"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Rolling up to Local Coffee along Broadway, in the middle of a neighborhood tucked away, this place adds a sense of belonging and community on top of their wonderful coffee and great service. If you enjoy getting away and not feeling like you have to go to a corporate style installation like Starbucks to do that, then this place is exactly what you're looking for. Getting to the shop seems like a little fun adventure after getting off the freeway and driving through a cute neighborhood till you finally arrive to this conservative plaza that is vaguely reminiscent of those days driving through the small town of Eureka in NorCal that give a sense of community. Parking on a Sunday afternoon is clear either right on the street or in the little parking lots so take your pick. If you do decide on the street, just note there is a little bike shop attached to the side of the venue so if you happen to need any parts, this is your stop. Take a look around and you'll see a couple notable places you might want to check out either before or after your visit. I took some time exploring the menu at Bird Bakery which is also a fantastic stop for a bite before sitting and enjoying the beverages in LC. (Just be very careful when crossing the street sometimes the cars can be going pretty fast...) Walking in, I found myself just attracted to the relaxed Sunday afternoon vibe that is so very sought out but not often found so I took time to take it all in and let my eyes just wander around the place. The appeal is that it's simple in décor and the eccentricity comes from the crowd that populates the shop. People are interacting with each other, working on projects, and enjoying their coffee. My whole time here I didn't once feel like this was just an extra addition to the side of the shop next door, it really felt a lot more natural and worked in conjunction with the other shops surrounding it. Essentially, part of that community feel and I can't stress that enough! Barista was super helpful, I popped up to the counter and looked for a nice iced beverage to chill out with before finding a seat and decided on an hot Caramel Latte (yes I said hot lol!) This was as smooth as it was sweet and I highly recommend! For me it was good enough to place a second order but the caffeine just hits you like a brick wall sometimes if you forget about the espresso! They have a cute enamel pins you can pick up and I'm eager to see when they get stickers in stock for my collection! The venue is really clean which includes the areas like the bathroom and outdoors. Speaking on the bathroom, it's individual incase you were wondering. They do have wifi available incase you need it and the counters and tables have lots of room to lay out your laptop and notebook and get to work! What's cool is that there are several locations placed all around the San Antonio area and each one emits the same vibe so as a company they really have established themselves as a staple in each community. They don't need to complicate things, its coffee and its coffee done right and I'm excited for future visits to come! Check out Local Coffee when you're in the area! read more

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Boy is this place packed! In my continued efforts to find a study place... Decided to try here this weekend. You can tell this place is loved. The coffee is strong... But I like mine sugar plus a dash of coffee... So I had to add simple syrup to my latte... Luckily it was at the self serve bar. Straight forward menu for coffee options. As for studying... WiFi was fast and there's outdoor seating but it was difficult to find a spot so 3 stars in terms of that and the seats made my behind hurt after about 1.5 hours... read more

I started drinking coffee when I was a young military wife stationed in Bamburg, Germany because the coffee there was simply beautiful! I went to Merit coffee because I was told "it was the best coffee in the country!" I ordered a latte and when I took my first sip... I was in heaven! The memory of the coffee that made me an addict came back! If you want a GREAT cup of coffee- Merit is your place! Coffee snobs... if you haven't tried it, try it!!" read more

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

So excited that this was so close to our hotel during our visit to San Antonio- did a pick up order for quick in and out with our babe but the interior was beautiful- service was spectacular- I had made a mistake on my order and they clarified exactly what I needed and my order was ready to go in seconds! Grabbed a turkey and gouda sandwich to go and my baby was more interested in eating that than the pizza I had brought to the park for her - just saying! Will come back again! read more

Anytime I'm near by a coffee shop, I can't resist it. Good coffee, quality is good. Service is great.

I've visited most of the Local Coffee outlets here in San Antonio, but this was my first visit here and to the Alamo Heights area in general. The area is a little upscale, but has a young, sometime hip feel, and is a really nice place to grab some coffee. This Local Coffee has a semi urban coffee shop feel, not fancy, and has great seating in a number of configurations, but most are sturdy metal stools. The drink offerings are the coffee standards you'd expect from a good coffee joint, and I selected a latte breve with a couple of raw sugar packets. It was served hot, and just a flavorful my drinks from the other Local Coffee shops. Consistency is a good thing! If you're in the area, taking in some local ambiance, drop by here for a coffee, you'll definitely enjoy it! read more

You will not find a better place to hang out than here, the coffee in this place is unforgettable.

