Think before you make a stink. Your customers deserve better. I've been in about 6-8 times since I moved my company into the Wallingford neighborhood about 4 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure I've ordered the same thing every time; 2 shots over ice medium size to go cup. To which I then add half and half. I'm not expecting the barista to know my order as I'm not really a regular yet. What I'm NOT expecting is to be chastised in front of other customers for doing something I didn't know was wrong. Apparently 2 shots over ice with more than an unspecified maximum amount of half and half is called a breve. Huh? News to me since I've been drinking the same coffee drink on summer days since I moved to Seattle in 1993. Perhaps a sign posted, 'No more than a 1/4 oz of half and half or your breaking the law-of-the-barista!' is needed to insure order is maintained. After preparing my drink the barista leaned over the counter confronting me that, 'next time I'm not giving you a 12 oz cup. You're only getting an 8 oz.' My reply is a dumbfounded: 'What?! What are you talking about?' Barista raises her voice stating, 'You just made yourself an iced breve. Next time you're only getting an 8 oz cup.' I reply, "Okay but I don't even know what that is" and walked out. I'm not going to get into it over coffee drinks with a barista. If anything she's the one who seemed weird getting all agro over my supposed extra ice or half and half. But really?! Is that how you treat customers? I did tip nearly a dollar for a $2.65 drink, close to 30% tip. That was before getting fingered as a coffee-cheat. So let's do the math. Est. cost of an ounce of half and half: $0.149 (based on $2.39 for a pint according to http://www.longmontdairy.com/prices.php) Maybe 1 oz would be ok but 2.5 oz is too much (aka crossing the breve line). I honestly don't think I put in even half an oz. I'll ballpark I helped myself to $0.37 when I was only "allowed" $0.149 in half and half. Let's give the mid sized cup a value of +$0.05 and "extra" ice (+$0.02 estimated) over the cost of an 8oz cup. Do you see how ridiculous this is getting? I make an effort to support local small businesses because I also own one. When it comes to coffee in Wallingford along 45th there are several coffee shop options. From now on I'll choose between Uptown, Fuel & Mosaic and encourage others to do the same. BTW - my 2 shots over ice...err....I mean breve was excellent. read more

I enjoy laid back, but too laid back is a problem. I've been there 4 times. Once, 2 people who worked there were arguing. Another time, I had sat down to drink my coffee. 5 minutes later, I had to leave because they told me they had just closed because it was slow, which was about 1.5hrs earlier than their business hours. A third time, I walked over there with my girlfriend and they were closed during normal business hours. Other than that, this place is good. Great coffee, friendly staff, good atmosphere (so long business isn't too slow so you can finish your coffee). I'll change it to 4 stars after awhile w/out being turned away from abnormal business hours. read more

I came here with a friend to get some work done-- we had previously been at a different coffee shop but the WiFi there went down, so we had to relocate. We came into the Muddy Cup with coffee from the previous place, but ordered pastries when we arrived so as to pay for our time there. The person that I'm assuming is the owner/manager angrily told us that we weren't allowed to have coffee from a different shop, since it would be strange for people to see a different logo on the cup. I offered to pour the coffee into one of his cups instead, but he said that I should just buy his coffee and then went on a tirade about how his coffee was better than anyone else's. I was actually intending on purchasing a coffee after a bit, but after this interaction, I no longer felt comfortable talking to him. My friend and I tried to continue our work, despite this, but the owner/manager turned off the WiFi and started using his leaf blower outside, presumably out of spite and to get us to leave. We quickly left after this. I was very excited to get to try this cute coffee shop, so it was a huge disappointment to have such a negative experience. read more

Whenever I have a chance to stop by here I always take some time to relax with my coffee at their amazingly chill place. The coffee is delicious and is prepared with care. If the weather is nice I love sitting at their outdoor space. I recommend stopping by if you're in the neighborhood. read more

I've only been here once, and the experience was rather pleasant. I appreciate that they offer some unique beverages as well as coffee ice cubes to keep your summer drinks from getting diluted. But I have to echo other reviewer's sentiments regarding the excessive rule signage. A Muddy Cup is a darling little shop, cozy and quirky, with a gorgeous back patio shaded by trees. Unfortunately, everywhere you look in this place you encounter a glaring sign instructing you to do or not do something. Pay with cash (or face a 2% penalty), order before sitting, restroom for customers only, wifi limited to two hours, on and on and on. And while I loved sitting on the back porch the four bright yellow visually instructive "Pick up your dog poop" signs kind of killed the ambiance. This place would definitely be a local favorite if its management matched its ambiance. read more

