next door), but only in the afternoons.
They also have Vietnamese coffee?!? Score! Sounds like the perfect Monday morning solution.
Lots of coffee options you surely can’t go wrong with. Their beans are from café Calabria. For those of you who haven’t tried coffee from there, it’s pretty good! .and you can’t beat the staff, everyone’s so friendly
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
There are zero reasons why you shouldn’t go to Mad Fix. First — their location is adorable. Tucked away in an alley in Little Italy, it is intimate but still accessible. The décor is very charming. Second — service is AWESOME. Everyone on staff is amazingly friendly. And finally, of course — the coffee. I have never had a bad drink, ever, ever. Consistent and delicious. Their espresso is so smooth, and their cold brew has a great kick. I’m addicted to Mad Fix!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Amazing coffee shop in the heart of Little Italy!
We have a lot of coffee in San Diego, but not a lot of good coffee. Mad Fix stands out above the others. Excellent customer service from the friendly owners. Incredible coffee. My go-​to fix is a Soy Latte and they nail it! My hubby is very picky and he loves their cappuccinos. Their donuts are incredible too. (Try the Strawberry Kiwi.)
Don’t miss this hidden gem! And help support local small businesses. Located in the cottages on Fir Street.
Place rating: 5
Montreal, Canada
This coffee shop made my entire trip to San Diego ten times more amazing! We stayed right around the corner so I was there almost every day.
First off, it’s super cute on the inside. It also has an outside seating area that’s perfect for when you’re having your morning coffee. Not to mention, their washroom is pretty sick so make sure you check it out.
As for the coffee, it’s unreal. You can tell that the owners know exactly what they’re doing and the amount of passion that’s put into each drink they make is definitely noticeable.
The owners (Dottie & Brandi) are the sweetest. You’ll end up talking to them forever. I think that’s what sets this café apart from the others, not just the coffee but also how awesome the owners are.
TIP: if Dottie is working, ask for the cinnamon toast crunch drink (we made up the name) but it’s basically the best thing you will ever taste. It’s a chai tea latte half half with one shot of vanilla and cinnamon on top. It literally tastes like the left over milk after you finish your cinnamon toast crunch cereal. I was addicted and I seriously considered to cancel my flight for this drink. IT’S THAT GOOD.
— @Hanaer
Place rating: 5
Imperial Beach, CA
Mad Fix is consistantly one of the bests cups of coffee in Little Italy. Along with it’s wonderful outdoor seating and fabulous staff, the location truly highlights every essense of this neighborhood. There is no shortage of Cafés in Little Italy, however nothing as noteworthy (or Unilocal worthy) as Mad Fix.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I usually always judge a new coffee place by the plain black coffee or a mocha. For MAD FiX I opted for a mocha since their coffee is from Calabria and I already know that coffee is good. I wanted to know how MAD treated the good coffee! :)
This is some kick booty stuff! The coffee and chocolate went together perfectly, no overly sweet or burned taste that some mochas can have AND they make their own whipped cream! Hello! I will definitely be back! They have a of other options to try too. So, impress me with your mocha and I’m a quick devotee.
CUTE CUTE ambiance! And I love their menu. Took a lot of photos for you all to peruse! :)
Dina, the coffee barista was personable and friendly too! So shout out to her!
So I highly recommend this place for the great ambiance and even greater mocha.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
A super cozy spot hidden in a little corner of Little Italy. Outside tables and chairs, in the shade. Nice atmosphere with music playing. a small table with toys to entertain the kids. Reading material off to the side.
The barista behind the counter was very friendly, helpful, and welcoming. I think she’s the owner. Awesome!
Bottled drinks, and of course coffee and teas. Their iced vanilla chai was yum, a creamy taste, not too spiced. Husband got iced coffee and says it’s what iced coffee should taste like. Smooth and just right, no creamer needed. My kid got their blueberry lemonade. Tasted fresh squeezed and not to sweet. They also have fresh pastries and packaged snacks.
Prices are fair. Street parking.
Yes, thumbs up!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
A great new addition to Little Italy serving Unilocal favorites Caffe Calabria coffee (
) and Nomad donuts! (
).
They serve espresso drinks, brewed coffee, tea, a fantastic cold brew and also pour over all at reasonable pricing. They also have quiche, empenadas and other pastries, all from local San Diego curators.
I had the «Love & Aesthetics» drink (inspired by the beautiful shop they share a space with). It tasted like a sweet iced Turkish coffee! unique and delicious.
This is probably the first time I’ve had a coffee I really enjoyed in this neighborhood, definitely recommend :)
Place rating: 4
Palo Alto, CA
I love the way this place is decorated! It’s a little hard to find, but if you see a sign that says «coffee» make a right and it will be at the end. The baristas were super friendly and made my iced latte very fast. I wouldn’t say the iced latte is the best I’ve had in San Diego, but it is definitely up there in quality. Most of the seating is outdoors and the place is nicely decorated. They even have nice soap in the bathroom. :)
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Located in Little Italy, tucked away on Fir Street, MAD Fix and Dottie are serving up some pretty amazing treats! Whether your sweet tooth drives you to a mocha or you prefer donuts and pastries, you can find it here. MAD Fix reminds me a blue bottle hole-​in-​the-​wall that I used to frequent in SF when I lived there — except it’s so much better because you can hangout on the cute patio. Also a plus, this place is dog friendly. The day I was there an adorable pup with an under bite was helping her owner pick up some coffee. Doesn’t matter if you hangout on the patio or get your coffee to go, Dottie will make you feel welcome. By the way, MAD Fix is paperless, so you can get your receipt texted or emailed if you need it.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
Mad Fix is definitely a place to get you coffee fix if that is what you are fixing on doing! Not only that, they also carry some maddening doughnuts from Nomad Doughnuts in North Park. Unfortunately, the doughnut delivery had not yet arrived at the early hour I arrived, but still was able to enjoy a great Americano and service.
The medium 16oz Americano cost $ 3.25 and except for a few grounds left in the espresso, the espresso was very good. The flavor was spot on with a robust yet smooth flavor. Nice Americano. They mostly all outdoor seating, free WiFi, and like I said a variety if baked goods including some great daily choices from Nomad Doughnuts.
The young ladies who work here are quite hip and have nice personalities. They were very apologetic about not having the fresh doughnuts in at the time I arrived, but I will certainly take them up next time.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
This place is seriously one of the coolest coffee shops ever. My wife and I were visiting San Diego for a long weekend from Seattle and stumbled across MadFix while walking through Little Italy. It’s one of those places that was so charming you have to do a double take. We came back the next morning, and the next.
The coffee is great — people are cool — atmosphere is charming and relaxing, and the donuts are off the hook. This is now my goto coffee place in San Diego.
Place rating: 4
Encinitas, CA
Ok… Yeah these people know their coffee! I am a cold brew fanatic and MAD FIX glass was great. Ice cold and no bitterness. The shop is in a little cottage in Little Italy with a lovely sitting area. They have pastries and donuts from Nomads over at North Park.
The Shop– keeps are very cool and helpful.
I’ll be back!