2018!? Has it really been that long since I've reviewed Merit? Back when it was still called Local Coffee? Let's do this... My sister and I stopped by Merit so I can try and rate the cortado for my silly little cortado review series. I also ordered the Purple Haze Latte and a poptart (courtesy of Bakery Lorraine). The cortado was surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because normally Merit's coffee is too fruity (and a bit funky) for me, but this was bold and right and made my ears tingle. Nice and creamy, and not watery. A very top notch standard cortado. The purple haze tasted like relaxing on the beach. It even had little bits of dried ube on top, like a little purple sandy beach. I'm pretty glad Merit's making me re-think their beans. That cortado is something I still think about, even though it's been about a month since my visit. read more

You know I'm a matcha glazer and Merit does not disappoint. The pistachio dream matcha was extra creamy and was elite. As for the strawberry matcha, I wish it had more strawberries Taking off a star because the prices do seem higher than average so if I were not on a work trip I would definitely not come here as often. read more

Merit Coffee - Pistachio dream matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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A good coffee shop to be able to sit and do work on your laptop bc they have charger outlets and free WiFi too. This was good for sure. read more

Merit Coffee - Carmel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Went here for the first time and was driving around the block trying to figure out the parking situation - there's an actually a decent-sized lot behind the building! Came in the morning to get some work done and loved how the booths along the wall have built-in power outlets, which was a thoughtful touch for the morning study crowd. Ordered a berry cobbler matcha & the only thing that made me hesitate was the price, which was almost $8 a serving. Don't get me wrong, it tasted AMAZING, but it's definitely a "treat yourself" indulgence rather than a daily go-to type of drink. Baristas were friendly and welcoming. Would come again if I wasn't a broke student ;) read more

Merit Coffee - Berry Cobbler Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Merit Coffee is a great place to study, especially if you're a UT Health student since it's just a short walk from campus. There's plenty of seating, and while it can get busy around mid-afternoon, it usually stays quiet enough to focus. I recommend bringing a jacket because it tends to get pretty cold inside. The seats aren't the most comfortable for long periods, but they're decent enough if you're settling in for a study session. I tried the raspberry matcha and banana matcha, both seasonal, and they always hit the spot. The matcha isn't ceremonial grade, but it still tastes great without being too grassy. The banana flavor balances it out really well and doesn't taste artificial, though it is definitely on the sweeter side. This is honestly one of the better matcha spots in San Antonio. I also tried a couple of their snacks, and they were just alright, not bad, but nothing too memorable. All in all, Merit is a reliable go-to for good drinks and a productive study environment. read more

Merit Coffee - Banana Matcha and Raspberry Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great coffee shop with lots of tables and outlets for students who are studying there. Love the coffee. This location frequently has students from the med center here. read more

I'm a Starbucks girl but love trying locally owned places and merit coffee is on my daily commute. I ordered online and my order was called out just as I walked in. My coffee was beautifully decorated with the steamed milk something that Starbucks lacks. The taste was smooth and velvety. I also ordered a croissant which was absolutely amazing (I believe they come from Bakery Lorraine)! It was a real croissant like from France unlike Starbucks' sad sad microwaved croissant. The coffee shop was clean, warm, and inviting. They had merch which was cute and reasonably priced. I got myself a T-shirt. I also joined their point system and will definitely be returning. read more

Merit Coffee - Seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great coffee shop. It is spacious with plenty of seating. They do have inside and outside seating. I went at 5 PM and it was full of people studying, reading, or just socializing. They do have other beverages besides coffee. They also have food. I decided on the golden mylk latte. it was perfectly sweetened. Staff members are super friendly and sweet. I very much enjoyed my experience. Parking will be the issue here. There's a small parking lot, but it is shared with other businesses. You can find some street parking right adjacent to the coffee shop. read more