This is a really nice coffee shop. The baristas are great and the coffee is good. My main problem with it (at least when I was there) was that there was no background music. Now, I am as surprised as you that I would think of that as a detriment but there is something about this coffee shop... People just weren't talking. It was kind of weird. Of course this may be more attributable to the Seattlites gracing it than to the management but I would like to see them (1) create some sort of background music to not have it seem so eerie and (2) provide more seating and a bit more lighting. So the atmosphere is really the only thing keeping this place from a 5 star for me. read more

Despite having a plethora of coffee choices within 3+ blocks of our house, it feels like Muddy Cup has filled a real gap in the neighborhood between 45th and 50th Streets NE east of Dick's but west of the Freeway. The proprietors, Sarah and Matt (she pulls, he tenders), have done a great job restoring an old office space. The interior is warm (with hues of red/orange), the ubiquitous stuffed furniture is clean (for the time being), and the lighting and exterior greenery make it a cozy alternative to the coffee houses further west. The owners have also infused their shop with the type of fair trade, organic ethos that speaks to the inner souls of the typical Wallingfordian: Pangea coffee, Mighty-O donuts, and free Wi-Fi (the ultimate example of an empowered social community). About the only drawback the day we visited was that the credit card machine hadn't yet arrived. Nice addition to the neighborhood! read more

Do you enjoy flora and fauna-themed cross-stitch works of art? Cozy nooks and corners for canoodling or studying? Gleaming, highly-polished tabletops? Warm and inviting lighting through the use of strategic lamp placement? If you answered yes to three or more questions, then read on. Despite the "frog life stages as drink sizes" concept, e.g. tadpole is 8 oz, tree frog is 12 oz, and so on and so forth, this little cafe is brimming with wonderful atmosphere and well-crafted beverages. I really enjoyed the fact that each for-here mug was different and had personality which reflects what A Muddy Cup is all about. My latte was just right and my friend's lavender Nutella mocha was fragrant and unique. Pools of golden light from various lamps scattered throughout the space fills you with comfort. This is one of the quietest and most serene cafes I have ever visited; a great spot to get some work done. read more

Sarah and Matt are great parts of the Wallingford community. They make amazing coffee and juices. The coffee is roasted in house. Just lovely wonderful stuff. If you have a chance stop in! Simply the best coffee in our area. read more

A Muddy Cup has only been opened for a week, and I've already frequented it on more occasions than I can count. I agree with the first reviewer that a coffee shop is such a welcome addition to East Wallingford. No longer do I have to venture to the U District or up the hill to get my daily caffeine fix. The owners, Sarah and Matt, have lovingly transformed the small abandoned space into their business, a warm and inviting place like no other. The place has a kind of charm that isn't found at other coffee joints around, and is great whether you're there to mingle with friends or to bury your face in a laptop (as I do). The coffee is great, the owners are friendly, and they sell might-o donuts... it's simply my new favorite place in the neighborhood. read more

This place is super close to my house, and I had no idea until a friend who doesn't live in Wallingford alerted me about it. I had made a mental note to go there, but completely forgot until I was walking down 45th Street after lunch with a date, and we stopped in for some beverages. The place is on the cozier side, with an awesome paint job and lots of random knickknacks everywhere. I liked how the cup sizes were frog life cycle stages - I always get confused about tall/grande/whatever anyway. My hot chocolate was quite good. My only word of caution is that, at least when I was there on a Saturday early afternoon, the place was fairly full, but very quiet with everyone working away on their laptops or whatever. I was there to chat with my date, and I didn't want to feel like I was disturbing anyone. So I would say it seems like a great place to get work done, and I would have to come back again to see if it is a good date place. read more

I work as a barista so I usually don't go out and get a cup. Especially if I know I can make one myself for free. But I past this place a lot so why not. First off, this place is pretty damn cozy. The low light atmosphere makes it really tempting to take a nap. I tried an 8 oz Nutella mocha. To my disappointment the drink was too hot. Maybe she steamed it longer to melt the Nutella better? Who knows? Point is, I threw it out. Couple weeks later decided to give this joint another chance. This time I tried an 8 oz blueberry cup cake latte. It actually tasted good. Could be a little less foam... But eh. Another sad thing is they didn't have many choices for their pastries. I really wanted to snack. But not much to choose from. Not much to eat at all actually. But hey! I gotta give it to them they can be pretty creative with their drinks. If you want to sit down and read a book. I guess this is the place. :) Sincerely yours. Another coffee snob of Seattle. read more