I usually avoid Starbucks due to the highly bitter and burnt taste. Local shops tend to be better. In this case... some of the most bitter and high acidity coffee Ive ever had. Me and my girlfriend got a cortado and Afagado. The cortado (espresso and milk) tasted so bad we nearly threw it out. Just dumped sugar on it and took it like a shot of liquor. My afagado was ice cream and espresso, sounds good right? Bitter as hell. Had to wait for ice cream to dissolve to a point where the toxic brew was palatable. I drink coffee black, but this was too much. read more

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

This is my go-to coffee shop whenever I'm in San Antonio! The coffee is absolutely delicious and the ambiance is perfect. It's a great spot to sit and get some work done! read more

There cafe ole is great plus free refills!This is my new favorite spot to study. There is way more outlets for people on laptops. The music is not blaring but nice calm and tranquil. This coffee shops just has a all around better atmosphere. I highly recommend stopping by for a coffee and enjoying it inside or their outdoor patio. read more

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

I love coffee, almost to a fault. I love everything from Third wave coffee shops, to a pot brewed at home. I came to SATX last week for travel and Immediately had to locate a spot to grab my daily fix (3-4x a day). After some bouncing around I found myself here at Local Coffee. As always with a new coffee place, I started with a Cortado (or Gibraltar, if you're a Blue Bottle guy) The Cortado at Local was well made, perfect temp, and the flavor was on point. I also tried the batch brew. They nailed it. Just the right strength for us guys who like their coffee black. Not crazy burnt (like an unnamed PNW shop like to brew to the masses), but not under extracted or too light. Temperature was good for sipping right away too. The place's ambiance is exactly what you need for a good shop, not excessively hip, and comfortable enough to sit around for a few hours to knock out some work. You can also pick up some roasted beans from Merit Roasting, or some dope Local Coffee Swag. It goes without saying that I will be back. I'll probably be back 10 times this week. read more

I came by on a weekday afternoon to study and had a great experience. Good variety of high tables, long tables, and comfy chairs to sit in. The cold brew was delicious and I got a yogurt fruit bowl (I forgot what they actually called it) - you pick up a container of yogurt from their fridge that they sell separately and then they add the fruit and chia seeds to it. I wish they had more savory food options to eat though. Ample parking is present as well. I'll definitely come back! read more

Great coffee and atmosphere! Came from out of town and wanted to stop for coffee no regrets!!

Nice ambiance and delicious matcha latte. Love the idea of a bike shop connected to the coffee lounge read more

Merit Coffee - Nice ambiance and delicious matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Had a Cortado this morning and it was mediocre at best. The drink wasn't up to temperature and the espresso was bitter. The service was excellent and friendly. Maybe it was just an off day. read more

I generally despise composing unfavorable reviews for businesses but after visiting this Local Coffee location several times, the verdict is in: consistently inconsistent spro served here. It appears customers favor this location due in part to a fairly sized common area with plenty of seats and tables to loiter or leech complimentary wifi. A word to the wise: This place gets packed and generally speaking, people overstay their visit. Staff is friendly but regrettably, barista skill level is below par. Local is a multi-roaster shop but exclusively features their very own Merit Roasting Co's beans for espresso. Their slow bar features beans from Madcap, Intelli, and Counter Culture to name a few roasters. **********BEGIN SIDEBAR********** Frankly, I am exhausted hearing pseudo coffee snobs poo-pooing shops for not offering 1) pour overs or 2) siphon or 3) Kyoto cold brew. For whatever reason, self proclaimed coffee connoisseurs believe that the aforementioned slow brew methods are the pinnacle of drip coffee extraction. Umm, excuse me but I happen to enjoy plenty of delicious coffees brewed via Fetco and by other non-theatrical methods. Please don't misunderstand. I appreciate Chemex, Kalita, et al...but it is possible to achieve perfect extraction by other means. **********END SIDEBAR********** There is a silver-lining, however. As Local's other locations, pastries are sourced from Bakery Lorraine. One and One: 2/5 Unfortunately, a noticeably uneven slung spro. Single espresso super sour and acidic. Single macchiato dull and thin with a sour milk finish. Macchiato: 2/5 Harsh under extraction with sharp sour tartiness that even milk couldn't cut. What's more, the aftertaste lingered in my mouth for nearly an hour even after attempting to neutralize with breath mints. I hope Local sorts out their barista issues at this location. I know the specialty coffee scene is still developing in San Antonio and I can't expect it to be on par with Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Portland but I know that there are a few better options for espresso now in this city. read more

