Muddy Waters Coffee Co

I’ve been lucky enough to be a regular for over a year now! Simone, Abby, and Braden are the best of the best! Truly know how to make a coffee stop so much better! I look forward to seeing them each time!

🚨BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE 🚨 I’ve been coming here for about 3 years and never have I had such a terrible experience. Today Oct 25 @1:40 pm I was going to treat myself and the three employees there were so caught up in their gossip that they got my drinks wrong twice. Caught the first one before I left but sadly had to do a U turn when we found out our second drink was also wrong(had to wait in line again) When I came back and asked if I could have it remade the male employee was extremely offended for some reason and didn’t want to remake it. Then thew a fit when I had said it tasted like soda water with no lotus in it. I have been doing customer service for over a decade so I understand how hard it can be at times but this was totally out of left field for me. The three that were there were extremely childish and are a bad reflection for muddy waters. Please do better.

Second worst cold brew coffee I’ve ever had. Charging full coffee shop actually-freshly-overnight-brewed prices for something pre-packaged that they just pour into a cup. Actually, worst cold brew. The other terrible one just didn’t taste much like coffee but was palatable. I don’t think I can finish this. I should have just grabbed something from 7-11 or the grocery store.

$4.09 for 8oz drip coffee. OUTRAGEOUS. Rather go to Starbucks its better coffee anyways. And 7 eleven coffee is 2x better n fresher. Stay away

Such a cute little place with allll the good vibes! Victoria makes the best drinks and she’s always so sweet!

Went on a sunny day, the lady was so lovely and she gave me a lemonade on the house. Absolute pleasure to give her a five star review. And the lemonade was so good :)

The baristas here are absolutely incredible! My days are always better when they start with muddy 🥰

Update: Changed stars because it’s been four days now and I’m still in pain from the blisters. There is no reason the drink should have been served that hot! Ordered a caramel apple cider here yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, it was served way, way too hot! Took one sip and my body just instantly spat it back out; it wasn’t just “oops, bit too hot,” it was “oh god, ouch, get it out right now!” Instant, visible blistering all over my tongue and the roof of my mouth that is still painful the next morning. It took at least 30 minutes for it to finally cool down enough to drink normally (albeit very, very carefully) and by then my tongue was too blistered to really taste anything. I understand that clear liquids like apple cider tend to heat way faster and more intensely than milk-based beverages, but they really need to be more careful. Even accidentally spilling a bit on my hand caused instant reddening and pain that took over an hour to finally calm down; thankfully no blistering as that skin is thicker and less sensitive than the tongue, but still concerning. I was also a bit confused that the menu doesn’t list prices? But at least they have a visible menu; the last several times I walked by, there was no visible menu anywhere.

I haven't had any negative experiences here, but one thing that bothers me is how slow it is. I could be sitting in my car behind 3 cars or standing in line physically and it always takes around 10 minutes or longer. Coffee is good, employees are friendly, I'm just wondering if it's the design of the coffee shop and lot that are slowing them down? When I'm in a hurry I end up skipping them and going through a Starbucks because I know it will be faster.

Great people; great coffee; reasonably priced. Walk up or drive up. My dog loved the cookie.

The coffee is great, but the service is stellar! Victoria greeted all with her smile, remembered my order in a day and was a ray of sunshine! Watch her operate the espresso machine expertly and quickly making a variety of beverages. It's a busy place and she as well as other staff make it a delightful way to begin your day. Sheila

Only place around UW that has lotus (other is Seafab) AND it's a drive thru. Came here midday so there wasn't any traffic and only one car ahead of me. A couple quirks about the stand- they are cash only and have a 4 drink minimum. Kind of weird. Came here on a 70° day craving a cold drink. I have a very particular drink order- pink lotus with passion fruit, strawberry, mango & a splash of OJ. $6.95 for a 24 oz. Not bad. I like my drinks a little more carbonated but the drink tasted great! Service was friendly. Ambiance- can't really rate because it's a drive thru. Small stand on a lot. Get your drink and leave LOL Overall giving a 4 because it's more expensive than SeaFab and a little bit further from campus. Convenient drive thru. Nice though that my drink tastes similiar to up north.

