Let $(A,\m)$ be a Noetherian local ring with infinite residue field and let $I$ be an ideal in $A$ and let $F(I) = \bigoplus_{n \geq 0}I^n/\m I^n$ be the fiber cone of $I$. We prove certain relations among the Hilbert coefficients $f_0(I),f_1(I), f_2(I)$ of $F(I)$ when the $a$-invariant of the associated graded ring $G(I)$ is negative.

Two formulas for the multiplicity of the fiber cone $F(I)=\bigoplus_{n=0}^{\infty} I^n/\m I^n$ of an $\m$-primary ideal of a $d$-dimensional Cohen--Macaulay local ring $(R,\m)$ are derived in terms of the mixed multiplicity $e_{d-1}(\m | I)$, the multiplicity $e(I)$, and superficial elements. As a consequence, the Cohen--Macaulay property of $F(I)$ when $I$ has minimal mixed multiplicity or almost minimal mixed multiplicity is characterized in terms of the reduction number of $I$ and lengths of certain ideals. We also characterize the Cohen--Macaulay and Gorenstein properties of fiber cones of $\m$-primary ideals with a $d$-generated minimal reduction $J$ satisfying $\ell(I^2/JI)=1$ or $\ell(I\m/J\m)=1.$