Most importantly, need 1, 2 more employees... Line off annoyed customers, some waiting, some leaving. Coffees are really good. Excellent 'real' fruit smoothies. Macaroons perfect! Music horrible, but music is subjective... ;) read more

See all

Service is awesome! Cool menu & environment. Great coffee! Definitely should come if in Burlington for a weekend.

Great atmosphere, dim lights inside perfect for a nice date, hanging out w/ friends, to study any chill hangout. Service is good, the whole experience was very welcoming. Music is soothing, couches available and wooden comfortable chairs. read more

Muddy Waters - Regular coffee, everything bagel w/ cream cheese and oatmeal, dry cranberry w/ almonds cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Just good coffee and great music. It's a bit harder to find by its unassuming exterior, but you walk in and its like walking into another world. Food: We only had coffee and it was good. Nothing to write home about but a good cup of coffee and 10x better than any Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Decor: Whoa...you seriously feel like you are walking into another world. Another Yelper noted that it looked like you stepped into a realm in Zelda and I agree. Or it looks like a coffeeshop in Amsterdam. It's so earthy and woodsy. However, plenty of outlets if you need to do some work. The Muddy Waters on the speakers also fits right in. Service: Quick and easy. You pick up your coffee and sit wherever you can. Bring up your plates or put them away when you are done. Price: Around the same cost as the other coffee shops around. Other: None read more

Muddy Waters - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Locate this spot and you have achieved half the success of ordering your coffee beverage. It doesn't feel like there should be this coffee shop where it is located, but it's nice that it is here. The size of the coffee shop is 4 stars, but it feels somewhat cluttered and dark bringing it back down to 3 stars. The ordering is all the way in the back, so you have to parade through the entire shop before ordering - so, maybe I am lazy, but I think it's more of the caffeine fiend in me getting feisty, and awarding only 3 stars for that. The menu for food is small, but the menu for coffee beverages is quite refreshingly lengthy - 4 stars. It's nice to have a choice of 1 or 2 shots of espresso in your beverage - 4 stars. It's nice to choose your milk in your latte, but that is standard operating procedure for most places - 3 stars. It's nice to have the option to have a quick snack or a fruity smoothie or juice boost to your caffeination, but I am unsure why they "close down" the juice/ smoothie machines in the evening - 3 stars. The late hours are very convenient, as I like to have coffee drinks just about anytime of day, but why aren't there early hours, I am not sure - 3 stars. This is a far better choice than a national chain, but overall, it was just good, not stellar. Unique atmosphere, but... I might walk a bit further to go elsewhere if given the choice. Looks super cool though to just chill out here late night and sip away on a tasty latte - almond milk, extra shot, please. read more

It's the atmosphere of Muddy Waters that really makes this coffee shop unique. If walking into a warm, wood cabin makes you feel good, you will undoubtedly love the aura of this place. Have a craving for quality coffee or fruit/vegetable juices? Look no further: Muddy Waters has it. They even have beer on tap. That's pretty awesome. The staff members are friendly and down-to-earth. You won't likely find an unkind person working here. I ordered a fruit smoothie, specifically the Peach Banana Ginger smoothie (all smoothies come in 16 ounce cups and cost $5). It was pretty good, save for the absolutely pungent ginger aftertaste. My only quip about this place are the inflated prices. Granted, we all know that quality comes at a cost, but nonetheless, the prices would be absolutely prohibitive for me to come here as a regular if I lived in Burlington. 3.5 stars read more

Muddy Waters - Peach Banana Ginger smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Great location, downtown with a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere inside - friendly staff - and good drinks! I enjoyed the Maté Latte! read more

Muddy Waters - Maté Latte Love - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Coffees pretty good. Kinda trippy when you walk in tired and groggy.. wakes you up. The batistas were hot... almost as hot as your coffee. Love this place. read more

In love with this place! I visited and went every single day! Highly recommend... drip coffee, homemade maple syrup, splash of oat milk and topped with homemade whip! read more

Very rude service! I just got a coffee and the girl at the door made it seem like I was bothering her. Other customers waiting said the same thing. I was very friendly and even gave her a tip. There's absolutely no reason not to be nice and if you don't like your job get another one. Makes the business look bad. Ill bring my business elsewhere. read more

Love this place! From the cozy atmosphere to the great drinks, Muddy Waters is truly one of my favorite places. I love coming here to read with a drink and a bagel. The music here is always something different based on who's working, and it's always good. Definitely recommend the raspberry hot chocolate on a cold Burlington afternoon (or any time really)! read more