I love this little coffee shop. The baristas are always very nice and the coffee is great. I would recommend this little coffee shop to everyone.

The service was great. I don't know his name, but the guy who helped me today was so sweet and even offered me advice on drinks he thought was good for next time. He deserves a raise!

Wonderful friendly service!! Love this place -- drinks are delicious and gluten free cookies so yummy. Great spot!

I've been going to Muddy Waters for years. I used to work on Wedgewood back in 2008/09 and stopped by this stand then. My kids come here now. Victoria is my girl, we also have something fun to talk about and she's always happy to see me. The drinks are fantastic and they have all flavors of lotus - the natural 'red bull' so I go for one when I need some caffeine and don't want coffee. I drive from the Central District just to this stand in Ravenna. It's worth it! Thanks, Victoria!

These guys get an F for Customer Inconvenience. I quit going to this place over a year ago because if you use a debit/credit card and your drink is under $5, they will round up your total to $5. So, for example, if your order is $3 (I usually get a plain, black Americano), they add $2 to your tab...and NO that $2.00 cannot go towards a tip. WHAAAAT? Fast forward to last week...I thought, "Ok, I've got cash on me today, I'll go to Muddy Waters on my way out of town..." The girl makes my drink, I go to pay with my cash, and she says, "I'm sorry, WE DON'T TAKE CASH." WHAAAAT? Well played, Muddy Waters. Well played. I'm done. #CustomerServiceFail #MuddyWatersCoffeeCompanySeattle

Always has treats for my dog also they don't have the $5 card minimum anymore. They accept all payments including Apple Pay. They don't accept cash anymore because of safety reasons.

Drove from Columbia city, come to find out they don't take cash. Was frustrating even though I understand but I had spoke to someone otp so it was annoying they didn't mention that to me.

I love this place! They have sooo many options, as a tea lover they can make great iced or hot tea and they have so many flavors to choose from to add! They also make Red Bull drinks. Sometimes the line can get long, but I don't mind waiting. The staff are always very kind as well.

I have no idea why people rate this place so poorly. I've only been here a few times and thought the service was friendly, and the coffee good and most importantly, pretty cheap for the good quality! It's just a little shed that you can either drive up to or walk up to. The walk up side doesn't have a menu, which was confusing especially since I didn't know what their sizing system was. The lady inside was super friendly and clearly had lots of regular customers. If I lived around here I'd be a regular too.

Tiny shack. Lotsa syrup. The barista was extremely friendly and professional and worked well under the pressure of a failing espresso machine. She prevailed like the hero she is.

"We are unable to serve people that park and walk up" says the barista passive aggressively as I was waiting patiently just as all the cars were. This is what you do when there are 6 cars in line at any other coffee stand or fast food drive through. Disappointing that they turn a customer away for this silly reason. Hmmm if I'm at another coffee stand and there are 6 cars and 0 people at the walk up of course I'm going to walk up, that's what any reasonable person would do? It's common sense. Simply disappointing in trying to support small. Business is business... or so I thought.

Great little stand with delicious drinks! I love the Italian Soda Red Bulls! All of them. I only wished they could toast bagels and then it would be perfect. This is one of the closer places to my home that I have been able to find and is currently my definite preferred! Been here several times already and will absolutely go many more times come the future. Try the two UW drinks that have listed on the glass outside, delicious.

If I could do negative stars, I would. The girl with the dark hair and green eyes w tattoos who was working on April 18th, at 1:27PM was straight up rude with attitude. I get my normal coffee drink that I would get anywhere else. As she makes the drink she's sitting here telling me how it's not going to be that good with the added dark chocolate. I tell her to take the dark chocolate out if it's too much of a hassle. She then proceeds to tell me "well it's already made" so why did you even tell me how much my drink isn't going to taste good what I would get anywhere else? Seriously save y'alls coins and go elsewhere!

They make yummy drinks and tend to be pretty friendly. My boyfriend goes there a lot (make sure to get a stamp card if you expect to return!) so they remember his order (always nice). I like stopping by here when heading towards the bus stop or just walking to campus. Usually for coffee, but sometimes for something like an Italian Soda. I love double-stamp Sundays. I hear some baristas are much better than others.

