The Clay Cup is a nice coffee shop located in downtown Altoona near the train station. It's got quite a bit of charm with brick wall interiors, but there is a bit of a musty smell to the place. The place seemed to have a bit of an identity crisis with a separate pottery painting area in the back, but I suppose that's only practical to make multiple uses of the space given this historic core of Altoona seems to have fallen on hard times and doesn't have much going for it. The iced mocha (3.5/5) I got was decent with only minor hints of bitterness, but was otherwise quite average. I'm happy to round up as the service was pleasant and I'm happy to support a small local business. I'd recommend The Clay Cup to those looking for a decent coffee shop in downtown Altoona. read more

See all

Love this place and the interior is beautiful. Sarah the owner does so much for the community. The barista's remember your name and order. Definitely a place to become a regular at! read more

Great spot for an afternoon pick-me-up. I only tried their matcha, but they also have several food items and also sell whole beans they roast themselves. They have seating inside but we walked across the street to sit on a bench to enjoy the sun. There's also a pottery studio located in the back of their shop, fun concept [hence the name ;)]! read more

The Clay Cup - a hand holding a cup of matcha tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

See all

I have really enjoyed my few visits painting here in the past. Staff is kind. Call in to schedule for pottery painting and they will take your number to call back if there is no pottery the day of calling. I've created some very cute pieces here. Very cute that you can order from the coffee shop and have something to sip on while you paint. I will definitely continue coming to The Clay Cup. It's a cute place for a little date or outing with friends. read more

This is a cute coffee shop. I like the atmosphere inside and think it is great that they have books for patrons to read (or purchase). However, after reading the reviews, I was a bit underwhelmed by my drink. I got a plain hot latte, which I like to use to judge the espresso (without drinking just the espresso). I really wanted to love my drink, but it left a slightly sour taste in my mouth. The espresso was probably underpulled, leaving a more acidic taste in the drink. It wasn't a bad latte, it just wasn't as good as what I would have wanted. They do have a decent collection of non dairy milk as well as non coffee beverages. read more

Cute shop one block from the Altoona Amtrak station. Plenty of seating, strong WiFi, and a decent menu. Great place to pass time while waiting for a train to depart or for a pickup upon arrival. The shop serves Passenger Coffee roasted in Lancaster, PA, which is "thoughtfully" sourced from all around the world. They serve a wide variety of coffees, espresso based drinks and teas and also serve locally baked treats, bagels, parfaits, grilled cheese and a soup of the day. The business also has an artisan component, where people can paint their own pottery. read more

Absolutely great place to go with family and friends. I haven't tried the café section yet, so I can't exactly speak on its quality.. but the back area is so much fun. Appointment is needed, but they're very helpful in scheduling them / making changes to the appointment if need be, in my experience. In the clay cup, there's many options across all aspects of the experience. Many pottery creations to choose to paint, even more paint options (the speckled ones are awesome), and numerous tools. My favorite tool to use was the needle-ish one; it helped me make a super detailed design on my creation. It's a great bonding experience and the atmosphere is welcoming. Definitely try it out sometime !! read more

See all

This coffee shop is probably the best kept secret in Blair county. Atmosphere, friendly staff and incredible gourmet coffee products are the calling cards for this eclectic but tastefully designed space. They even do in house roasting. Come in and grab a top shelf latte or panini. read more

This place has the best traditional coffee drinks with additions to the menu that are thoughtful and tasty. Love the vibe with the exposed brick in a historical building. Painting pottery hear and watching coffee roasting are always fun. There is also a nice selection of handmade goods and coffee for purchase. read more

My husband and I stop here every time we are in Altoona to visit with family. We love their medium roast, lattes, and treats. The space is beautiful with the gorgeous old style tin ceilings. The staff was exceptionally friendly, warm, and inviting. read more

Great scones, usually friendly staff, fun to paint pottery, and cool atmosphere. I always get the mocha, hot!

Best "Real" Vanilla Latte I've had in Altoona, PA. Staff are nice and friendly. Cool place!