Very cozy little establishment. Coffee prices are average and the coffee was good, it took an average amount of time. Lots of people settle in to study here. The clientele is a little weird, we had 4 people there and people kept randomly jumping into our conversation. Makes for interesting stories though! Someone gave us algebra tests to take and offered to grade them for us. That has not happened to me before. I'm an out of towner but I would pop by lots if I were a Wallingfordite! read more

On a spur-of-the-moment coffee tasting trip, this was one of the places we hit. I absolutely love the kitschy cabin feel of this place. Every inch of the cafe is covered in tacky wall art, all the tables are mismatched with library lamps. It's relatively small and quiet making it seem like a good place to study. The coffee was excellent; smooth finish and the cappuccino foam was velvety. Not to mention, their beans suppliers support female farmers in developing countries, which was a pleasant surprise and I would definitely frequent this place if it were closer to where I live. I also didn't get the chance to try their local pastries, so I might have to make another trip out to A Muddy Cup! read more

The name makes me want to vomit! However, a true Wallingfordite, I try the place. friendly vibe, good coffee. The name could be changed though to sound more like upbeat and clean place to go for good coffee.. rather than muddy - rhymes with scummy. read more

How do you tell the difference between a place that's trying too hard to be funky and "authentic" and a place that's the real deal? Come here. The give-aways are it's a little musty inside, and the decor is more just weird than funky. I like it. The coffee is average, but the outside courtyard is perfect, so an extra star for that. Also, the barista was authentically surly, which oddly was a plus. Like it or not, it's a real place. read more

All the times that I've been here, I have had a gross cup of coffee. I've tried about four different drinks and always been disappointed. It is not a welcoming shop and the people who own it have snobby attitudes. read more

Not a bad place to sit on comfy chair or at a nice table and do some work. Drinks are quite ok and some come with different flavors (fried banana latte) while the snacks are plentiful. Unfortunately, the hours are not for evening studying. Wish I would've known they close at 7pm. Sigh. read more

Nutella mocha! Get the nutella mocha! It's super indulgent and amazing. Or get black coffee, or espresso straight up, or whatever you want -- it's guaranteed to be delicious -- these guys know coffee. The actual interior is quite small, and full of mismatched furniture, board games, and perfect reading nooks. They also have an outdoor area for seating out back when the weather is nice. Their pastry selection is quite limited and seems to be depleted whenever I go in after 9am, but I don't come here for pastries. read more

Adorable local coffee shop! It was an old house that they re-did to be a cute coffee shop. There are a bunch of different and interesting seating areas They use random and different coffee cups. Same with spoons and small plates. Fun and kitchy! I went with a cup of earl grey - mmmm! The treats look great and the staff/owners is nice The outdoor seating is almost as big as the inside and it wonderful - if only it was warmer the day i was there! read more

This place has the best (and one of only 2 coffee shops I've found) that has white coffee. Like actual lightly-toasted coffee beans that are higher in caffeine, not the latte drink from Starbucks. I've been coming to A Muddy Cup for over 5 years, since before they did away with punch cards. I come here for the coffee and that's about it. I agree with other reviews that the service is, shall we say, surly . Especially if you get the dude with the facial hair and usually a beanie. I think he's the owner. One time I was feeling punchy and I asked him why he had a sticker that said SUCK BUCKS with a Starbucks logo. He then launched into a diatribe about corporate greed and waste and excess. And I think there was something about save the whales too. Seriously such an angry rant!! But you know what, that's kinda what I love about it here. You have to have a sense of humor when you come here. It prides itself on "ironic" signage and surly service but that is sort of what I love about it here. It's sooooo liberal and so hipster seattle and cranky that I find it hilarious and I think everyone should visit here if they are out of town. The ambiance is cozy and has lots of comfy chairs and sofas and board games. And the coffee is great! They make their own chocolate mocha sauce and its divine. read more

I've only been here once but I cannot wait to have my schedule open up more so I can spend more days here! The atmosphere is warm and inviting but not too crowded and the staff was super friendly. My friend and I were able to drink our coffees and relax there for hours without feeling like unwanted squatters. This place has that very lax, chill, Seattle cafe vibe that I love so very, very much. They seem to have a great selection, but I have to admit I didn't look too much into it. The day I went was during the time before elections and I immediately locked onto getting a Barackacinno! They also had Obama Latte - how cute. read more

This place is so cute! A friend and I just stumbled in while we were waiting for some other friends and it feels like you are walking into a friend's living room. The space is really cozy and comfortable, the kind of place you don't feel bad about sitting in for hours talking and reading. I had the oolong tea, and while I want there for long I would have loved to spend a whole afternoon there reading and drinking that tea. read more

