This is the BEST brewed coffee I've found in the Merced area! Plus, it's one of the few places that's open late around here. Pros: -brewed coffee is delicious, served nice and hot -a large space with tons of seating, books and games to enjoy -huge drink menu, both coffee and tea (although I haven't tried them yet) -easy access and parking -large outdoor seating area -lemon berry square with cream cheese was incredible; so rich and moist -bagel thyme bagels available Cons: -there isn't always a choice of medium or dark roast; you just get whatever they have made -the food selection is small and hit or miss; one day the case was full of desserts and one sandwich, the next there were two salads and a scone but nothing else -punch/loyalty card only for espresso drinks, not brewed coffee -no vanilla dusting sugar, only chocolate and cinnamon -staff is hit or miss; one guy barely gave me the time of day, it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what flavors the pastries were, he could have cared less if I was there; another guy was super friendly and went out of his way to get me nonfat milk I'm sure they'll work out the kinks as they grow. I'm looking forward to frequenting this place! read more

Unlike many of the yelp reviewers this place is not pretentious - the staff is nice, they bring in the BEST local stuff (uh Jantz pies, bagel tyme bagels...duh...winning!). The coffee is better than starbucks, it's roomier than starbucks, yes it's not perfectly decorated and painted - thats what is nice about it. My kids loved the old television turned fish tank by the front counter. All in all it's a great place! read more

I found this place about 2 months ago, and it immediately became my favorite coffee place in Merced ... as well as anywhere in the San Joaquin Valley. Other reviewers have captured the positive vibe of the place and the anti-Starbucks ethos (although I don't have any issues with Starbucks). Anyone can fit in here, making it a great place to people watch: very high tolerance rating. My latte today was superb, even if it takes them longer to make espresso drinks than Starbucks does. I also had a scone, which was delicious and seemed home made. Bathrooms are clean and well lit. WiFi was swift: 4+ Mbps download. My only very minor complaint is that the music was too loud last time I was here, but today it is fine. Great place to read and author Yelp reviews! read more

Fair pricing for coffee. Enjoyed the chill, laid back vibe and decorations. The cashier/barista was friendly and polite to everyone. I loved the fact that I felt like I was just going over to a friend's house to relax. The latte (pumpkin) was amazing. I'll be back read more

Great atmosphere. Beats ol coffee block by long shot. I lived in Santa Cruz for a long while and I can tell you that this places coffee and vine rivals the hip java houses of the central coast. The coffee is strong and delicious. read more

the baristas need a class in customer service ... the two male baristas that i always sadly have to order my coffee from look like they always just woke up and it's the middle of the day. they don't greet me.after i order it's silence , when they call out my drink and i say thank you i get no reply .barley rarely i get the female who is always upbeat and friendly. pls hire more baristas that are friendly i always get stuck with those two guys , also to be one of those picky people it's really hard to find a drink you can always enjoy here because all the baristas make them different every time i get my regular drink it's something different wayyy to much syrup , or burnt espresso . read more

Espresso challenge... coffee bandits exceeded all expectations. Great crema on top, divine coffee flavors

Fantastic independent coffee shop. Most excellent place to grab a latte and read a book.

Great place!! Atmosphere is awesome. Coffee is great. The coffee is always working. The coffee cake and corn bread were DELICIOUS!! I'll be back! read more

I had a delicious 3 shot Americano and kicked back in the funky, coffee house scene that is so lacking in the sterile Starbucks of the world. read more

It's vaulted ceilings are a big change from the normal, cozy cafe. Off the busy HWY 99 just a couple of blocks, this java pit sits right in what appears to be a Madera block of pastimes. The burritos, sandwiches, pastries (jalapeno scone, anyone!?) are all worth the stop; the personality of the cute little baristas and communal piano is just a plus. #caffinated read more

This place is a must try! I love finding random/cool coffee shops, and if you're like me you will love this place. They have a really fun flow chart (nerd?) on the back of the menu that helps you choose your drink! Whether you want a unique latte or a simple black cup of coffee they have you covered. The inside is also a great place to read a random book (I found one about ways to survive different scenarios on their coffee table) or work on an assignment. read more

Love that this place serves almond milk for people with lactose intolerances, or who just prefer the taste better. These types of pop-up shops are the best since the employees care about the customers! read more

Free wifi, vegan cookies, and delicious teas? Check, check, aaaand check. This place is great for studying as well as people watching. They have tasty treats and their employees are pretty friendly. It can get packed here sometimes since it's a hot spot for club meetings, so if you like to study in complete silence, go elsewhere! It's always awesome seeing local businesses in Merced thrive, so support this spot, you won't regret it! read more

