The Cheese Shoppe

I think the name of this place is somewhat deceptive, ‘The Cheese Shoppe’ yet they advertise as ‘WC Clarkes’? Nevertheless its a cool spot to go. A real, authentic coffee-​shop vibe and not that cookie-​cutter setup Starbucks has emulated.
There are about 9 daily selections of coffee that rotate pretty regularly and you can even buy and have been roasted in-​house for you. I’ve never had the cheese from the store but it looks pretty extensive.
There’s minimal to no seating which is the slightest downside, but usually I get my coffee on the run so its a moot point. Definitely check these guys out and support them vs the big chain stores.

I go here 3 – 5 times a week– I never thought any coffee shop could replace Starbucks for me, but I found one! They roast their coffee fresh every morning, including a «flavor of the day”— which is never a bad choice. It has a pleasant community atmosphere, too. I feel great supporting a local business rather than a chain. The people that work here are super sweet. So glad I found this «hidden gem» on Calder!

Love this place!!! I have my morning coffee everyday from here. It’s not your typical cookie cutter chain restaurants coffee shop. Great coffee; amazing cheese and awesome people!

I went to get some Boursin cheese, which they charge about $ 12, to see that they pull it out of grocery store labeled Boursin, not gourmet and on top of that i was ignored for about 5 min while standing at the counter while the employees spoke among themselves

One of the best coffee in state college. Bill the owner is a great guy! He remembers me after a couple of visit! He is a nice person to talk to! There are a lot of different type of coffee in his store. He roasted his coffee everyday and you can smell it from a few blocks away! Love this place

The cheese shoppe has freshly roasted coffee, teas, an assortment of local items and of course cheese. You can get cheese cut into as big or small of sections as you would like and is priced based on weight. The teas are also sold based on weight and a good place to get teas if you are into loose leaf teas. The Coffee is roasted a little too dark for my taste however I wont knock that since I know a lot of people whom do like a darker roast.
They also coffee per cup on a «honor system» where they have change laid out on the counter and you just pay for your own coffee and take your change out of the change on the counter. It is cash only so just be aware of that before coming in.

Yesterday I went to buy different kinds of cheese to that shop. The owner seems to be a nice guy but he was busy, and the person who helped me was a lady with indian appearance. The girl was moody, every time i asked her about a kind of cheese, she squinted. She has very bad energy. I ended buying 2 hundred something dollars in cheese because i really needed it right away, but when i left i felt a bad sensation, like i didn’t know how to forgive myself for buying it there after her treat to me. I wanted also to go back and talk with the owner but i was on a rush. I feel discomfort. I think shops like that need nice, gently people. For sure, I’m not coming back, and will tell my friends about my experience.

Great selection and an always fresh decent cup of coffee. Staff (owner)very friendly and knowledgeable in their craft. Its a great place to just go down to and relax while enjoying the company of your neighbors.

A while back, I went into the Cheese Shoppe, found Bill, and told him I knew an older kind of intellectually curmudgeonly British man and I needed to get him cheese for his birthday. Bill took the pipe out of his mouth and just said «stilton.» Brilliance.
And here I thought it was just the best coffee in town and thought how great it was to be able to sit outside in the summer and drink it.
Needless to say, I recently added them to my dissertation acknowledgments.

I really like the local feel of this place. Its small and cozy and the honor system for paying for your coffee is cool. I dont particularly like their coffee although it is drinkable… I just dont like coffee that is roasted as much as it is here (though its roasted in house and you can smell it for blocks down the street in the mornings which is amazing and I have enjoyed that for many years). My friends who like that kind of coffee are always very happy here. Their espresso is good but only Brett knows how to pull a shot without getting grinds in the cup. The super quiet outdoor sitting area is a real plus here too!
Additionally, they have a fantastic slection of cheeses and often at better prices and more fresh than any of the grocery stores around town.

If you’re grabbing a cup of coffee, it’s not a bad place to go but there are better places in town. Don’t EVER buy their beans. They’re roasted so dark they taste like charcoal instead of coffee. The cheese is decent but you’re better off going to the farmer’s market a block away and buying cheese there. The customer service is almost always awful and the employees act as if you’re only there to inconvenience them. Overall, my experiences with The Cheese Shoppe have been largely unpleasant and I recommend spending your money elsewhere.

Don’t be intimidated by all the locals that never seem to leave.
Tell the staff you are there for cheese describe what you want, what you are paring with, sample and you’ll end up with a platter better than wegmans at about the same price. At «Clarks» your are sure to actually learn a thing or two about cheese as you order.

They have good products, but I am always put off by their service. Whenever I’ve had to ask something, it seems like they can’t be bothered. This includes trying to buy cheese, which seems completely ridiculous. The whole «breaking the vibe» comment made in another review is very accurate. I waited around for almost ten minutes until the person working the register finished their conversation to get something from the case and pay. On a sad note, I found the man who works at the cheese section of wegmans much more knowledgeable and helpful than the person I spoke to at the cheese shop.
Also, one employee was extremely rude when I didn’t know how their coffee grinder worked (sue me, I am not a coffee drinker, I was getting it as a gift) and asked for help. I don’t care if she thought I was an idiot, it’s incredibly bad form to be rude to a customer who has asked for help.
I guess if you’re judging purely on quality of food and coffee, I’d have to give it a higher rating, but I simply can’t after experiencing the service on several occasions.