Merit Coffee - Golden mylk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Overpriced and the food was cold?? Former coffee shop and specialty tea shop barista here. This entire experience was truly disappointing and the only reason I am not giving a one star is because the café was clean and I did not get food poisoning. The barista who took our order said almost nothing and looked like she really REALLY wanted to hurt someone, but the barista making the drinks was much more affable, though I have to say his drink making skills made me very upset. We ordered a large iced Matcha Latte with Hazelnut and Whole Milk, a large iced Matcha Latte with Lavender and Oat Milk, and a Sausage and Cheese Egg Cup. The lattes were atrocious and tasted almost solely like the chemically flavored syrups, almost too much so. If not for the hint of matcha taste, and saying there was a hint of matcha at all is almost too generous, it would have tasted like we were drinking flavored milks. Not to mention, we didn't get the usual energy boost we should have gotten from drinking these, showing us just how little matcha was actually in these drinks. The gross syrup content was way too high, the matcha content was way too low to even critique as a Matcha Latte, but we finished them because we paid way too much for these crappy drinks. We were hoping that our Egg Cup would help us out and cleanse the palate when the Lattes were too much, but it was like pouring salt on an angry wound. It had flavor, but it was all in the sausage and that was all we could really taste. It was way too moist, almost wet from poor defrosting, and would have fallen completely apart when we took it out of the bag had the center not been cold. Over two thirds of this Egg Cup was cold, the outside just warm enough to not raise suspicion upon picking it up, and I actually crunched on some ice crystals dead center. It was disgusting and, again, we spent too much on this tiny little dumpster fire of disappointment. This was the worst food and the worst drinks I've been served at a coffee shop and as an ex-barista I'm offended they thought this was okay to serve to customers. I cannot recommend Merit Coffee and suggest you go elsewhere. read more

Merit Coffee - Large Iced Matcha Latte with Hazelnut (Whole Milk) & Large Iced Matcha Latte with Lavender (Oat Milk) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Nice looking place and the stuff they sell is pretty cute like their cups. Had an iced latte today and took it go. Unfortunately, it tasted like burnt coffee. Should have gone to Dutch bros down the street. I may give it another shot if I'm in the area but will be trying it before I leave. Service was okay. read more

I should have looked up my old review before coming still not the foo foo coffee I crave for. Service is quick, not the smiliest peppy bunch, maybe they didn't have their coffee yet. They just get the job done. Prices are steep, $7 for 12oz $8 for 16 oz. I got the shaken maple pecan drink. That was interesting. Good flavor but literally has granulated nuts resting on the bottom. Prepare to chew your coffee. I probably will not get again. Lots of students around studying and was not any seating available for us to enjoy coffee. We sat outside, luckily it was a beautiful day. read more

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Cute coffee shop right across the street from my residence. It's also in the heart of the Medical Center so conveniently located. Has a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks to include specialty drinks and milk substitutions. Always friendly service! Parking is limited as it is a very small shopping plaza, but There is a small parking lot behind the building that always has extra parking available. read more

Great place to study. Good amount of tables although might have to get there early since it's right next to the medical/dental school. Great lighting and not too loud. Usually pretty packed. Coffee is great. Really enjoy the pour over and the espresso shot was pulled just right the day I went. Not to bright and great taste. Recommend anyone to come give it a try read more

If you're a med student looking for a cozy spot to cram biochem into your tear-soaked flashcards -- turn back now. I walked in with a laptop, a latte dream, and a desperate need to memorize the Krebs cycle. What I found instead was a seating arrangement straight out of a dollhouse furniture catalog. The new tables are so small I had to choose between setting down my coffee or my computer. The girl at the counter proudly stated that the smaller tables were intentional (not an accidental Temu purchase) to fit more people in. Ma'am. You're a coffee shop. Not the TSA. The intention is clear. Leave your books and work in the car. What kind of coffee shop is this? Their new "business plan" feels like a missed diagnosis. 10/10 for passive-aggressive furniture design. 0/10 for anyone with a spine, a laptop, or dreams of getting any work or studying done. If you like balancing your coffee on your knee while contemplating your life choices, this is the place for you. Plenty of room at the outdoor tables if you enjoy sweat mixed in with your coffee and books. read more

Merit Coffee - Table for two anyone? Maybe if you like watching your stuff fall on the floor. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

It's summer timeeeee so obviously had to get an iced matcha with strawberry!! I also get it with coconut milk and although she is delicious, this drink is about $9 so please don't break your bank to try it haha - Like don't get me wrong, it's a delicious drink but the prices for some of the drinks on their "baristas choice" menu should have a cap in this economy lol read more