Coffee Bandits has it all! The atmosphere, the food/beverages, and the baristas always have a good drink suggestion. I come here to study, attend events such as Poetry Night, or to meet up with friends. I could say a lot but it's better if you check it out for yourself. read more

Stopped by on the busy opening day and was given friendly service. Coffee here is MUCH better-tasting than the McDonald-esque brew they give you at Starbuck's. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual with a nice high ceiling and big windows to let in natural light. Eclectic artwork on the walls gives the place a unique, neighborhood/community vibe. I'll be coming back if I'm ever in the area again, if for nothing else than the great coffee! read more

Really cute cafe! Love the vegan options, mostly cookies prepackaged but nonetheless appreciated! The prices are a bit high, more then Starbucks but they are an authentic organic local community booster! Sending all the best to this establishment!! read more

If your house looked like this you'd tell your kids to start picking up after themselves. They've managed to make the entire establishment look singularly unappealing, right down to the amateurish logo. On the other hand, a coffee shop is all about coffee, right? And these guys make the best coffee in Merced, as far as I can tell. I've been there a few times already and I'll definitely be back, though I may wear a blindfold next time. read more

such a wonderful spot! and spending dollars and time here is a great way to support the local economy and merced's burgeoning arts community. and the cinammon rolls--jeezus, i mean, really! who goes to the starbucks down the street...and why would they?! read more

Coffee Bandits - Red Hawk doctoring our 'mericanos. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Merced, California

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By FAR the best place to get coffee in Merced. All the baristas are friendly and make lovely, delicious cappuccinos. They also have creative seasonal drinks and play with traditional coffee drinks. The cafe has a nice atmosphere with local artwork. I love sitting here and studying in the afternoons. They open quite early and used to open till 10pm (currently 9pm). Bring them more business to stay open later!! Forget about Starschmucks! read more

I really liked the Apricot Kolachy. They get some of their pastries from Jantz. I also liked the Vanilla Latte. It was sweet, but not too sweet. I like the fact that there are plenty of events here, like Science Cafe, Vegetarian/Vegan potlucks, etc. There are so many (enter big chain competitor's name here)'s in Merced, it's refreshing to try something different. I enjoy the creative designs the barista makes in the lattes ( I got a cat :) ). I hope Coffee Bandits continues to prosper as a business in downtown Merced. read more

Great coffee shop! Very relaxing with a nice vibe. Everyone who works here is really friendly also. It could use a little sprucing up though! read more

Hands down best cup in Merceed, take it from me, been doing coffee for years, staff is very welcoming, and as soon as I came in, Tom Waits was playing, hence 5/5, because not every coffee shop has the guff to play good music. Its very open, the front patio is full of good folks, and the espresso didn't make me want to hurl. There are some places I won't even give a chance taking a shot, but this place I had to try, ultimately, I was not dissapointed. Good job Folks. Well done. read more

This is an easy place to meet up on the way to Yosemite. I like to explore the downtown and sit out in front and take it easy. There are always interesting people to talk to. I really love it on Open Mike night when this place rocks with the best local talent. It is amazing to see this coffee house evolve into a force for good in the community. I am a solid bandito ! read more

Stopped here for lunch as I am in Merced a few times per month on business. Had a chicken curry wrap (very good), a slice of french apple pie (very good, but at $3.85, it's overpriced), and a dark roast coffee that could have been roasted longer. Place was busy at 11:30 in the morning, but I appeared to be the only one having anything more than a coffee drink. Looked like the patrons (other than me) were of the UC Merced crowd, which gives the place a youthful vibe. All-in-all, I'll be back since there's no place else in town that offers a cool atmosphere with some different sandwiches and good coffee...and that's independent. read more

Extremely dirty. Food handling area is not to Health Department standard, which is pretty low.