Cool things about the Cheese shoppe:
— basement + wooden barrels décor = think what hipsters will want when they are in their 40s
— the coffee selection is unique
— honor system to pay for coffee (makes getting coffee fast)
— selection of cheese is excellent
Not so cool things about the Cheese shoppe:
— the mass of locals that just hangs out in this little store makes it really hard to get service. The staff & owner are always busy chatting up buddies about the weather or other random things, so if you actually want something you feel like you’re «breaking the vibe».
— when I have tried talking with employees about cheese, the employees don’t know much about it at all beyond the obvious of their products. I was always referred to the owner, who was again so busy hanging out that I never bothered.
— coffee is «regular» coffee. Don’t think about anything with espresso based coffees (it’s a cheese shop that has coffee, not a coffee shop that has cheese)
This is definitely one of the most popular joints for local in the area, so I’m probably going to get hate mail with this review. In this land of student targeted stores, townies take their favorites seriously. Yet even though the Cheese shoppe is a local establishment to be proud of, there’s no way this place should be listed on Unilocal as the best restaurant/​store for the whole State College area.

Mmmm. Coffee and cheese… what more could you want? The roasts are amazing. The selection is extensive. The smell is intoxicating. I only wish they had more fair trade and/​or organic options.
FYI, if you’re getting a cup of coffee there, you can grab what you want and toss your cash on the counter, making change if necessary. This honor system sums up why this place could get 6 stars if it were possible.

Been buying our coffee here for years (Celebes). Knowledgeable staff. Fair prices. Their roasting is top-​notch: I hate over/​under-​roasted beans.
I’ve purchased their cheese off-​and-​on over the years. While it’s always good and their selection is full of varieties, I just don’t think of buying cheese when not in the grocery store or at Meyer Dairy. If you’re looking for a special European/​UK cheese that you can’t find elsewhere, go here.
Very loyal fanbase and consistently good products keep this local institution on the map.

Hands-​down the best coffee in State College.
There’s no other place in town that you can get fresh (daily!) roasted beans and pay by tossing your bills on the counter. In the mornings, the aroma alone is worth five stars.
Like Graham H, I’ve never been here for cheese, but I’ve gotten plenty of coffee (by the cup, carafe, or just bags of roasted beans for home) and have recently started to enjoy their selection of tea. I’ve yet to be disappointed. The coffee is so good, I’m not even bothered by the lack of soymilk — the flavor is rich enough to drink black and doesn’t have the bitterness that you’ll get most places.
If you want a legit tasty cuppa joe, do yourself a favor and check it out.

The best place to get your coffee craving in State College. Believe me that they have the best coffee compared to other chains like Starbucks and other coffee shops chain.
Local place with local oldies atmosphere. Once you come in you can smell the fresh coffee. My favorite is double shots mocha. It’s literally the best mocha in town, you must try it!
They have a huge selection of coffee beans and tea leaves, and of course, cheese. I don’t really understand cheese therefore I just come here for the coffee. Most of the people are coming here for the cheese or the coffee, or both.
The rating is more like 4.5÷5, since they don’t have indoor seating for the winter. But in the summer, their outside seating area is the best. I came here a lot and never once I am disappointed. Friendly and fast service with high quality items, what can go wrong?

The Cheese Shoppe has great atmosphere — a big coffee roaster in the front, old wooden counters, burlap bags of beans on the floor, self-​serve coffee with payment by the honor system.
The problem is they over-​roast most of their beans. On our visit, the coffee aroma led us down the block to the not-​terribly-​prominent doorway; once inside, the burnt odor was overwhelming. The beans being stirred in the roaster were all glossy black, a sign things had gone too far.
Advice: go to the bulk bins at the back first and pick out a roast that’s not burned — dull beans are good, shiny beans are bad. Use that information to select your brew at the front. Worked well for me – I had an excellent cup. My wife didn’t check the bins and wound up with scorch.
(By the way, the cheese part of the shop wasn’t that wonderful — just a fridge case behind the counter (and behind the barista) with a bunch of cuts laid every which way on the refrigerator floor. The selection may be fine, but the lackluster presentation and not being able to browse kills some of the fun.)

Since 1978 Bill Clarke has presided over an establishment that is the closest to one that you would find along the Champs Elysees. Not only will your nose be greeted by the aromas of the day but you will also be be able to choose from a vast selection of the freshest and broadest assortment of beans and fresh brewed coffee. No matter the season, or the time of day, this is a real coffeehouse.
No burnt roast here, Bill times everything to perfection.
But don’t overlook the namesake, which is cheese. Yes, you can buy cheese at other locations in the area but none will be as good as what you can find here. Can’t find the kind you want? Get adventurous and ask for a taste of something like it. Not sure what you are looking for? Ask Bill to make a recommendation. No matter what, you won’t go wrong.
PS. He carries a fantastic selection of loose tea as well and hard to find gourmet items.
PPS. The location is wheelchair accessible just by going to the main entrance at 248 East Calder and then using the elevator to the rear door of the shoppe.