Merit Coffee - One and One - Merit Conductor Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I've been coming to this location for close to 10 years, since it used to be called Local Coffee! It's still a great coffee shop and their assortment of fresh, handmade pastries from Bakery Lorraine and other snacks are seriously the best. Every time I come in, I get a spinach quiche and I get 2 of their handmade PopTarts - one for now, and one for later! They also have indoor and outdoor seating. The location in Stone Oak is great too! read more

Visiting in from out of town. I've been to two different locations of this coffee shop. Very good flavor nice blend. The coffee shop I usually go to back home is third generation family. I like this place here in San Antonio I will be back when I come to visit family that moved here read more

I'm a total fan of Local Coffee! The coffee is amazing! I love to order their cappuccino, Local Coffee makes it perfectly with the right amount of everything. I always leave wanting another...Grrr. My sister ordered the hot chocolate and it was HUGE and very tasty! The staff is extremely kind and attentive, the cashier that waited on us was extra beautiful ( I may have tried to fix my hair at one point). Seating can be hairy, I wish there was more places to chill. We had to wait and fish around for a seat. Also, I have major parking anxiety and this place is always packed with cars...try parking in the Bike World strip. Nothing but the best at Local Coffee! read more

Merit Coffee - Hot chocolate soooo good!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Bomb ass coffee, bomb ass staff, and a fantastic ambiance. They've perfected the coffee shop chill vibes.

Read the reviews, listened to the hype, had a choice to go to Olmos Perk or here, so I knocked this off my bucket list while in the area. Upon entering, I saw the students, the laptopers, and the bicyclists in the club next door. I ordered two lattes, which took about 10 mins to prepare. While waiting, I was enjoying the tutorial that an employee was giving to about 7 people. It was a professional class on how to judge, taste, brew, and identify the flavor profiles of different coffees. I think this is great that they do this. The place was crowded, but there were ample bar seats circling the building. After viewing Olmos Perk from Yelp pics, I like the leather couches and ample seating over there. This place did lack that comfort factor. Now the coffee: I found this to be a weak cup of coffee, even with the supposed 2 shots of espresso in that 10 oz of milk. The coffee was very flavorful and smooth; however, it was lukewarm at best, almost room temperature. I don't understand how this can be--when at most coffee houses, a barista is suppose to leave a thermometer in the milk until it reaches 150 degrees. This coffee was about only 100 degrees. I asked the guy to heat my coffee in the micro for 10 secs; he almost looked incensed. I'm sorry folks at $3.99 a cup, I want hot coffee. You can keep the beautiful heart in the foam if I can get hot coffee. He complied with my request and I enjoyed my coffee. I can't wait to try that other place next. I've already tried Halcyon and didn't really like it. I think Olmos might be cool. read more

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

This is the place to go ! Perfect for chai lattes it has a beautiful view of the pearl and the seats are spread up enough to practice social distancing and masks are required to order. Only giving it 4 stars because of their prices read more

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

I was driving down Broadway in San Antonio on a Monday morning getting a tour of the local sights from my girlfriend, when we spotted it. Little did I know this sighting would change my whole San Antonio coffee drinking habit for the rest of my life. Local Coffee is environmentally your stereotypical coffee house. Bar seating, a nice patio, people packed inside on their laptops sipping on espresso with ear buds plugged in. The thing that separates this coffee house with most of the others is...drumroll.......the coffee!!!!! The first morning when we spotted this piece of heaven, I went in and ordered a caramel latte. Soooo good! The creamy texture coupled with the tastes of caramel and pumpkin was spectacular! It was so good that we had to come by for another cup the next day. This day I ordered a Americano. So good again, it wasn't a fluke! This spot takes their coffee seriously. The baristas are so nice and helpful to top it off. I can't think of anything bad to say about this establishment. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. If you are in SA, definitely stop by and give it a try! read more