Came here by bike to wait for Amtrak. Great place to hang out, and that's coming from someone who doesn't drink coffee. They had amazing pastries that put me in sugar paradise. Board games to pass the time and friendly service make this place somewhere I'd be happy to visit again next time I'm in Merced. read more

Just happened to be in Merced and was looking for a place to have coffee. I picked this one based on the Yelp reviews and was not all disappointed. The ambiance is like going to a friend's house, and I had a white chocolate Mocha and a raspberry vanilla cookie that made my week!!! read more

Had a lovely earl grey tea tonight with a friend. The girl who served us was very sweet even though she was working all alone :) I will definitely be returning for another cup some time soon. read more

Great environment and coffee. Also it has a great location for someone who is waiting for a train and needs WiFi. It's not a 5 star because I didn't like their meat sandwich. In fact I couldn't eat everything. I spent $5 for the sandwich. read more

This will sound strange but I go for the ambiance. The place is Comfortable and it's a great place to go for a bit to just relax. I don't drink coffee or tea so I can't provide a great review their but the baked goods they have on hand are always delicious. I also enjoy the random playing of the house piano. read more

Such a rad place! Cool, chill vibes and some wonderful coffee and pastries. The owners and employees really seem to care about the place and its patrons. They get their pastries and coffee beans locally, and they also give discounts for students and bringing your own mug, which I think is great. Keep with it CoBa team!!! read more

Coffee Bandits - Some cute kitty latté art one of the baristas did! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Merced, California

I have been here for 10 minutes and I instantaneously regretted coming here. I live in Fresno and I am stranded in Merced so I needed to go somewhere and I like supporting local business so i decided to come here. The latte I got was really sweet and I'm a very EXTREMELY anxious and scared of new things so being extremely disappointed was beyond tolerable so I rushed and asked for a To go cup and the one barista working there asked me if something was wrong and I just said it's really sweet tasting to me and it was my fault I didn't read the menu better and made a better choice but she felt super bad and was asking me what she could do to make it better and I literally almost started crying in front of her but she was throwing every option she could to make it better but I really was so fucked up I didn't know what to do but want to leave so I let her put some coffee in it and I just feel awful. Extremely awful. read more

I ordered a mocha blendito which is similar to a frappacino but tastier!!! However, the Batista asked if I wanted whip cream, but then didn't put a single tablespoon! Not cool! Lids & straws are very flimsy, which is a downside when your drink is to go! Overall its a cool hang out spot & pretty spacious! read more

From tea, to coffee, to the vegan cookies this place is the best coffee place in Merced! Friendly staff too :)

Quite simply, the best coffeehouse in Merced. Forget Starbucks. Forget Peet's. Forget the stuff in giant metal canisters from the grocery store. How about a nice, cozy, LOCAL café that can make the same drinks as those other guys, without breaking the bank and while being kinder to our home planet. Great iced coffee, espresso, & tea items will tempt everyone's palates, with delicious and rich food items to boot. Oh hey, why not bring your laptop and park it, for a while, in the comfortable dining/socializing/studying area? Maybe play ANYTHING BUT "Heart & Soul" or "Chopsticks" on the out-of-tune piano. The choice is yours, just like how they'll make your coffee...just be careful, it's especially piping hot! read more

I just ordered the most delicious latte ever. This place is awesome. I so encourage you to try this place over any Starbucks! The coffee is exceptional read more

When I first walked in to Coffee Bandits, I was a little confused. The furniture don't really match and the design just don't exactly blend together. However, for some strange reason, it still felt cozy enough. The place is rather spacious; there are both indoor and outdoor seats. I noticed that each person can claim his/her own table regardless of the table size so that's nice. There's definitely space if you need some, especially for studying. The music isn't too loud; their choice of music is easy to be tuned out (at least by me) when I'm studying. When you walk in, you are greeted by merchandise to your right and the cashier/menu to your front. There is actually a double-sided laminated menu at the counter and on tables. What's nice is that there's a whole list of items on one side and a flow chart to help you decide on which coffee/tea you should order based upon your preference (i.e. caf/decaf, strong/sweet, etc.) simply just by following the arrows! There are so many options. So far I have tried Ivory Nut (hazelnut white mocha) and Thin Judy (Non-fat cappuccino). For some reason the mocha tasted stronger than the cappuccino? Overall, they are pretty good. The sizes are great: there are three options of 12oz, 16oz and 20oz. I would definitely be going back often. read more

This is an excellent place to get a cup of coffee or tea. Everything that I've tried here has been delicious and of excellent quality. The interior is quirky but fun and the perfect place to chat with friends, read a book, or do some work on your laptop. In general it is very clean, although there is some wear and tear on the vintage furnishings (I think it adds to the ambiance). The staff are very friendly and always seem to really enjoy working and interacting with customers. The prices are reasonable and the coffee is pretty good quality. I do enjoy that there is a posting area where people can share information about upcoming events, concerts, etc. Overall this place is excellent and deserves its 5 star ratings. read more

So friendly and cool to hang out. Best tasting caramel machiattos