Mud Bay Coffee Company: Serving Up Care and Hand-Crafted Goodness in Every Cup

mud bay coffee
Kids and adults will both find plenty to like at the family-friendly Mud Bay Coffee Company. The spacious atmosphere, custom-made drinks and pastry delights will leave the whole family happy.
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mud bay coffee
Kids and adults will both find plenty to like at the family-friendly Mud Bay Coffee Company. The spacious atmosphere, custom-made drinks and pastry delights will leave the whole family happy.

The last days of summer are upon us here in Olympia. On a hot day, nothing is better than stopping for an iced drink in a cool, air-conditioned oasis. The locally-owned Mud Bay Coffee Company has plenty of treats in store for you, and a unique, welcoming atmosphere to boot.

I stopped by their bustling West Olympia store to find out what makes them so special. They’ve been serving up cups of their hand-crafted beverages to local residents for over a decade.

Tucked away on Olympia’s West Side (1600 Cooper Point Road), stepping into Mud Bay Coffee Company feels like a “time out,” where you can sit and savor coffee over a book or conversation with friends. You’ll find a charming atmosphere, friendly baristas, and most importantly, top-notch coffee and fresh-baked treats. Many of their products are locally sourced, and they make an effort to be as eco-friendly as possible.

But these aren’t the only things that make them special. In addition to their coffee shop, they also have a drive-thru.  They are the only independently-owned full-service coffee shop with a drive-thru in the area. So, if you’re in a hurry, you can get your freshly-made coffee to go.

They also offer plenty of cold drink options for hot days. In addition to their full espresso beverage line-up, they offer iced drinks, smoothies, and milkshakes. Did you know you can get a signature mango chai smoothie, a mocha milkshake or a toddy (cold-pressed coffee)? Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy sipping one of their Italian sodas, made with high-quality Monin brand syrup. Mud Bay Coffee Company doesn’t use any products made with high-fructose corn syrup. You can also choose from a full range of loose-leaf teas, hot or iced.

mud bay coffee
You’ll find an awesome array of pastries, made at local bakeries, in Mud Bay Coffee Company’s well-stocked pastry case. Photo courtesy of Mud Bay Coffee Company

Mud Bay Coffee Company offers plenty of food options, too. You can get breakfast, lunch and pastries to pair with your coffee drink. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere so much that you’ll want to stay for a meal. You can find breakfast burritos, quiche, personal thin-crust pizzas and more on the menu. And one of their locally-made pastry items is perfect at any time of day. Treat yourself to a cookie or French pastry.

As I talked with Ken Campbell, coffee roaster and co-owner, he told me the company prides itself on using as many local products as possible. They use milk from Smith Brothers Farms and pastries from local bakeries including Left Bank Bakery and gluten-free Smiling Mo’s Bakery. Their chocolate sauce is custom-made by Trop’s Chocolates in Gig Harbor, as are their white chocolate and caramel sauces.

Mud Bay Coffee Company takes a lot of pride in their coffee selection and roasting process. All of their coffee is purchased through Fair Trade and direct relationships with coffee growers around the world. Campbell also shares that Mud Bay roasts their coffee with an infrared process, which is supposed to be both healthier for people and the environment, producing much less carbon emission. As the sole roaster for Mud Bay Coffee Company, Campbell clearly takes pride in selecting the best coffees and roasting them to perfection for customers.

In fact, Mud Bay Coffee Company puts a whole lot of thought and conscientiousness into each cup. In addition to supporting local and fair-trade vendors, they also strive to be “green” in all aspects of their business. They compost and recycle, and recently installed energy-efficient LED lighting.

But perhaps the best thing about Mud Bay Coffee Company is the atmosphere. The coffee shop appeals to a wide range of customers. From students to business people, locals love coming to Mud Bay to hang out. It might be the fireplace in the corner with the comfy reading chairs, the local art on the walls or the welcoming baristas. It might be the outdoor tables, perfect for a lunchtime chat on a sunny day.

mud bay coffee
Nestled on Olympia’s West Side, Mud Bay Coffee Company offers an oasis of hot and iced drinks, along with pastries and meal options, to brighten up your day.

Mud Bay Coffee Company just possesses a certain charm that is hard to define but is so important in making a coffee shop unique. And it was designed to be inviting: co-owner Mary Campbell and her son, Brian Gregory, opened the coffee shop in 2003 and designed the entire interior themselves. They wanted the space to be inviting, warm, and comfortable, with great views out the large picture windows. Ken took over co-ownership of the shop with Mary about a year and a half ago, and now runs daily operations as well as being the roaster. He looks forward to preserving the strong foundation of the business which Brian spent years developing with its attention to quality products and service.

Inside the café, you’ll find a unique display of retail goods. If you’re looking for a gift item, or just a special treat for yourself, you can find bags of their freshly-roasted coffee (espresso roast is reported to be a customer favorite), teas and infusers, specialty coffee brewing items, mugs and more. They stock Ice Chips candies, made in Yelm. They also offer gift cards, which make a gift just about anybody would be happy to receive.

Another great thing about Mud Bay Coffee Company is that you can bring your four-legged companion along. Leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor patio tables, and Campbell is even known to bring out fresh water for dogs on hot days. And if you bring your pooch through the drive-thru, they will receive a dog biscuit.

Mud Bay Coffee Company offers a 10% discount to military and their families, as well as, firefighters, EMS and law enforcement. Clearly, Mud Bay Coffee Company believes in supporting their community.

mud bay coffee
On the go? Stop by Mud Bay Coffee Company’s drive through on your way to work, or for a weekend treat or mid-day pick-me-up.

They also offer a great conference room for meetings and get-togethers. This room can seat 12-18 people and is a great way to have your meeting in a fun environment. The cost of the room can be applied toward food and drinks, and who wouldn’t want to enjoy these during a meeting.

If you haven’t already stopped by Mud Bay Coffee Company, I highly recommend you stop in and see first-hand what sets them apart. You’ll also want to stay tuned for their seasonal fall drinks, including apple cider from Lattin’s County Cider Mill and pumpkin spice lattes with their custom-made real pumpkin sauce from Trop’s Chocolates. “People were still coming for the pumpkin lattes after we were sold out for the season last fall,” Campbell notes.

To learn more about them, visit their website or check out their Facebook page. Whether you want to hit the drive-thru on your morning trek to work or are looking to spend an afternoon sipping coffee and reading or chatting, Mud Bay Coffee Company is just the place for you.

Mud Bay Coffee Company

1600 Cooper Point Road SW #630

Olympia, WA 98502

Business hours:

Monday-Friday – 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Saturday – 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

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