Gosh, haven't been here in forever! So nice to stop in to an old favorite while traveling through Burlington. Same cool vibe I remember. Great coffee too! read more

Love this coffee spot in Burlington! Great coffee, great juices, and it's a nice spot to meet up with people. Always great service and high quality beverages. read more

Went here on recommendation while interviewing at UVM. Cute, hippy-esque, divvy coffee shop! Problems: no wi-fi and I have a feeling it's usually packed as it was pretty crowded on a Sunday afternoon when school was out of session. read more

Muddy Waters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

$5 breakfast for a bagel and hot chocolate on a day where the windchill is -1. Prices are fairly low for other menu options as well. The shop has a very rustic feel to it if you're into that. read more

Muddy Waters - Poppyseed bagels with raspberry lemonade and strawberry banana smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

It's like being outside, inside. Surrounded by plants and low hanging beams, this place has character abounds. We popped in for a coffee on our way through Burlington. The coffee was great but the surroundings were even better. read more

Muddy Waters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I guess. Crappy coffee. Been around a while, but, oh, man, just lazy, awful stuff. I meet people there--their choice and I'm like, okay. But, uggh. I don't want to be a hater, but stale beans, prepared by people who don't seem to care. read more

Another great New England coffee shop. We checked out the Burlington Farmer's Market and I didn't realize I needed a cup of coffee until we were away from the market where a few coffee purveyors were posted up. Luckily coffee shops are spread all over Burlington. Muddy Waters just happened to be the one closest to our parking spot. However, if I were a local this would be my coffeeshop. This place is so cool inside---very interesting, decor that is both aesthetically pleasing and down-home comforting. Some great pastries and sandwiches were on display but we just needed the caffeine--and our baristas took time and care to handcraft the best lattes we had in two weeks. I would definitely return! read more

This place is everything a coffee shop needs- amazing coffee, cool staff, cool woodsy-looking aesthetic, and plants all around to give it a great feel! I had the dirty chia and my friends got cold brews. All amazing, smooth, and the flavor of the homemade chia was perfect :) excited to come back over and over again whenever i visit! read more

This is by far my absolute favorite coffee shop! The ambience with the open beams, lush plants and comfortable seating is so inviting to sip on coffee and chat with friends, read, or get homework done. Their coffee selection is delicious and their mocha is out of this world. Muddy Waters has extremely pleasant baristas and they really know all of the drinks inside and out. The scones are spot on and so are the pastries. Kombucha fan? They have it on tap. Juices and smoothies? Fresh and delicious. Keep your eyes out for the cute notes that people can wedge in the beams for some inspiration. I can't stop talking about this place and I will always stop when I'm home in Vermont! read more

Good spot to get out of the cold and warm up, super artistic environment with lots of character to the building. read more

Muddy Waters - simple cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Don't waste your time or money here. The owner accosted a young college aged girl today simply for having a coffee cup from another cafe. He caused a scene raising his voice at her and then proceeded to follow her out the door and onto the sidewalk to make sure she left and was not coming back. It was shocking that someone would act so rude and threatening towards a customer. Truly disgusting. I do not support businesses that treat their customers so terribly. Looking for a substitute? Uncommon grounds!! read more

A very fun place to relax in! Soup is great!! Had recommendations for the coffee which they offer a nice selection. Gives one a great break from walking...a chance to re-energize read more

See all

Very cool place to grab some coffee. Nice brews and the atmosphere is super chill. Love the decor as well! The staff are friendly and the service is pretty quick. I'm from out of town and this was a good local stop! read more

Muddy Waters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

See all

Hobbit hole, time capsule with hippy Vermont vibes (and an awesome study location for all those college kids in town). If you haven't yet, you really ought to come and check this place out - you'll be glad you did. All the exposed wood and the glass out front gives the shop a cozy, warm vibe - perfect for mellowing, chatting with a friend, or hunkering down to get some work done. I frequented this place as an undergrad and have since been coming back for nostalgic chats and of course for their amazing coffees (any time) or their Muddy's shakes (a total summer treat!) Come here to disconnect - literally, since there is no wifi! They do have some outlets though so you won't completely be with out power. That being said, with all the amazing beverage selections (coffees, teas, even beer) and snack foods (hummus plates, soups, cookies, bagels, etc.) you are sure to have the perfect complement to your visit here. Favorites of mine are the bianca (definitely get it with a double shot of espresso), the muddy's shake, and the Shiva's Chai (spiked chai for those of you 21+). The space can get packed depending on exams or events but can also be very open and intimate. Choose wisely when you go, but the experience will absolutely never let you down! read more