Wonderful spot for that needed pick me up. Coffee is great and the baristas are sweet and up beat.

Great, quick, local drive-thru for caffeine fix! Been going regularly for 3 years now and always a good experience! Consistently good chai, treats for our dogs, and even great recs for TV shows to binge during the pandemic! So surprised to see any negative reviews for this place - we always have a positive experience...

My friends and I are regulars at muddy waters, and there is about 12 of us so we continuously give this company a ton of business. But every time we go we are treated TERRIBLY! The workers here give us so much attitude for no reason, we always treat them kindly and give them a good tip but that doesn't seem to matter. And on top of that, the coffee is actually pretty awful. It's watery and flavorless, one time a barista actually filled a flavored red bull with WATER! Disgusting. It's so disappointing as this place has so much potential but they seriously need to consider hiring some nicer people.

Pleasant servers but the most ridiculous $5.00 minimum for card use. At a coffe kiosk??? Is their owner clueless or just greedy? Glad to have been a walk-up customer, otherwise I(if I had been in a car) i might have left as both distracted AND annoyed!

I've been a regular for a little over a year now and I love this stand! The coffee is literally magical. It's not a bitter roast and pairs amazingly with oat milk! The employees are also amazing! They have memorized my order and can have it ready in under a minute. I truly feel like a friend to them instead of a customer. I really hope Muddy Waters survives through this pandemic. I will make sure to be stopping by more frequently!

Katie is the best barista there, she's super cool and inviting. The coffee is the best in seattle! 10/10

The coffee is amazing but the girls who work here are extremely rude to the customers. Worth it for the coffee but definitely not an enjoyable experience.

Delicious coffee!!! First time I stopping here, I was in a hurry & on my way to perform some 40s Holiday songs at the Museum of Flight! They made me a fabulous peppermint mocha Mmm...definitely coming back! Quick, friendly & quality service!

Hate to say it, but this is probably the worst latte stand I've ever been to. Only been once, so it's possible that my experience was a one-off bad time, but after reading other reviews it doesn't seem like that's the case. Let me first start off by saying that I've never even thought of reviewing a latte stand before. I mean, it's a latte stand. A little hut you go to for coffee simply out of convenience, not because you're looking for a great experience or the best espresso in town. That said, I feel compelled to let others know that this is one little hut you should just drive by. First, there's the card limit. Most food-related small businesses have a minimum you must spend in order to use your card. Either that or they charge you an extra 50 cents. I get that - I own a small business and between the 2-3% in fees charged by the processing companies and the 25-50 cent transaction fees per purchase, at anything less than $5 there's too much lost. However, Muddy Waters' minimum purchase to use a card is $10. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? $10 at a latte stand? Give me a break - even with a latte and an overpriced, awful pastry (more on that in a second), you still have to buy either another pastry or two, or some other random item you don't really want (I ended up with a cup of processed, just-add-water oatmeal that is still sitting in my glovebox two weeks later). Of course there's no mention or warning about this ridiculously high minimum before you order your drink. Secondly, about that pastry. No lie - WORST SCONE I'VE EVER HAD. It was obviously made somewhere else and cellophane wrapped for sale at the latte stand (normal) but after getting about 5 blocks away I flipped it over to find a hand-written "Made On" date of no less than three days prior. I was sold a 3-day old scone for $3+. It goes without saying that it was so stale I couldn't even chew the first bite. The lack of management and oversight here is almost insulting. Look, latte stands aren't exactly the most complex businesses in the world; if your business is coffee and pastries, and you can't even get half of it right, you shouldn't be in business. Period. Don't waste your time or money here.

Just tried this coffee for the first time because usually coffee stands are just mediocre. This coffee was excellent . There are lots of coffee choices in this neighborhood and this is one of the best. I'll be back!

This coffee stand is my favorite. Their blend tastes roasted not burnt and bitter like Starbucks. The staff is so quick and kind and they are so appreciative if you tip. I order an iced americano with white chocolate and cream. If I'm not feeling up to something that sweet, I get half the white chocolate. Everyone seems to complain about the credit card minimum, but they always offer purchasing a 5$ gift card instead and saving the balance for future visits so you aren't actually "loosing" money. I think it priced very reasonably for great coffee, quick service and a more than courteous staff! I'll be back every week!

