Best cappuccino in Washington Sq, and maybe in all of Boston (for calibration, I like the cappuccino at Starbucks, like Red Barn more, like Peets way more, like Athans way less). I've always found the staff pleasant. Of course, I go to Starbucks when I want to hang out and get work done, but for great cappuccino to go, this is the place. read more

Clean, calm and modern atmosphere with to die for coffee if you are not expecting to place an order that better belongs at Starbucks across the street. One of the very best in Boston. read more

Hands down best latte I've had in the Boston area. The flavor was fantastic, the temperature perfect. The only shame was I had to get it to go, so I had to have a paper cup. The interior of the cafe was minimalist as has been noted in other reviews, a perfect place to sit and be mellow. The barista was friendly and professional - concentrating on making a beautiful drink. I had a baby in a stroller so I felt a little awkward because of the small space - that's my fault, not theirs... I will return when I have time for a chat and a well made espresso drink with a grownup. Lovely. read more

I think this place is great. I did not experience any of the items that have been negatively commented on here. It is a lovely place to drink lovely beverages. read more

Cafe fixe is all about the coffee - this is their specialty and they are good at it. Coffee drinks are excellent - both hot and cold. The food offerings are limited and they are just ok. However if you are into latte, espresso or macchiato skip the Starbucks across the street and order your coffee at Cafe fixe and you would not be disappointed. There is free wi-fi if you have your portable device, but I hope you don't squat there for hours so I can enjoy my drink too (especially as weather is turning colder) Lucky for me cafe fixe is a mile away from home, otherwise my monthly coffee expense will be soaring... read more

I love coffee shops and exploring new ones around Boston. I have stopped in here twice while in the Brookline area and both times I received awful customer service. Both times I walked up to the counter only to have the person working just stare back at me.. no "Hello!" or "What can I get for you?" forcing me to initiate my own order, this makes for a very awkward interaction. The coffee is very good but there are so many other places I can go to get good coffee AND good customer service. read more

Why is everyone so afraid of quality? It's nice to see a coffee shop that actually takes pride in their product, which is amazingly hard to find in Boston. Just had a perfect latte, not too sweet, not bitter, a little nutty...basically the best latte I've had since Portland, OR. Obviously this place isn't for everyone, and perhaps not all of the baristas are of equal quality, but if you care at all about coffee, you must go! I also find it refreshing that they use good milk, this is so important, and they have a record player, gotta have good music! read more

This is a serious coffee shop with a serious espresso machine and an even more serious proprietor. Seriously. :) You can see from other reviews that it probably isn't the place to write your dissertation or spend three hours catching up with a friend, but if you want REALLY good espresso, and a very clean, pleasant environment and soothing music (usually good jazz), it is pretty hard to top in Brookline. (Our basis for comparison is Crema Cafe in Harvard Square, which is only better because its bigger and has great food selection - the coffee @ Fixe is same very high quality.) The pastries are pretty good, esp the almond croissants, but clearly the focus is on coffee and tea, and the lattes are beautiful - super intense, hot and perfect foam every time. There's always an interesting mix of people, no matter what time of day. He doesn't seem to mind it if people linger a bit, especially over the newspaper (until recently they sold the NYT) or book, but obviously has decided he doesn't want people spending hours on the internet, which I think is his perogative, and keeps the atmosphere more social and less like a library. Sounds like maybe he's been a bit arbitrary in his enforcement of this rule, but its just the kind of atmosphere I'm looking for in a coffeeshop, so I can't complain. (I love Peets, but they often have 7-8 people in there on their laptops and it can be annoying to wait for a seat when people aren't budging for hours.) If you want to study, there's usually room at Starbucks across the street. read more

That sweet and inviting aroma known to coffee lovers worldwide, greets your entry into Café Fixe. As I sip my latte, the scent, the flavor, the creamy texture, and the aesthetically pleasing leaf or heart floating atop my much-needed daily caffeine fixe, offer a promising start to the day. When my husband has time to share in the experience, we smile to each other as broadly as if we were consuming hot fudge sundaes. All amidst the shazam-provoking sounds of jazz.......... With Café Fixe, along with his superb coffee, Maks has brought community space to Washington Square. With our coffees, the morning regulars exchange greetings, check in on each other's projects and kids, and sometimes talk books or politics. With legs dangling from the high stools, many children eagerly and lovingly participate, adult-like, in the café culture of sipping their drinks and chatting with the crowd. For a few dollars a day, Café Fixe provides five-senses satisfaction in a neighborly setting. Stop by! read more