See all

The two stars are only for the decor and location. Didn't understand the hype about their coffee. I love lattes and wherever I go I try to search for local coffee places. I read reviews and went there. Parking was a pain as all road parking was occupied and we had to park little further in the cold. We had caramel lattes. I don't understand why some local coffee shops ask this question "how many espresso shots you want in your latte?" I don't know, whatever is the norm. I googled and found that latte - Two-thirds of the beverage is steamed milk, poured over a shot of espresso and topped with a layer of milk foam. So in smaller sizes it's one shot of espresso. I have seen this asked mostly in local coffee shops in nyc and Vermont. And I have experienced not so good lattesin these shops. If one shot is the norm, your question should be do you want an extra shot of espresso. Actually you shouldn't even ask that, folks who want more espresso must be knowing that. Also when you have local coffee shop, you should know that most of the customers have tried Starbucks or Dunkin' , so go by their norm if your drinks demand something different. Don't put the customer in awkward position. Well I told the barista I'm used to having Dunkin and Starbucks and she put in 2 shots is espresso and no caramel. Latte tasted horrible, waste of money. read more

My favorite place in all of Burlington. Why? Because it's a coffee shop that also serves beer and cocktails. If you have ever tried to read at a bar you will know what a beautiful thing it is to find the quiet coffee shop atmosphere that also serves the nectar of the Gods. A quiet place to relax and be alone among others. I for one am happy this place doesn't have WiFi, I think it keeps the place distinct from the Starbucksian atmosphere that seems to be creeping into our local shops. Curl up in the warmth of a quiet energy with a good book or fine company and a nice coffee/tea/beer/cocktail/frappe. A bit of trivia: The interior was designed and built by members of the Twelve Tribes cult. The Twelve Tribes was one of the many "new age" faiths to emerge in the 1970's and like many suffered precipitous declines in their membership following controversy and an increasingly anti-cult public. The whole group relocated to Vermont/upstate NY where they live communally today and produce the "Common Sense" products available around the corner at City Market. Their vaguely menacing cult activities aside, they do beautiful interior design. Muddy Waters is no longer affiliated with the Twelve Tribes after they sold the space to the current owners. read more

Nah. This ain't it chief. Their coffee isn't good enough to counterbalance their customer service. 0/10 hospitality 5/10 coffee Starbucks does better in the making you feel welcomed department. Starbucks. Idk man go to dobrah or uncommon ground but just skip this place. read more

Buy yourself a Mexican Hot Chocolate (or coffee, or raspberry lemonade if it's the summertime) and sit down to stay awhile. Yeah, the drinks are good and the food is decent, but what sets Muddy's apart from the rest is the atmosphere. It's a cozy coffee shop that attracts everyone from ritzy tourists on their way back from Sweet Lady Jane to crunchy granola hippies to twentysomething hipsters. There is no finer place to hang out on a Friday night with a close friend and people-watch. Also, make sure to stop by during nights when live music is playing-- Jazz night is Wednesday! Lastly, if you sit in the pew, make sure you put a note in the wall. If you go, you'll know what I'm talking about. read more

I'd love to love the sweetest little independent coffee shop in town, I think the only thing holding me back is their lack of WIFI. Huh? (2010) They have good teas, and good coffee, even food and booze, but without internet (only intermittently available neighboring wifi to poach), it's just not for me. Not to assume that all businesses are in business for the same reason, but the internet-providing-great-coffee-makin-coffee-shop seems to work pretty well elsewhere! read more

It's cool - feels very comfortable aside from the music playing today (maybe this isn't always the case). Came in for a quick snack and got the veggie chili, it was a little cold so we asked to get it heated back up and they were cool about it. It was pretty good although I'm not the biggest fan of the veggie texturized meatless product, just use beans and veggies! The flavor was pretty good. Also had the chai and a cookie right out of the oven, which was piping hot. Not sure if it was homemade but I would venture to say no (at least the dough didn't taste that way). The chai was good and spicy but also could've been a little hotter. Premade mixture. It's a lot to drink for one person FYI! Prices are pretty middle of the road. read more

The interior of Muddy Waters is very unique and cozy. They offer a variety of drinks. My brother, sister, and I enjoyed everything we ordered. I gave 3-stars though because one of the employees was pretty rude to another guest who asked if they had wi-fi. read more