It's just a little kiosk in a parking lot, but the people there are so nice and helpful! This is a neighborhood spot; they know all the people and their usual orders. My sister goes there regularly. They have stamp cards, with double stamps in the afternoons, and it doesn't take long to get a free coffee. They make great vanilla milk steamers with whipped cream for the kids. I've always liked everything they have made for me. The only downside is the wait in the parking lot, especially when people are both driving and walking up for service. If you are in the area stop by for a cup of coffee, you wont be disappointed.

Friendly baristas, delicious espresso - especially the white mocha, they don't skimp on the chocolate! I think it would be nice if they offered straws and beans, although I haven't asked... yet. I have a favorite coffee drive-up on Aurora that does that...it's the best morning treat. And straws just make the coffee easier to sip while driving (and safer since you don't have to bring the coffee up in front of your face).

I live in a neighborhood where it can be difficult to find early morning (6 AM) coffee places. I love Muddy Waters. I've never ordered drip coffee, so I can't attest to the quality, but their espresso tastes just fine. I like the average prices (same drinks at Starbucks are about $1.00 more) and not having to go to Starbucks to get a drink. I do wish they had more food choices. I ordered a bagel to eat on the way to work, but they didn't put the cream chesse on it,( it came with a little packet and in a styrofoam container) so I couldn't eat it in the car. The rest of the choices are typical-muffins, etc.

I love Muddy Waters! Firstly, who wouldn't love getting served coffee IN the car? No hassle finding parking, no standing in a long line--awesome. Secondly, out of most of the coffee establishments I've tried in Seattle, Muddy Waters offers some of the largest drink sizes AND for a comparable price. They have a punch card as well, so you get the 10th drink free! Lots of fancy flavors and types of drinks are also a bonus. The service is really friendly too--the girls even remembered our drinks (chai and 24 oz white breve mocha) the third time we stopped. I haven't tried any food, but they do have some by the window.

This coffee stand is hands down the best in the area, the people who work here are never anything less than sweet and they are always working their butts off to get everyone's order out quickly. I've never had an issue with the way my coffee comes out and I have a pretty weird order. Please tip well and keep this stand thriving. When we have a place this good we need to do everything we can to keep them thriving.

Their iced soy mocha makes me feel like a damn goddess. It's beyond amazing. Also cheaper than Starbucks AND you don't even have to get out of the car and show people that you're still in your pajamas! Incredible. One time I got a mocha on my way to school and promptly dropped it minutes after I got out of my car. I came back a couple hours later because I was really starting to feel the effects of not having caffeine and after hearing what had happened, the girl working gave me my drink for free! Are you kidding me that is some good ass customer service right there and it made my day. So excited to spend my entire life's savings on daily muddy waters in the future. It is definitely worth it.

horribly rude. why have a walk window if your going refuse service to walk up customers? just because i wanted to stand outside on a nice day on my 15min lunch break and not sit in my car i was acused of cutting in line and she would not make my coffee. i come to this coffee stand 3x a week and know the baristas i was not cutting i was walkkng up to the walk up window on a sunny day! never giving them my service again.

I think they use cheap beans, because the coffee tastes burnt, which happens with cheap beans. I do like how the 2nd barista comes out to your car to get your order (when there is a long line) - so that when you pull up, your drink is ready. That is pretty fab. So if you need a bit o coffee, stop by, but it's not the best.