I grew up on amazing coffee (my grandfather's family had a coffee farm) and travel extensively so when I say Cafe Fixe has amazing coffee you know I do not say it lightly. But then again I have to say I am a latte girl. Just as a comment when I arrived in this country 25 years ago a great coffee was hard to find in the Boston area (only the North End had good coffee) So we have come a long way when it comes to coffee , the coffee chains are ok but it is not great coffee. This is not the place to get your flavoured coffee (by the way I still do not like these and do not understand why you want to put vanilla or hazelnut, etc in to amazing coffee. I try to go here often but do not always have the chance. I just took 4 friends recently (European and South Americans living in the area) who agreed with me that it is amazing coffee. Their almond croissant is to die for. So when it comes to service, I read what some comments that Max is snob, no Max is serious that is all (maybe even shy) He is a nice guy as are his employees. I love the old jazz they have playing and it is nice to always see some familiar face in the place. A must try. read more

I love getting my caffeine fix at Café Fixe! Excellent, meticulously made coffees and teas, and a delightfully intimate modern space to sip and enjoy your beverage. Outside seating is a nice bonus. read more

I hate this place! But they have great coffee. They have a lot if annoying rules. They will not let me use my personal cup because it has the name of another cafe. They would rather ruin the environment then put their coffee in a cup with some other company's name on it. If you get a latte, the large and small have the same amount of shots, one big one. The large just has extra milk. They won't allow you to pay with a credit card if it's under five dollars. My take is that the owner is a big jerk because he makes the rules. The staff are very nice and polite. I hate to give them my business, but the reality is their coffee is the best in that area. read more

Destination for high end coffee made with care. I can't get enough of places that eat sleep and drink what they do...and that's Maks, owner of cafe fixe. 5stars read more

After moving back to Boston a few years ago I found it so hard to find a decent latte that I gave up and stopped ordering them all together. Finally a cafe with competent barista's and a perfect latte. Well done! These guys also use the best beans, the ice coffee is silky smooth! read more

This place is fantastic. It's all about coffee, good coffee at that. The value here is awesome, great great prices. It's the best place in Boston right now, hands down. If you want something comforting and familiar go elsewhere. Here at Cafe Fixe they know coffee and they prepare and serve it extremely well. This is high end, smartly executed coffee paradise for those of us who like beans roasted, ground and extracted the way they should be. There are not many places like this in New England, a handful really, and this is the best I've come across outside of NYC. To all the negative reviewers I say please go elsewhere, if you don't know what good coffee is and what to look for, please go elsewhere. Cafe Fixe isn't about warm mothers milk and burnt expresso, it's about meticulously delivered eSpresso by folk who know their art. I go to starbucks when I don't give a crap about what is tastes like, I just want comfort and cinnamon, the fast food fix of morning coffees. If I'm homeless I'll go to Dunkin Donuts and get brown water. But when I want real coffee, brewed properly, with confidence, I'll always go to Cafe Fixe. It's funny, I have read a lot of reviews about the staff in this place, I've always found them (the staff) to be really nice, but the reviews are always written with language that sounds like it comes from an undereducated, inarticulate, spoilt student who couldn't tell the difference between a macchiato and a non fat chai latte extra hot with whipped cream. Work that one out. One reviewer has never even BEEN to the Cafe. Amazing! read more

I've been getting my morning coffee here (and sometimes afternoon) for more than two years now so I've had maybe 1000 cups by now!? Nobody makes a better coffee. If I can't get to Cafe Fixe first thing in the morning and have to pick up a SB or DD coffee, I just take a few sips, throw it away and rush over to my real Fixe cup as soon as I get back to Washington Square. I even took my Italian ex-husband there one day as he was complaining about never being able to get a decent espresso anywhere in the US. He was bowled over and told the owner that the Fixe espresso was even better than some he had had in Italy. I respect these baristas who are intent on serving the "perfect cup" each and every time! read more

I have always wanted to try this place because it looked good from the outside and I know there had been some cool events hosted here. Had a sixth sense that I should charge my computer the night before but didn't so that I could work a little longer in bed. This place prides itself on not having outlets because woe is modernity that requires us to constantly be plugged in. I understand the not wanting squatters because it is such a small establishment, but sometimes our technology isn't juiced up (nor are we without coffee, for caffeine addicts). Only had the coffee and it was warm, not hot. Food looked good, but pricey. But I am also a broke grad student. read more

I adore Cafe Fixe! They have excellent coffee and a chic modern decor. I've never tried to use my laptop there and I don't see why the availability of outlets or wifi should be the hallmark of a good coffee shop. I have a standing coffee date with one of my friends every Friday at Cafe Fixe. We split a french press (only $4) and sometimes a baked good, and we always stay for longer than an hour and have never, ever had a problem. To be honest, though, what I look for in a coffee shop is COFFEE, and Cafe Fixe delivers. They know the correct distinction between a cappuccino and a latte (I have never been able to figure out how Starbucks gets off selling a venti cappuccino) and the beans are strong without being bitter. The baristas can be a bit stand-offish, I suppose, but that doesn't bother me. I should warn you, however, that I'm a self-described coffee snob and if I could get a better cup from a hobo in a cardboard box that's where I'd be going. read more

