A Muddy Cup

The green (latte) thing was the best I’ve ever have. It was not too sweet and very silky! I did also enjoy the minty taste very much. The place itself was also very cute!

I absolutely do not understand how i was the only person in this café 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.

I love A Muddy Cup. I’ve never been dissatisfied with anything I’ve ordered, and I regularly buy bagged beans to use at home. The owners are always polite and friendly, and I respect them because they work hard for their business. I feel fortunate to have such a good, unique coffee shop so close to where I live. And as for everyone WHINING about all the signage — the first thing I thought when I noticed it myself was «wow, they must have had to deal with a lot of inconsiderate people to have to get to this point.» I would assume they wouldn’t have done it unless they felt it was necessary. I bet all of the people who complain about it cried when their teachers used red ink too.

*** 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!

I really like this place for the most part; it’s cozy, the drinks are good and so is the music. I agree with others who say the excessive warning signage and demeanor of some of the baristas is offputting. Sometimes I feel like they just can’t wait for me to leave and never wanted customers in the first place. I try to follow the rules as best I can to be respectful but it really is a little much sometimes. Today I was one of the last people in the shop and I was warned 30 minutes and 15 minutes respectively before closing. Why open a coffee shop if you don’t like people? I will still keep coming and hope they warm up to me as this is the nearest shop to my partner’s house.

Very negative vibe. Tons of signs saying don’t do this, that or the other. Good coffee but not a friendly place to go. Classic example of Seattle coffee snobbery :(

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. If you have any question about anything you might consider doing, you’ll find an answer on just about every surface in here. They almost seem like rules, and the sheer number (not to mention tone) of them is somewhat oppressive. It’s kind of like your mother finally just had enough and started labelling everything. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a reminder under the toilet seat to «return to position A after use in position B.»
Oh right, the café… The white coffee is delicious: light, but with very present middle tones of, well, underroasted coffee, which tastes «green.» I really like it, and could almost liken the taste to wheatgrass, with the addition of the latte milk. No acidic tones at all, which I love.
The gluten free selection is wonderful! Brownies and muffins, it’s like I’m not gluten intolerant and in a regular café! But really, the coconut bananabread muffin was good, and I’ll probably try the blueberry yogurt one next. And the GF case is on the counter, in main view, whereas the others are below the counter and somewhat hidden. Love it!
So, TLDR; lots of signs to make sure you follow proper café etiquette, white coffee is good if you like a «greener» taste, and lots of yummy GF options!
I also dig the cozy environment (they have a back patio if you have a dog, as well)!

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.

Seriously, some of the best coffee that I’ve ever had. This is one of those great places where you can buy a cup of coffee with a $ 5, and still have enough to tip. With addition, the coffee is some of the most smooth, rich coffee that I’ve had in the city. None of that bitter burnt taste like you would find at Starbucks.
If that wasn’t enough, the atmosphere is great! Real relaxed with lots of fun little northwest themed items around. Real wonderful neighborhood feel to the place, and a great place to grab a cup and lounge around.

I’ve gone to this place a few times before and up until my recent visit, would have given it 3 stars. Three stars for the lukewarm service from the one barista I always seem to encounter. On top of that, I’d always thought their numerous signs posted everywhere with their many «rules» were a bit of a turn off. However, coming from out of town, and not knowing of other coffee shops within walking distance, I’ve put up with the perfunctory service in exchange for a cup of coffee and a spot to read while my husband takes care of errands in the area.
On my most recent visit, the barista who helped me, someone I’d never seen before, did offer me a smile and eye contact, so thank you for that. I ordered, paid, and tipped like a well-​behaved customer before taking a seat. Shortly after, my husband finished his errand and arrived. His intention was simply to come get me so that we could leave to our next destination, not to order coffee. He sat down at my table briefly to show me what he had bought, and then I gathered my things to go. However, he mentioned that he really had to use the restroom. I thought, what could it hurt to give him the restroom code – after all, what coffee shop would make a big deal out of a paying customer’s husband needing to use the facility before taking off?
Can you guess where this is going? I made the bad decision to give my husband the code to the restroom. He went in, and not one minute later, I overhear the second barista (not the woman who served me) commenting to the first (the one who served me) about «that guy in the bathroom.» They had a conversation in which the first barista asked the second how «that guy» got in the restroom. I hear the second barista mumble something in a lowered voice, and then the first one instructs the second how to handle it. When my husband came out a couple minutes later, the second barista rushed to ask him, «What would you like to order?» My husband had to explain that he was just meeting up with me, and that we were on our way out. I waited to hear the baristas say something like, «Oh, that’s cool,» but – silence.
Complete turn off. Yes, we see your many rules posted all over the place about paying before taking a seat, paying with cash, what to do with the light switch, and on and on. So yes, I suspected that you might not be so forgiving of folks who, like my husband, came in to get me and who had the audacity to have to use the restroom at your facility. I’m sorry I didn’t have the foresight to ask my husband not to flush yet, so that I myself could go in there and flush for him, and that way, we could argue that it was really the paying customer who used your restroom.
After this latest experience, I’d rather go down to the Winchell’s Donuts down the street and pass the time with donuts and cafeteria coffee than come back here.