This is literally the first place I have eaten in Altoona since moving here. they set the bar extremely high for everywhere else. Great food and amazing service!! read more

stopped in during a weekend in altoona - super cute, great coffee, and the staff were so friendly! I didn't have time to paint pottery but I'm definitely going to do that the next time I'm in the area! read more

i over all enjoy this shop. the hot chocolate is soley chocolate, you cannot taste the milk, the employees are nice but i watched some pick their nose,text,and cough in their hand then go straight to working with food with is gross, if you go to this place and dont care about cleaniness or hot chocolate,then you would apsolutly love this place. they had books, cute decor and if you rreserve a time, they do a lil pottery sesh. taste-4 customer service-3 presentation-4 cleaniness-2 price-3 read more

Great place to grab a cup of coffee or tea and hang out in downtown Altoona. Love the grilled cheese! read more

The Clay Cup - Grilled cheese- mmmmmm! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

See all

Amazing Coffee I love going in to paint pottery and hang out. Great place in Downtown Altoona read more

We never knew this place existed downtown until we went to a parade in the morning and the kids saw it. They said it was the best hot chocolate they ever had. It was pretty pricey, but the kids loved it. read more

I have been to The Clay Cup several times over the past two years, I live in pittsburgh but grew up in the area, so it's a must stop for me when I'm heading home! I am always impressed with the courteous staff and the quality of the coffee! I am a vegan, so I LOVE that they not only have dairy alternative milks, but they also supply gluten free, dairy free and vegan pastries! I was just there yesterday with my mom and nephews, I had a delicious latte, my mom had a mocha, my nephews had hot cocoa and some cupcakes from their daily selection. Everything was fresh and delicious. We ended up chatting with the barista a bit because she said she was going to visit Pittsburgh soon, so we had a nice conversation about the city. Then when my family got to our car we realized our car battery was dead! This lovely barista went out of her way to give our car a jump! Like where do you find these angel staff members?!? If I could give 100 stars for this business I would! read more

The clay cup is a necessary breath of fresh air in the desolate wasteland that is downtown Altoona. The employees are extremely friendly, personable, and helpful. The atmosphere has the artsy, hipster appeal that one craves in a coffee shop, but does not feel stuck up or pretentious. The studio atmosphere is a nice touch. There are stairs that lead to a basement, but I was far too timid to check and see if it was for public use. I had an iced latte, which was served in a mason jar glass. It was delicious. Just what I needed after a long walk from Penn State. I hope that the clay cup will herald a new era of prosperity in downtown Altoona. read more

The Clay Cup - A delicious iced latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

Very impressed with this new Coffee House in the Downtown section of Altoona. In an area that is very coffee deprived it's great to see a place like the Clay Cup pop up. The Clay Cup uses quality roasted coffee and offers everything from pour overs to cold brew. The Clay cup has one of the best Iced Coffee's I've had in the United States and its in Altoona to boot! The Clay Cup also has a great atmosphere inside the little shop and is also looking to start pottery classes in the fall of 2017. Overall this is a fantastic addition to downtown Altoona as well as this area of Pennsylvania in general. I wish them all the best. They've got my buisness for sure! read more

See all

Finally ! A cute little coffee shop arrives in downtown Altoona. I was so excited when I heard about the opening and couldn't wait to check it out. I have been to Clay Cup a handful of times and each time is never a disappointment. I usually go on the weekends so it is a little bit busier which sometimes creates a bit of a wait, but nothing too long or crazy. Each time I go I get the latte and mix up the flavors. I love the cute designs they make in the latte as well ! I am not a coffee snob and don't know much about roasts or things of that nature, but the latte I get is always delicious. I've gotten the oatmeal before and it was good too, nothing spectacular but decent for ordering oatmeal at a coffee shop. The staff is always upbeat and friendly and they answer any questions. The environment is overall very cute and artsy and the bathroom is exceptionally clean. I can't wait to see the business grow ! read more

Expensive - Italian soda comes in small cup, not worth it. Hygiene issue-- There is a sofa. I found it's not clean. Better stay on the bench. The inside room is double used for clay. The two really should not mix together with a big open door in between. You are better off with known brands for quality and consistency. read more

Knowing what this place looked like before they have flipped this into a PERFECT coffee shop/pottery den. It's a little weird for me to be here personally (haha long story) but this place is absolutely wonderful. The owner is a superb person and the workers My wife and I experienced here today are just energetic and great. Great place to stop and hang out with your laptop, friends, or a good book. read more

A lovely spot with brick walls and comfortable chairs made for enjoying big yummy lattes made from Lancaster's superb Passenger Coffee beans. Don't limit yourself to just the lattes though, try a pour over or an espresso shot and don't forget to pair it all with a warm homemade scone. The coffee shop is also connected to a pottery painting place where you can make some art while drinking art. Can't get any better than that! read more

The Clay Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

I have visited The Clay Cup several times and have yet to leave disappointed. Sarah (owner) is so friendly, as well as her staff. I love the pour-over coffee, as well as the dark chocolate raspberry mocha. Plus, they co-op with a local baker who makes amazing scones/muffins/etc available for purchase at the counter. The back half of the shop is a pottery studio and hosts open painting hours as well as classes. All in all, a wonderful new addition to the downtown Altoona area! read more

Great coffee, atmosphere, and people. It is the only place in Altoona to get a cup of coffee. read more