Came here for a quick cup of coffee before heading off to Austin and decided to try out the Chai tea. The cup was nice and didn't feel cheap, maybe because the cup actually has the logo of the business lol. My chai tea was overpowered by the milk. I thought the drink tasted milky and couldn't quite taste the actual Chai in the Chai tea. Not only that but they literally filled more than half my cup with ice. All it took was a few sips and I was left with nothing but ice. Pretty much paid 4 bucks for milk and ice. Save yourself the money and go to Starbucks for your money's worth of Chai Tea. read more

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

This is my FAVORITE coffee spot in San Antonio!!! The cold brew coffee on tap is awesome. I love the taste of the coffee (Stumptown - A taste of home!) and the vibe cannot be beat. Great music choice and lots of seating at this location, including a cute covered patio area with specific seating for the shop. I havn't tried a pastry yet, but they look yummy. read more

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

Love the Consistency in the Barista Aspect! The Attitude towards Clientele is SADLY LACKING!!!

Knock it off with the paper to go cups. Sometimes a customer wants to enjoy a nice espresso drink with a cup and saucer. Its not about just the coffee, please consider the entire experience. read more

Seriously folks : this is an excellent coffee house that will rival other coffee houses in the country. The coffee is excellent and well made, be it a simple espresso which has a nice depth of flavor with the perfectly formed crema adding a frothy-creamy finish to the shot, to the fancier latte's and what have you. Each drink is well made and poured well. Foam designs hold good to the last drop, that speaks to the quality of the espresso maker and the correct temperatures the milks are frothed at, thus allowing the maintenance of the froth. It is a mixture of science and art and they do it well. I have had my snobby friends from here and abroad be taken aback at the coffee and I really don't think there is much to improve other than perhaps more seating. read more

Merit Coffee - The fine fine coffee at Local - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The worst customer service I have ever received in my life. I had never been in this place so I asked what was the largest size coffee they served, she did 16 so I asked for a black coffee and a 16 latte. She then says we don't make 16 lattes with a rude tone, and said your total is $8 (and change) and rudely walked away. After I got my coffee I started typing my comment and she said in a rude tone "do you need anything else" made me feel very unwelcome. I will NEVER come back to this place. I still tipped $3 because it just rude to be a poor tipper even if the service is terrible. read more

The service there is always friendly and quick whenever I go to study! The coffee and non-coffee drinks are always a 10/10 for me. The vibe within the shop is friendly and makes you want to study/get work done. read more

Needed some coffee one morning and I stumbled into this place. I have heard several good things, and most were true. The baked goods were amazing, I had a chocolate chip Peanut butter cookie that was the size of my face! The employees were nice and the place was near immaculate. They only serve 10 Oz drinks and the coffee was not my favorite. I ordered an Americano. The espresso used was one of the most sour blends I have ever had, it seemed to have char notes and a really dry mouth feel. I would go back for the baked goods, but might avoid the coffee from now on. Understand this is an opinion, if you prefer a highly acidic cup, truck on down. Not really my thing. read more

Merit Coffee - Chocolate chip, peanut butter cookie. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The baristas all have a BMI of 19, the interior is cool unfinished cement and exposed rafters and bare coil filigree bulbs, the iced coffee is cold-brewed and $3. For a second I thought I was back in Brooklyn. Said coffee was delicious and had a great, rich flavor. Also had a greek yogurt cup with granola. They have a small assortment of pastries, plenty of indoor seating and some chairs outside. Pleasant, posh, yummy. read more

Merit Coffee - interior facing the bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Always a great stop for the coffee lover- and I'm not talking just any coffee lover- for someone who truly appreciates coffee -starting from roasting the bean through the ritual of creating a delicious to the last drop experience. I frequent the stone oak location as it is closer to me, but when on this side of town, have to stop here too. Everyone here truly works here for the love of coffee with the desire to share that love with others... read more

Love the shared space! Super great bottomless coffee refills for the studious guest! Right next door/shared space with a cool bike shop. Easy parking. read more