There are three main coffee shops in Burlington-- the artsy coffee shop, the hippie coffee shop, and the boring coffee shop (sometimes also referred to as the rude coffee shop). Muddy Waters is the hippie coffee shop-- with driftwood decor and organic everything, you'll (sometimes) find big piles of dreds behind the counter and bob marley on the stereo...other times it's portishead and some indie kid...but the whipped cream remains organic and unsweetened. It's definitely got the most ample comfortable seating of the three shops, and since there's never live music, it can be easier getting a seat there on a Friday or Saturday night than at Radio Bean. read more

The staff here is great. I dropped my wallet coming out of the shop. Some saint turned my wallet in at Muddy Waters (having seen me leave there) and the crew went above and beyond by calling my bank (via my debit card) to try to contact me. When I realized I'd lost my wallet, I called MW and they returned it to me not only with all my cards and ID in it, but with the $60 cash! So great. Besides honest employees, the espresso was the best I had in Burlington. The French roast and chai were great according to the people with me. Thanks again, Muddy Waters. You guys are awesome. read more

So many options!! I recommend the iced Americano (with or without an added flavor shot) and blueberry scone.

As soon as I stepped foot into Muddy Waters I thought am I in the woods? Is this a cave? It's really dark in here. Ha. A whole lot of wood everywhere and interesting deco which makes this little coffee shop unique from the rest. The Muddy Waters customers were mainly college students and I'm not going to lie...was very hipster-esque but it added to the ambiance of the place. I just ordered an americano nothing too fancy for me but my sister decided to order one of their coffee milkshake concoctions which was delicious. Let me restate that.....Actually it was SOOOOO ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and very satisfying after walking through Burlington on a blazing hot humid day. She also ordered a carrot cake and a chocolate croissant. I enjoyed our drinks and the carrot cake but when our mother bit into the chocolate croissant we all freaked out when she pulled a long long piece of hair that was embedded in her pastry! The muddy waters staff obviously apologized and offered to give us another pastry or coffee beverage on the house. Aside from that little mishap I was fine with my order. Things like that happen but hopefully no other customer will experience that. read more

A local favorite found at the bottom of Church Street. Great selection of coffee and you will, I promise leave smelling like yummy coffee too. This is a great place to really get things DONE as WiFi is not offered. Warm, friendly feeling. read more

I'm just not that into Muddy Waters - don't get me wrong, it's nice, but it just didn't wow me in the ways other reviewers have. Yes, it's a cool building with an interesting (and truly unique) interior. But, away from the front windows it's dark and it's multi-leveled, which not only makes it hard for anyone with a disability to navigate but also allows for more spilling of piping hot coffee onto one's hand as you climb the stairs back to your table. The coffee was ok, not memorable, and much can be said for the pastries. I will say that it did look like a good place to camp out for the day with a really good book or looming assignment. read more

No matter where I live or where I visit, if I go back home to Burlington, the first place I usually stop on the way home from the airport is Muddy Waters. It's like an addiction! Best coffee of anyplace I've been in my travels. This is the first place I've tried honey in my coffee... and that's now a staple in my everyday coffee when it's available. Atmosphere is super important when it comes to a local coffee shop. When you walk in, you know you're in Vermont... it's like walking into a country store. Local artistry on the walls, and if you look closely in the bricks, you will find little rolled up papers stuffed into the walls from anyone who wants to leave a compliment, a poem, or just something goofy for the next sitting near the wall to read. That's one of my favorite things about this place. The bakery foods. I don't even know where to start!! I have a thing for places that are like, "Well, we have a few of these left and today we have some of this..." You know you're getting some local flavor and home-style cooking! I love any of their bagels with flavor cream cheese. read more

This joint is beautiful. It's all natural wood with an old ceiling sortya20s style. Comfortable tables and chairs. No Wifi and that's just find. The rustic indoors or the huge window seats make for great reading and/or conversations. Finally a good bagel. I think they must have shipped it up from NY. You have to ask for veggies with your bagel - its great fiber. Mine was served with sliced cucumbers, 2 slices of tomatoes and freshly cut carrot sticks. There was a generous serving of cream cheese - it was delicious. The coffee was fantastic. I got a medium roast that was made strong and I'm looking forward to passing by there on my way back to the airport. The got a 4 instead of a 5 because for the hour we were there the water pitcher was empty. When I asked for water I got a cup of ice with hot water poured over. The water chilled but it was not actually fresh water. The staff were also friendly and the place appeared clean and very neat. read more