The Clay Cup - Pour over and a maple pecan scone. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

Such a fun place for all ages. Their coffee is to die for. The staff is all so friendly. I could spend all day there painting pottery! It is so relaxing and a good place to just decompress from the stresses of life. I have taken my children there (Ages 3 and 6) who had an absolute blast. I have also taken my mom and had a great mother-daughter bonding afternoon. The atmosphere is just perfect. read more

This is one of my favorite coffee shops ever, not just in Altoona. This is one of the only places I really miss when I am staying out of town or out of state. The space is welcoming and always very clean. The staff is amazing. They are so friendly and accommodating. I love their drink selection and the array of alternative milks. I recommend the honey latte (with oat milk if you swing that way). The grilled cheese/soup combo is always great, too! read more

This place is my favorite in Altoona! I wish I could bottle it up and take it back to DC with me. The iced mochas are delicious and the reason I stop in when in town. However, the amazingness doesn't end there... hand pies, unicorn scones, grilled cheese, and even the hippie snack bars are all worth a try. I've never tried something I didn't enjoy! I don't often get to drink my drink in the shop -- but when I do I love their glasses and metal straws. Thank you for caring about the environmental impact and making an effort to limit waste. Finally, the staff is always super friendly. read more

A few of my coworkers recommended that I visit The Clay Cup; I'm glad I finally listened. I love the ambiance and the coffee is delicious. It's never too crowded, but there's always people working or just talking with each other. When I lived in LA, I had my regular coffee shop, and it was awesome. I've finally found a new one in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Also, I'm a bathroom snob i.e. I absolutely hate using public bathrooms. The Clay Cup's bathroom is a work of art. I seriously considered drinking my cafe au lait in the men's room. I'll be back many times in the future! I genuinely hope that they remain in business for years to come! read more

Whenever I go to visit my parents they pick me up from the AMTRAK station across the way, and we've been saying for years how they need a coffee shop around here. So glad they've finally got one, and a great one at that! It's pretty low key from the outside but the inside is super cute and pretty big with an espresso bar to sit at or tables if you prefer. Nice atmosphere. Fast and friendly service from the young ladies working up front. I got a perfect latte for a reasonable price. Also got this oatbar that was super yummy. I think I'll have to make stopping here a tradition. I hope this place gets lots of business! read more

The Clay Cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

The Clay Cup is a great destination. Everything about it from its seasonal beverage, pastries, events, and cool vibe makes it my favorite "sit-down" coffee joint in Altoona. Its downtown location makes it easy to walk to from the nearby Penn State buildings. I love coming here to work on assignments. Another nearby coffee shop just doesn't have the same feel but does offer a superior hot mocha in my opinion. I also wish the sandwich selection was larger. I don't want to end this on a sour note so shoutout to the sweet baristas. All of you are super friendly read more

Always love coming in and saying hello to Sarah and the staff! Everyone here has an awesome passion for coffee and it helps that they carry a great coffee in Passenger Coffee, located in Lancaster PA. Ask them about a pour over and they'll be sure to take the time to inform you about flavor profiles, body and aroma. If you haven't been, you should immediately go and grab a cup of joe! read more

I love The Clay Cup! I moved to the Altoona area about 9 months ago and was having trouble finding a place to call "my spot". Little did I know that The Clay Cup was a hidden gem in the heart of downtown Altoona! If you love coffee, tea and even amazing meals and pastries, The Clay Cup is the place for you! Erin is such a joyful spirit and heart! My first time coming here she talked to me and truly was interested in my life! I felt so welcomed and at home. The environment is warm and welcoming. With a very artsy aesthetic, and great playlists playing year round. The Clay cup is open to families, study groups, organizations and ultimately the community! read more

See all

First time here & the woman at the register was SO kind and helpful!! Amazing coffee :) will be here again.

This is a cute little coffee shop and art gallery, and is perfect if you want to sit and relax with some coffee and a scone. However, it's more hipster than a lot of places in this area. I wasn't entirely impressed with the selection, but the baristas seem down to earth and friendly. Not an ideal spot for me, but great atmosphere for a relaxing cup of joe. read more

Love this place! Although this part of town is still pretty sketchy and I definitely would not go at night. The special selections/ seasonal items are amazing!! I had a coconut green tea lightly sweetened. The baked goods and scones looked really yummy read more

Great coffee with pour over roasts that always change. Baristas that are very knowledgeable and helpful. Great atmosphere as well

This place is awesome. I'm an uneducated coffee drinker, and her staff is super nice and understanding when explaining the drinks available. It's a great place to meet with a group and I am so excited to go paint pottery in the back. This place has a fun vibe and the owner, Sarah, is super kind. read more