Merit Coffee - Shared space with neighboring bike shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Ill preface by clarifying i really love Merit coffee. This review is aimed at this location, specifically the gatekeepers behind the counter that wouldnt take more of my money and accommodate my basic request. Ive been here regularly, getting the Matcha latte + shot of espresso. (This is not a new combination right?) This last visit i was dealing with some chick i had not seen before. When i ordered my matcha + espresso she gave a bewildered deer-in-the-headlights look and politely exclaimed "we do not do that here, we dont add espresso to matcha lattes" didnt even try to attempt inputting the order. I was confused because ive been getting and enjoying them from Merit for a while now. Mostly from this location, though ive ordered it from the other locations in SA. The ones north and north west of the outer loop and the one by the hospital. Never with any issue. So i mentioned how ive had it many times before and asked her if she can ask the other barista if she can make it, still no, she quickly denied the possibility as well. The kicker is she claimed the company recently (SUPER RECENTLY cause id gotten that drink less than a week ago at this same location) came down on the infamous Matcha Latte +shot of espresso. Said it was for quality control, of all things. And apparently they removed the button icon from the system so theres no option to add it. After swallowing my serving of bs i finished placing the rest of my order. My beef is this, if you dont know if you can make the drink, or just never heard of such a request, the least you can do is try. Fundamentals of customer service. Making up excuses out of thin air and putting zero effort in it is how you give patrons poor experiences. Im sure it was just these baristas lack of experience with the drink this time. Out of curiosity i drove to another Merit (north west side) and asked about the drink, the barista there said OF COURSE they can make that drink if its requested, and she never heard about the company cracking down on it. Needless to say my order wasnt satisfactory, the ordering process left a bad taste that transferred to the product. read more

this is the best Merit i've been to the ambiance is 10/10 and amazing cappuccinos, i always get mine with oat milk and lavender

First I have to say, I enjoy a non-Starbucks coffee bar. There is nothing better than getting a great cup of coffee in a real coffee cup in a neighborhood gem. We don't have enough places like this in San Antonio. :( Loved the whole vibe - sometimes places like this can be pretentious- but not here... Free WiFi and all. I didn't get the baristas name but I love the fact that he was wearing tie and he had a handlebar mustache- it was classic?!?! I had a vanilla latte- just perfection. Perfect temperature- excellent flavor with foam that you only dream about. The only downside is that the do not have any food- some muffins and oatmeal. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with this- it is after all all about the coffee. And the coffee was excellent. I'll stop by next time I'm in Alamo Heights for sure! Stop by & show some support for Local businesses! read more

Merit Coffee - Vanilla Latte- perfection in a cup. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This is really a place for hard-core coffee aficionados. For most of us, the lack of variety will have us back at Starbucks on our next coffee venture. That being said, the coffee is good. Actually, the coffee us great. So then, why 3 stars. Well, as I mentioned, they do one thing well and that is coffee. They do not do a lot of variety and that is why I am marking them down. I had the slow pour coffee as recommended by the staff. The coffee took about 5 minutes to pour, cost me $3.50 and was enough for about 3 small cups. I tried it, naked so to speak, without any sugar or cream. It was tasty with nice earthy tones and a mellow flavor. Very good. The I sinned. I added a little splenda and some half and half. Delicious. My wife had the cafe affagato and loved it. The Mexican vanilla ice cream was exceptional and the espresso mixed and melted and created a delicious combination. The sweetness cut with the bitterness of the coffee was well worth the $5, despite it being teeny tiny. Some people have mentioned "comfortable seating". Well, I found the seating to be hard and rather uncomfortable. Local Coffee in fact has nothing but hard wood and metal seats at this location. I haven't been to the one on Sonterra so I can't say what they have. Anyway, if you are really in to coffee, give Local Coffee a try. If your approach to coffee is like a kid in a candy store, hit up Starbucks. read more

Merit Coffee - Gourmet coffee shop connected to a performance bike shop... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Atmosphere is perfect for getting work done-- good music, not too loud, outlets, wifi Customer service excellent Vanilla latte not too sweet but just right! Probably will get the same thing next time Almond croissant really good Definitely beats starbucks read more

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This place was not as good as I wanted it to be. The service was average, but the coffee selection and food options were minimal. It is connected to a bike shop..... Like literally there is no wall dividing the two business. You could even smell the rubber over the coffee. I wanted a Iced Macchiato but the guy said they only serve them in a certain cup which looked like an espresso cup, so to do an Iced beverage I had to get a Iced latte. I ordered a French Vanilla Iced Latte and honestly it tasted really bitter. I was just not a fan and I couldn't finish it. I wanted to get a pastry but they really didn't have anything to chose from. They had a few things in two of those clear cake holders. Over all the coffee wasn't worth coming back for to me...but I always try things at least twice so well see what happens. read more