Best tasting coffee in Brookline! I've been here once and it was quite crowded, which is great for business, but with one server the wait tends to get a little long. Having said that, you will not find a better cappuccino anywhere in Brookline. read more

Perfect place after a wonderful meal! I can honestly say that this place served me one of the best lattes I've ever had. It comes pretty close to my favorite cafe in the North End, and somewhat close to what I've had in Italy. The foam was perfect in every way, and the espresso was just the way I Iike it, bold and not bitter. I'm definitely going to take the 10-15 minute walk from my place to have a hot, caffiene "fixe" often. Only down fall, a bit pricey for what you get! read more

Excellent decor and coffee. I had a cappuccino and a scone. The cappuccino was well crafted and the scone was very good.

I'll keep this as short and sweet as I am able: Cafe Fixe offers the best cup of coffee south of Mass Ave. After years of fighting with corporate robo-baristas' middle-American milked-downed drinks - ANYONE who enjoys the flavour of the coffee bean tends to get a chip on their shoulder. We have learned to use terms like "dry" and "quadruple" when ordering our espresso-based drinks. I went in to Fixe the first time and ordered a single espresso (always a good means to judge the foundation of any serious javahut). I asked for it "to-go". The man behind the counter suggested that "to-go" was a poor decision - that it was such a small volume, that the creme would dissipate and flavour be jeopardised, that I ought to take an extra 2 minutes out of my busy day and drink my espresso from a proper demitasse - as it is meant to be enjoyed. He firmly, gently, put me in my place - in a manner that I have perhaps been seeking after a decade of coffee-laced milkshakes of the American go-go-go culture. Sit down. Count to 120. Look out the window and savour the bouquet of this simple pleasure that has been prepared by the proprietors of Fixe from start to finish......... just so. If you want a seat. Don't give up. Refrain from the overstuffed sofas at the McDonalds Cafe across the street. Go most weekday mornings. I never have an issue finding a place to park myself for a coffee and a few page flips of the morning paper, then hopping back onto my C-Line commute. If you have a discerning palate, you ought to, at the very least, go out of your way and head over for a cup of coffee. You might be re-educated too. I have been. 20 years of coffee drinking know-it-all down the tubes in twenty minutes. A good life is measured by the number of horizons crossed: drinking a cup of coffee at Fixe seems somehow part of a new ascent. If you prefer drip coffee - I suggest a cup of the immersion coffee they offer - try the Kenyan - you can actually taste the berry. Truly. 100% free wireless too. read more

Cafe Fixe is awesome! One of my favorite coffee shops in the Boston area. Whenever I'm near Washington Square, I make sure to stop by Cafe Fixe for a Gelato Affogato. If I'm not dieting I'll also get one of the pastries near the counter. read more

This place is a great escape from Starbucks. Good espresso, no frills. Clean, minimal, and sophisticated atmosphere.

YUM, YUM, YUM. This place is AMAZING. Although you've got to pay a bit more than you would at chain-coffee places, you definitely get what you pay for. They use High Lawn milk which I'm a huge fan of - making their lattes even more tasty. The combination of their espresso (so flavorful and strong it's like a kick in your mouth)+milk with a dash of simple syrup makes my day!! Their pastries are quite delicious as well. They purchase them from a small store in either Watertown or Somerville. (locally made!) Featuring traditional Danish pastries, muffins, croissants, cookies, granola, etc. everything I've tried has tasted both fresh and wonderful. read more

This is my favorite place in the Boston area to get coffee. I am not one to hang out in a coffee shop, so this assessment is based strictly on taste. It is hard to find a non-chain coffee shop that can serve a consistently delicious espresso drink. I no longer live in the area, but will go out of my way to Washington Square when a decent latte is needed. read more

Consistently great lattes, the best around. I'm allergic to milk and soy and they will use the coconut milk I bring in!!

