The Story Behind Neosho's The Clay Cup Coffee Shop

In Neosho, Missouri sits a quaint shop called The Clay Cup (114 N. Wood St., Neosho). Many wander in in the mornings, greeted by name, to grab their favorite cup of Joe. Most pass through without visiting the shop’s hidden gem—an active pottery studio located in the back of the shop. Before The Clay Cup was what it is today, it was under previous owners and called One14 Coffee Bar—and it was Donna Jones’ favorite coffee shop in town. After the shop closed, she reached out to the owners to let them know she and her husband, Jeff, were interested in purchasing the shop. In 2017, Jeff and Donna opened The Clay Cup. “From my perspective, it was a dream come true,” Donna says. “I work at a bank, and I’ve always loved coffee, and it was a dream whenever I was able to purchase and run this place.”

If you visit The Clay Cup in the morning, you’ll be greeted by the sun peeking through the windows between suspended plants and stained-glass art. From the outside, The Clay Cup is a cozy place where customers can escape and enjoy a good quality roast, but at its roots, it’s a well-thought-out business plan. “This wasn’t us just spinning a wheel and trying to figure out a business to have in Neosho,” Jeff says. “This is what we do and what we have done for years—management, art and community service.”

Art has been a crucial part of Jeff’s life forever. He began as the production potter in 1986 and was hired by Silver Dollar City, until the mid-’90s, before traveling the world to create exhibition sand sculptures. After that, he became a staff sculptor for McFarlane Toys, where he crafted action figure prototypes for the toy industry. He sculpted toy figures for The Matrix, The Chronicles of Narnia, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Terminator and more, as well as sports figures of the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. In 2005, Jeff moved back to Neosho from New Jersey and continued his work in the toy industry. Today, he runs the pottery studio in The Clay Cup—as well as a pottery studio across the street. “I’m all about education,” Jeffery says.

The Clay Cup hosts pottery classes every Monday night and occasional pop-up classes. One class they offer, which doesn’t use the pottery wheel, is called The Clay Cup Class. Participants create their own mugs—just like the ones they serve coffee in at The Clay Cup—which the staff will fire and glaze for later pickup. While The Clay Cup doesn’t accept walk-ins, it has an open studio program where members can pay a monthly fee to use the studio during business hours. Jeff or other staff members are there to answer questions and provide small demonstrations.

The Clay Cup is one of those shops that know their customers by name and what they order. “We have some of the best baristas there are out there,” Donna says. “They’re eager to help, they’re very friendly and they’re just a great crew.”

For a smaller shop, there is a lot of seating, and even more in a room to the right of the coffee counter. When it comes to coffee, The Clay Cup exclusively roasts Onyx Coffee. They feature a loaded menu from local venues like Farmhouse Bakery, Desserts First and Coley’s Cookie Co.

Between the cozy shop itself and the inviting pottery studio, Jeff and Donna have established a Neosho staple. “The vibe is calming, relaxing and enjoyable,” Donna says. “Everybody is welcome here.”