I love this place. It is owned by a young woman and all the other people who work there are very nice and cheerful. Like when they ask you "How is your day going?" they actually want to know, not just asking because they have to. And most importantly, the COFFEE is GREAT. I tend to avoid drive-thrus because the coffee isn't that good, but this place is consistently excellent every time. And they seem to have two people working during the busy times so even if there is a line of 5 or 6 cars you get your coffee in no time. I am super happy to have this in my neighborhood. Thanks,

I have been to this place so many times over the past two years and pre-COVID it has been nothing but a wonderful experience! Recently however, the girls who work there have been incredibly rude. Not only have I ordered maybe 100 iced americanos from them, I was a barista for 4 years. I know what it's supposed to taste like and I know what their coffee tastes like. The other day I went through and the americanos were watery and noticeably lower quality than they normally give, so I went back through thinking they'd be understanding. Not only were they incredibly rude, they treated myself and my friends like we were being a nuisance for wanting beverages that were up to the standard that we know and love. After attempting to charge us for added shots, they just remade them and we left, feeling pretty upset. We went back a couple days later and were met with the same incredibly rude attitude and mediocre coffee. I apologize to them if I have somehow now established myself as a customer they don't like and my experiences have been influenced by that, but they no longer have to worry about it because I won't be going back. There are plenty of other places to go where the people are happy to get you your coffee and the coffee is great. Go somewhere else.

I am so taken back by the horrid customer service. The employees are beyond rude. It is so unfortunate that they offer a good product - but the overall quality is hindered by the rude employees.

I have been a regular here for ten years. I have seen many people come and go and enjoy the friendly attitude of most of the girls. I must say Katie is the glue and consistency that holds this stand together. She is such a pro at her job and it really shines through. I really enjoy a lot of the other gals professionalism and friendliness but Katie really has it down. She works it as if it was her own business which is rare these days. Kudos to this amazing local coffee stand which also decorates seasonally. Thank you for being a big part of our community!

Really the only drive through coffee available in this area so we're lucky to have such a fantastic group of baristas running this place!! Perfectly priced, quick and tasty crafted drinks. My husband and I frequent it as often as we can.

I hate to harsh on this longstanding Ravenna establishment, but I have to say that Muddy Waters has been something of a letdown recently. Some years back, I spent a lot of time in the neighborhood and used to get coffee regularly from this place. I was never blown away by the quality, but it was always solid, in line with what you'd expect from a neighborhood coffee shop. However, my most recent visits have been increasingly disappointing, culminating in a recent latte that was little more than a weak shot of espresso in a cup of warm milk. Yikes. The server was sweet, though.

Worst service I have received. Presumably the owner, the older brunette lady, has been incredibly unprofessional and even degrading when I've come over many occasions. I am someone who tips generously and had been there frequently and am still treated in such a foul way. Will not be going back.

Disgusting coffee and rude service! I'm tempted to call this place and formally complain to their manager/owner! The barista had to ask me to repeat my order a few times, then makes the wrong drink, then is rude about it & didn't even apologize! The latte tasted like crap, it was SO sweet, plus she had dusted cinnamon into it for some reason? In an iced latte?? WTF!! I will never go back!

I wouldn't come here again. I am fairly particular about the taste of my coffee and don't really care for the flavor here. The baristas are friendly and service is good, but the coffee just isn't up to par, in my opinion. I ordered a white chocolate mocha, which I rarely do, and even that left me disappointed. It's surprising for this drink not to be good, since the taste is based mostly off of a sugary white chocolate syrup...but it just isn't.

This is a great coffee stand. The baristas are super friendly and so quick (fastest coffee I've ever gotten) without sacrificing quality. Definitely recommend.

I so wanted this place to be great so I've given it 5 chances and they all sucked. Coffee tastes burnt and ALL the baristas personalities are burnt too! My old neighborhood place was so sweet but now inconvenient. This is my new neighborhood and I walk my dogs in the morning and would love to get a great tasting mocha with a friendly smile but it hasn't happened yet. The baristas act like they are doing me a favor and when they hand out dog treats I tell them I have two dogs and they seem put out to give me a treat for both. These young girls have no idea how hard it is to get a job right now and seem totally ungrateful, well no tip for you and now I have to drive up to Starbucks to get my yummy chocolate non burnt mocha. Boo on you guys!

Muddy waters is as good as it gets. Great coffee, service and location. My coffee fix is a special order ( I am one of those people) not even I can seem to pronounce my order let alone remember all the details. The gals at Muddy Waters always get it right. Many times before I have the car fully stopped at the window. They are on the ball and I appreciate that. I also love the punch card system, double punch in the afternoons, 10 drink and you have yourself a free cup. Awesome! LOVE IT!