I wish the service were better here and matched the delicious-tasting coffee they brew (Barrington Coffee Co.!), but it's terrible. The staff is moody and pretentious. Not at all the way a coffee shop should be. Very unfortunate. Also, too pricey. read more

I'm so happy this gets to be my first Yelp review! I f**king love this place. This is where you'll find the best cup of coffee in Boston to date. Doesn't matter who's on bar, doesn't matter what coffee. They kill it. One recommendation to those apprehensive of this place based on reviews.... "leave your assumptions at the door." This is a relatively new approach to coffee that is being spearheaded by folks like Maks all over the country. If you want to pay for a hug with a burnt, stale, poorly prepared cup of coffee at Starbucks, I am so sorry you need that. If you want to pay for a quality prepared, specialty agricultural product, you are in luck. Just too bad there aren't more Cafe Fixes around... So yeah, coffee,...awesome. Pastries from the Danish Pastry House in Watertown, bomb. Try the theberkie (sp?) Service, always on point and knowledgeable. And the bathroom is always super clean with amazing soap! I mean,.. come on. read more

This is the best , most consistent coffee served anywhere in the Boston area. Strong but not bitter, well balanced. Expresso, cappuccino, Latte, all perfect. Thanks Max. read more

Nice little cafe right at the corner of washington street and beacon. Good pastries but terrible service. Waiting for 20 minutes for an americano, 4.71$ for a tea... Although the products are of good quality, it is not worth the wait nor the excessive price!!! read more

love love love this place! Best espresso ever! It cannot be compared with other coffee shops. Starbucks makes terrible espresso drinks... You all should try this store! read more

By far the best coffee in Boston! Love this place, love the employees, love the drinks! If you have a bad thing to say about this shop you are a snooty piece of negativity who expects to be waited on hand and foot and probably think your poop doesn't stink. The staff are wonderful. Oh, and if you walk in with starbucks in your hand.....I don't blame anyone for being rude to you. read more

Many have said not so nice things about the owner, yet im puzzled as to why. Now, I do agree that the coffee is more expensive, but this is Brookline were talking about. In any case, I have been here many times and Max has always been very polite and courteous. In fact, I once came in and didn't meet the new credit card minimum. Instead of making a face, Max just told me to get him back next time - This is how you build loyalty. Another instance was a couple of weeks ago when my car battery died in the Whole Foods parking lot. Max happened to pull in next to my car and when he saw someone trying to help me start my car again, he immediately offered his for a "jump". Lucky for me that he came when he did because the battery pack being used by the other guy was dead. Had it not been for Fixe's owner, I would have been badgering others in that parking lot for quite some time. So yes, the owner is a great guy. He doesn't smile a whole lot and does not engage in small talk. However, I come here for great coffee and I have never been disappointed. If I wanted small talk and someone to cater to my every desire I would go across the street to the mermaid. Cafe Fixe delivers and the owner is a genuinely nice dude. Perhaps if some didn't expect a starbucks-esque experience, they wouldn't be disappointed. read more

A very white decorated coffee house abandons some of the rules of a normal coffee setting. This place is responsible for a new-found love of Great Barrington Coffee's Esperanza blend. Last few times, it wasn't offered, but their coffee selection is exclusively Great Barrington and they brew it even better than the shop on Newbury St. Though historically friendly with no issues among a mostly chill staff, one guy compelled us to go with ceramic mugs for staying in and almost wouldn't allow paper cups (often preferred) without a fight. This was a real bother, didn't need the side of pompous tude, served up hot. Well-sized cookies and other minor treats go along with coffees. Decor is minimalist, almost purgatorial with an incomplete feel (just put up one picture!). Much welcomed jazzy music in the background goes in tune with the setting if you can find a seat among usually cafe types who camp out for hours with their Macbooks. Castille soap in the restroom is a major plus. Tapered off from coming to Cafe Fixe after the last time, feeling like a refugee onto the sidewalk because of no seating anywhere, again. Should of made away with a ceramic mug after that one. read more

I've been here twice and both times my Americano has been incredibly bitter and acidic. It's a clean place and has wi-fi so I'll give a couple of stars for that. read more

Judging by the latte, this place probably has the best coffee in Brookline. The interior is small (no couches), but brightly lit and modern. The wooden furniture smells kind of smells nice too. read more

I just went to Fixe for the first time yesterday, and the cappuccino was probably the best I've had in Boston. Not exactly what I'd characterize as a cozy coffee shop (my usual preference) but it's clean and modern, and the coffee and baristas are awesome! read more

Best coffee spot in Boston! This place is great. Very feiendly ataff and the best coffee i have ever found. The lattes come with a beautiful design on top, making you feel extra special. The scones, muffins, etc change and vary daily, but you really cant go wrong no matter what you order! read more

I was a little nervous to go here after all of the bad reviews, but the positive reviews of my place convinced me to risk it. I ordered a small iced latte and had asked if they had any vanilla syrups. The girl who worked there was very polite and friendly and said that they don't have any flavored syrups, but that they had simple syrup available. The latte was absolutely delicious, but for over $4 this place is too expensive for me to go often. The small was quite tiny. Next time I'm getting a large. read more