OK, yes -- the owners are wonderful. But I also want to say that I have always been well taken care of by the afternoon/odd day barista. She makes an excellent cappuccino and pulls sweet shots. I've come in grumpy and having a bad day, and she's been sympathetic. If there isn't a line, she is usually cleaning, restocking, or studying, and I have never felt that she acted as if I interrupted her. One of the things that I love about A Muddy Cup is that it is the kind of neighborhood place where you can get to know the staff, and they get to know you. It's more than having the baristas know your name & drink. Plus, they come up with a fun set of drinks-of-the-day, for when you want to break out of your vanilla latte rut. But the primary reason that I recommend A Muddy Cup to people is that they have excellent components for their drinks. They have just started offering organic milk, in addition to the hemp, almond, and soy milk that they have had since the beginning. Their "standard" cow milk is already very good, something local. (Sunshine Dairy?) They use coffee from Cafe Femenino. They also have more than a dozen flavors of syrup, hard to find ones like lavender and peanut butter. In the pastry case, you'll find donuts from Mighty O (vegan), bagels that you can have with hummus or cream cheese, and the usual muffins and brownies. Gluten free -- and delicious -- yummies from NuFlours and Skydottir cookies are in their own case. If you don't want sweet stuff, you might be lucky if there is still a sandwich or mini quiche. They have a lovely patio out back to enjoy when the weather is good. Which is great, because their tables do get filled up with people studying and such. If you just want to camp out somewhere for wifi, I suggest that you might want to set up at Mosaic, in the basement of the church the block behind Dick's Burgers. read more

I'm a big fan of their coffee and the overall vibe of the place. As often as not, however, I find it impractical to go there in the morning before work (when I'm most likely to be buying a latte) because if there is even one person in line ahead of me, I need to budget another 5-10 minutes to my commute. If there are two people in line ahead of me, it's simply not an option if I have a bus to catch. I'd assume that hiring a second employee in the morning is beyond their means, but for me at least, the result is one less customer who would otherwise be a morning regular. read more

This is the perfect cozy cafe for the cloudy seasons. The coffee has a ton of flavor and their peanut butter bars are an entire meal by themselves (so good!). However, the best part about this place is the ambiance. They have many couches and comfy chairs and intimate table settings. I would spend hours here reading if I had more time. Also, you can file your punch card with them so you don't lose it (this is a lifesaver for me). Nice people too! read more

A Muddy Cup - The Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As a passionate customer of many of the cafes in and around wallingford (including tangletown), I can't stress enough that A Muddy Cup is great place and one worthy of your support. The owners are amazingly nice and sweet people who are earnestly trying to provide a service to the neighborhood. The place had the sweetest vibe and I look forward to going back soon and often.. I wish them the best. read more

This cozy, cottage-like coffee spot is one of my new found favorites in the city. The owner roasts all their beans himself and even has a special, home-made ultra lux chocolate they out in mochas. It is definitely some of the hottest coffee I've gotten in the city. Scalding hot actually, which is a good thing for me but just keep that in mind when you think one coffee sleeve is enough. read more

A Muddy Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

*** update: my last few americanos have been exceptional! I want to like Muddy Cup more. Love the interior (so cozy) and the outdoor seating is a lovely, quiet option on a nice day. Some of the baristas are really great (especially the man that works here!), some are neutral, and there is one definite bad, sourpuss. They have HELLA options for drinks and pastries. For all of that, I would give 4-5 stars. However, it's the flavor profile/barista ability that makes me not like MC as much as I wish I could. Their roast simply isn't my favorite; its lighter than I like. And I know that's subjective! However, the inconsistently between drinks is what kills me. For example, I've learned to just not bother trying to get a latte here. There's no consistency between baristas about what a latte should be and I'm tired of the surprise once I receive my drink. "oh this is a dry capp" or "oh this is essentially a mezzo" or "wow this is scalding" versus "did I get this iced?..." I love a good latte but I haven't had the courage to try again here and am afraid it might not be possible. So, I'm left with americanos/espresso and then I'm back to the part where I don't care for their roast. Sigh. Otherwise, great place to hang out and get cozy! *** update: my last few americanos have been exceptional! read more