I like how it’s right by where I live, but there are a couple of cons regarding this place.
1. They charge 2% if you use card
2. Wifi accompanied by purchase. And the wifi isn’t even for however long you stay. After 2 hours, you have to purchase something else over $ 2 to keep wifi for another 2 hours. Not my cup of tea.
The only pro about this place is that they serve affogatos. I believe they use Molly Moon’s ice cream which is a definite plus, but I most likely would go to another café that can at least give me wifi without re-​purchasing.

This place is quiet and has a homey vibe. However, I have to give it a 3-​star for all the yelly signs everywhere. Just to name a few:
— All customers must order before being seated
— ORDER HERE BEFORE BEING SEATED
— These products (condiments) are for our customers, not for the taking!
— This light has an on/​off switch. DO NOT UNPLUG.
— USE CASH. 2% charge on credit cards.
— $ 2 minimum purchase for wifi
— No checks
— No outside food or drinks
— Hang up cell phones to order
— Restrooms for customers only
— Wifi limited to 2 hours to make room for other customers
I think there’s a limit between conveying important messages and just being a little overbearing. This place leans on the latter side; I sort of feel like I’m at either a stingy museum, or grandma’s house.

If you are in Fremont, this coffee shop is worth visiting. What made this place different from the other shops is the wide variety of flavored syrups for lattes and Italian sodas. From what I remember, there was a list of at least twenty flavors, including pumpkin, watermelon, peppermint, strawberry, raspberry, hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, and peanut butter.
After taking a few minutes to decide which flavor we wanted, my sister and I ordered the peanut butter latte and peppermint latte. I thought the barista would make our drinks too sweet, but the sweetness was perfect! I was definitely surprised by the peanut butter latte. It was probably one of the best lattes I had in Seattle.
My sister also ordered a bake good, and it was okay. I would just stick to the drinks.
The coffee shop is cozy, and the interior design gives it an eccentric spirit (which I totally love!). I don’t think you’ll understand what that means until you see the décor for yourself. Anyway, this place looks like a good study spot, and I’ll definitely come back if I’m ever around the area.

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.

Nice place with a cool mellow vibe. Generally i like it.
But I have a modest concern.
There’s an ever growing list of rules and prohibitions creeping across their doors and showing up cluttering the menu board. It seems that A Muddy Cup is running the risk of becoming a strictly transactional enterprise. The welcome mat seems as if it’s being withdrawn and one prescriptive rule after another has taken it’s place.
Rules such as those of no shoes, no shirt, no service, no outside food or beverages, wifi and bathrooms for customer use only, pay for your drink before claiming a seat, surcharge for use of a credit card, 2hr maximum wifi usage with each $ 2 minimum purchase, no weapons, nuclear-​free zone, etc. are perhaps necessary. But as with most necessary statements it’s not so much offensive what’s said but how you say it.
Something to consider.

Wonderful setting and ridiculously cozy. Makes you feel slightly awkward though as you walk in and there are signs blaring everywhere that you MUST order before even setting your things down. I honestly felt like an alarm would go off if I set my computer bag down before waiting in the 6 person line for a coffee. The drinks are good (drip and hot chocolate both) and the service was ok, Barista not super friendly but not hostile either. I’d come back just for the atmosphere as it feels like a trip to Grandma’s house.

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 café 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!

Cozy as fuck. This place is like visiting grandma’s house if grandma was an eccentric hipster with an embroidery fetish. All the walls and all the available shelf space is covered with seemingly random bric-​à-​brac undoubtedly acquired from the estate sales of 1000 cool grandmas. Even the dining tables and furniture could have come from grandma’s house. I found this very comforting in spite of the small confines of the establishment.
The staff seemed pretty friendly too. Because the place is so small, if you’re in the rear section, it is as if you’re sharing a table (and conversation) with everyone present. Staff included. Awkward but ok.
The coffee was decent. I had a latte and a regular cupa and both were good. No super exceptional but decent to the point where I suspect that you will be able to find me here again in the future. My friend had one of their teas and I was happy to see that they carry a better than good selection of loose leaf tea. This fact is extremely important to me and often overlooked by small coffee shops.
The wifi was a bit on the weak side. Probably because the place was full of people on laptops and smartphones sucking up bandwidth along with their coffee. If that is the case, maybe Muddy Cup should invest in a better wireless router. on the other hand, I can understand a tiny coffee shop like this wanting to discourage people from camping out for hours and hours doing homework or whatever and taking up precious space from other potential customers. And I say this as a person who regularly camps out for hours and hours at coffee shops. But I do try to justify my presence by continuing to buy stuff for as long as I”m there.
All in all, cool spot to hang out and have a good hot cup of something yummy.

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.

If you want to branch out from belltown or downtown coffee locales, hop the 26 bus right up to Wallingford and muddy cup (right across the street from the 26 stop).
Echoing the other posts, be early and be sure to buy before using the internet. Great coffee shop, amazing French press and the white coffee drip is pretty good as well.