Merit Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Merit has been my go-to study spot for a while now and their food/beverages never disappoint. One of my favorite parts of studying here was the table size, I felt like it was perfect for solo studying but could accommodate two people if i came with a friend. I stopped by today and the tables were so small!! I was here with a friend and we had to pull two tables together just to fit our laptops. In a cafe where space is a valuable commodity this feels like a step backwards for Merit at the medical center :( read more

Merit Coffee - Small, square tables replaced the rectangle ones - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I found this place on Yelp and we enjoyed our coffee here! Their mid sized hot chocolate is just the right size and really creamy. The latte had a good espresso taste. We also got a blackberry orange muffin, which had yummy pieces of orange rind baked into the muffins; this was the best pastry we got. We also got a gluten free hippie bar, which was chewy and a little healthy tasting, but made for a more nutritious breakfast :) The scone was okay; we like ours with a little more crunch. I prefer Figure 8 in Austin for their latte, but this place was good as well! Service was super friendly and the space is really big, with a lot of tables. read more

If you like the whip, super sweet, coffee as dessert option, this ain't it. If you're coffee purist, then come on down. I find myself in the middle. I got the Caramel latte with oat milk. It's meh. I do appreciate the young lady walking me through the options. Tthe drink came out pretty fast, even with a somewhat full house. Seems like a lot students hang out and study here. It's definitely a nice vibe for it. The prices were pretty high though, not student friendly. Our order came to $18 for two drinks. I guess in this area that's fitting being in the medical center. read more

Of all the merits in SA, the medical center location is by far my favorite- excellent place to study, adequate wifi speeds for streaming videos or lectures, and by far the quietest compared to the other locations. Majority of people that come here are students studying for their respective schools/exams so it's a great place to hold yourself accountable when working. Lots of seating and outlets, music level is just enough to enjoy but not too loud, good lighting, no funky smells (sometimes the other merits smell weird) and adequate parking. If you need a place to work this is it! read more

Merit Coffee - House coffee was bitter youre better getting a pour over or unfiltered coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I really enjoyed this place! Reminded me of the L.A. coffee scene! Very clean, neat and orderly. Lots of places to sit, no parking spots though! lol, i guess that's how you can tell you how popular this place is. Friendly and informative staff and the coffee I had was delish! An interesting "Yeast" drink? I forget the name of it but I could have easily drank this pour over black, it was a good cup of joe! Had the fruity pop-tart that was good. Indoor and outdoor seating. And the water was cold and filtered!!!! Very refreshing. read more

coffee tasted a bit watered down and not very bold or flavorful. was still alright tho. read more

Merit Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great coffee, pastries and ambiance. I go here to work and relax. Cool spot to hangout!

Local coffee! This place is the same as Local Coffee, not too sure about the name change. They have another location out in the Pearl Brewery that's a solid place to get a cuppa. They've had this location in the Med Center open for the past several years. It's a truly local coffee chain, as opposed to all the others up and down Louis Pasteur. The coffee was reasonably priced, for the super high quality, sourcing of the beans, roasted locally. They offer coffee in just about any method you can think of. They do have pastries, but I didn't get the pleasure of trying those out. The coffee shop is a comfortable place to study that's quiet, well lit, has outlets and plenty of seating. When I went, they seemed understaffed, causing slowly moving lines, but the place was still clean and drinks came out quickly! Parking is easy - Much easier than the other location at the Pearl! There's other interesting places to eat and drink up and down here- it's becoming a little foodie area! read more

2nd time to visit this location and the same Latte was great but the Customer Service is awful!! No hello no good afternoon just everyone working looking mad. read more

Came to Merit on a Wednesday around noon to do work. The parking lot in front and in the back were both full, thankfully I was able to find some street parking. With the amount of cars outside, I was unsure if I would be able to find a table to work but there were a few tables free! Helped that there was a lot of total tables, but people coming later in the day were definitely waiting around for tables. Other people were doing work but the noise level is moderate with group discussions happening around. Love the lighting and the table sizes are nice too, just wish the benches had cushions, it was really uncomfortable after a while. I ordered a cold caramel latte, really enjoyable! They have a few other syrup options too, fast service. read more

Merit Coffee - baked goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

One of the best coffee shops in San Antonio! Good caffeine to sugar ratio. Not butter nor too sweet. Always clean whenever I go inside the store and I'm met with good service by baristas. If you make espresso at home I would recommend to try buying their fresh beans to grind at home!! We literally go out of our way to only buy them here. read more

Merit Coffee - Hot caramel latte - 20oz - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great coffee shop in the medical district! Their winter menu was tasty! Great place for working or studying.