This is a great place to study, get delicious coffee and pastries, and be conveniently close to other businesses. They even play great music that I pause mine to listen to instead. However, I have one big problem: the barista is way too loud! It's super distracting, whether you're doing homework, reading a newspaper, or catching up with a friend. It's a fairly small place - there's no need for yelling! Her tendency to yell and shout everything sets the tone for the whole place - so then everyone in the place starts to talk louder and louder. It's just a noisy place, and would be so much better off if she would just lower her voice! Oh, and I love the gluten free goodies they have! Although, they could add some more savory items. read more

Very nice coffee spot...Perfect for a coffee date or some alone time. Really nice folks run the place too! read more

We just moved in and didn't have internet, and needed a place to look up some things (namely internet prices). Yelp said this coffee shop was close to home and had internet, so off we went. Lovely coffee, I keep thinking I should remember to make a note of what coffee each place I go to serves because I'm trying to learn more about it, but I didn't...my bad. But the hazelnut latte I had was smooth and not too sweet. I also had a something-berry scone (I thought it was blueberry, but he told me it was something else), which was of the bready scone variety but still quite good, and a cheddar biscuit, which was absolutely delicious. We did get internet, by the way. Clearly, or else I wouldn't be on Yelp. read more

Adorable. Yummy. Cozy. Selection. All of these are ways to describe A Muddy Cup. My friends and I popped in to grab coffee on our way down to Portland a while back (one friend lived in Greenlake, so it was on the way). It sounded amazing, and guess what! It was amazing. Don't you love it when that happens? I've only had the chai cider, so can't recommend anything else. However, they seem to have new options every day on their sign, so try all their goodies! read more

Love, Love, Love this place! Walking into this super cute and cozy coffee house I was transported to someplace on the coast of California... Definitely not Seattle! I was VERY impressed with the quality of the coffee (serving local organic roaster Pangaea!!!) and the pour was expertly done! My dopio espresso was divine! I will definitely go back and hang out a little longer! A definite keeper! We need more awesomeness like this in Seattle! read more

Pastries? Yum. Drinks? Yum. Art books to flip through while hanging out? Yes! Unique and lovely decorations, and a cozy layout? Absolutely! Good times! Plus, how awesome is the name of this place? That alone got me interested in it! read more

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Tons of charm, not tons of seating. I studied here a couple hours this weekend. Nice tea selection, really friendly couple working behind the counter. This place is going to be a staple for years to come I hope Only complaint would be: needs some more seating. It's a small shop with an intimate feel, but it's clearly becoming popular and needs a few more chairs/tables! Can't wait to come back read more

Muddy Cup is simply awesome, I'm so happy that I found it! It is the coziest shop around the U-District area. As long as you're up for taking a (very short) trek across I-5 into Wallingford, I'd say go for it! The place is relatively small, but there's tons of desks and chairs scattered about. I love the random assortment of furniture, I feel like someone went on Craigslist and just grabbed a bunch of stuff. Free WiFi and a good seat, that's all a grad student like me needs! And the WiFi actually works! (a problem in a few shops) The music is soft and pleasant, and it isn't too distracting. I haven't been there when it's really busy yet (I heard it can get packed), but so far, the noise level is generally fairly low. Oh right...coffee! I'm a chai drinker myself, so I always get their chai latte. It's good and creamy and not too sweet. It's a little pricier than some of the U-District shops or your Starbucks, but hey, it's worth it for the place! The baristas are super friendly and there's also a punchcard if you want one. The mugs are also cool (I got a giraffe one) and I appreciate them being green. Besides the seating arrangement, there's a decent bathroom and the usual self-busing of tables. What more can I say? Though a little bit off the track from the U-District, I'd definitely recommend Muddy Cup to anyone looking for a warm, friendly atmosphere that is super cozy, especially on those chilly, rainy days :-) read more

I go out of my way to stop by this Coffee Shop! Iced Nutella Mocha with Coffee IceCubes is to die for. It seems to be a hit or miss with seating availability. No biggy for me since I'm just a drop in! Biggest con is parking. When its a nice day that area seems to be a bit limited in parking. Park down the street and get a little walk in! Love.Love.Love read more

I absolutely do not understand how i was the only person in this cafe half an hour before closing. It is so comfy and nice inside, with soft sofas and fairy lights and interesting artifacts, WiFi, an extensive tea menu, and excellent indie music playing. If i lived in Seattle, i would be here all the time. read more

A Muddy Cup - So comfy and nice! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is my new favorite coffee shop! Hands down! It's nice to finally have a coffee shop so close to where I live that I would be more than happy to give a lot of my money to. Matt and Sara(h) did such a wonderful job with this place! It's quaint and quiet, perfect for someone like me who has piles of studying to do and they make a damn good soy latte! This is a place that I will definitely be a regular at. read more