Coffee here is delicious. Service is always great. The ambiance is great as well-- such a good spot to come in to get some schoolwork done.

I tried the Merit Coffee near Galen College of Nursing and it was ok. It's a great place to study and work quietly and their to go ordering is simple and easy, but they could make some changes to be great. Their menu doesn't really explain what the items are and that includes the inside and mobile menus. Some items explain themselves, but they have a unique menu and when I was looking for tea there was no explanation on what the blends were. I ended up sticking to a peppermint iced tea that was very strong and needed either less mint or more sweetener than it had. I couldn't even finish it. All in all I would say nice place, but could work on making it easier for customers. read more

From out of town and found this coffee spot. Quiet environment and friendly staff. Coffee was excellent and will do the job . read more

Merit Coffee - Ice americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

It sucks but I'm gonna have to be that person who leaves a one star review because, although this coffee shop claims to close 8PM, by 7:40PM (and perhaps earlier even) they do not serve espresso drinks anymore. To the owners and staff: if you advertise a closing time, don't close 20 minutes before. Your staff clearly wants to wrap up at 8 on the dot and are therefore turning off and cleaning their espresso machine half an hour before closing. You are a coffee shop. That is not reasonable. If you advertise serving espresso coffee until 8PM, you should make good on your promise and serve coffee until 8PM. Otherwise just change your closing time to 7:30PM - then your customers will know better than to drive to your coffee shop only to realize the staff isn't willing to work until close. Very disappointing. read more

This place is extra MEH with a foamy top of MEH - 3 stars for coffee and 1 star for service. The coffee was good going down but had a lingering ick aftertaste. Staff left much to be desired in terms of service. They seemed genuinely bothered by customer interaction. $9+ (including tip) is too steep a price to pay for a below average experience. Would not recommend. Not likely to return. read more

I came by to work inside after a doctor's visit. I was impressed at the ample amount of table room and how quiet it was. There weren't any charger outlets by the coffee bar, but it was still roomy and nice to sit at. Overall, a good place for coffee and studying or working on your laptop. read more

Not friendly towards people with hearing loss. Also, they didn't have half the items on the menu available. We won't be back.

I really wanted to like Merit but it was a no for me. I have tried it multiple times and I just can't. The coffee doesn't taste good. The matcha either. No good flavor, just plain. She pretty tho but didn't taste good. Great place for studying alone or with people. To go out of my way to get merit, no. read more

Merit Coffee - Strawberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I love this coffee shop. My coffee was delicious and the person helping me was nice. There's a fair amount of seating but it was really busy when I was there with people getting work done. read more

Merit Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I loved this coffee! I wish I lived closer, but it was such a treat! I got the smallest size iced latte- extra shot of espresso and extra .5oz of vanilla syrup. It was amazing! Whatever beans are used here are very good, I should've purchased some, but I will next time. We also got the blackberry lemonade which was a bit on the sour/tart side but still sweet. The strawberry pop tart was well made, next time I might try the cinnamon roll. read more

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Parking: dedicated parking lot - easy to find Service: excellent, everyone is friendly Ambiance: good place to meet friends or study Coffee: oh man, one of my favorite places to get extra hot oat milk cappuccino. $$, but well worth it!! Recommend!! read more

This location is convenient, because it's right in front of the health science school. Due to that, you get 10% off if you're a student, but you have to ask for it. I love studying here on sunny days, because the big windows make the environment of the place very bright! There are good amount of desks/chairs to work on. I will say that they do frequently have wifi issues which is one of the only downsides! I've tried their matcha and sencha tea. They're both very good! The matcha I would add a little bit more sweetness to and the sencha tea is very refreshing! read more

Amazing coffee, baristas are extremely polite, charismatic, and helpful in recommending your preferred drink. A lot of natural lighting mixed with the cozy ambiance of the place, and they always have great music! It does tend to get busy/crowded quickly especially after lunch. Limited food options besides bakery items, but there is a Bakery Lorraine next door with sandwhiches, soups, etc. read more

Merit Coffee - Berry cobbler matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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