AR•U•SHA Coffee & Tea — Restaurant in Belton

I really want to like Arusha. The Temple/Belton area is in desperate need for good coffee, and we all know how tough it is for independent businesses to make it here in general.

Usually you have to default to a large chain option.

As an avid coffee lover, finding the best local coffee spot is my #1 priority in any city.

Since they are the only local and independent coffee shop to show up when you search, Arusha has nothing but opportunity here. Unfortunately the lack of competition seems to have a negative effect.

Things seem fine when you first walk in. The building is historic and has aged nicely. It is immediately obvious that this is more of a tea shop than a coffee shop, as there are teas lining the walls and covering every front table as you walk in.

When you reach the counter, you will notice about 40 different Monin syrups - not a good sign of good coffee that doesn't need to be masked with flavors and sweetener.

I've been here over a dozen times, and each time the coffee has come out undrinkable. It seems like there is no training or thought on how to actually prepare an espresso drink, as they come out with a sour taste or burned pull.

The last time was the biggest disappointment. I thought I would give Arusha one more try since I was in town and needing some good coffee to start the day.

The coffee came out undrinkable, and my pastry was completely cold on the inside after being heated. I asked for a refund and the cashier was unable to do so, which is questionable to say the least.

Furthermore, the chairs and tables are composed of cheap metal outdoor furniture that the edges will cut into you while you sit and try to enjoy your coffee & tea.

If you stay long enough to use the bathroom, the experience will be similar to using an outdoor gas station bathroom. It's dark, smelly, and the odds of there being toilet paper or having even been cleaned are not in your favor.

I hope that Arusha cleans things up and raises the bar, despite the lack of competing coffee & tea shops. Local businesses need our support but they also need to give back and provide a quality business...

Have only been 4 times over the course of 3 years, but each and every time, I've never had an issue and have ordered different food/drinks! So I think that's pretty great; service doesn't seem to fluctuate and stays pretty great!

My SD and I got to meet up with some great friends we hadn't seen in a long time and I allowed him to "say hi" without any issues from other patrons or workers speaking to him or petting without permission. Very respectful and professional for sure. They are not pet friendly inside as they sell food product, but are very accommodating to pets outside on their patio and have no issues giving water when asked or purchased.

On my second visit, they asked the two legal questions under federal/Texas state law that all covered entities can ask: is this a service dog, and what tasks has the dog been trained to perform? I love this, and hopefully, it will help keep dangerous fake/illtrained "service dogs" out of public spaces!

This last visit, I got the blueberry muffin! At their recommendation, I had it heated, which made it just that much better! I also got a "glacé" which I was very ignorant of, haha. But they explained it very well w/o being condescending, which was nice!

I think this place has a lot of great points for different crowd aspects. An orientation for a new job was going on in the corner. There's a "cave" lower dwelling and a higher level to help with noise and studying/focusing. There's also a main level that is laid out well! Their door is a little harder and would have been harder to access if I were in my wheelchair. Otherwise, I had...

A had a bad experience this last time a Arusha: As I walked in, the first thing I saw was a large whiteboard with the special of the day. So that’s what I ordered. The paying process is pretty slick. A touch screen appears. Before signing, some very optimistic suggestions in boxes of what tip one should leave are on display. I chose 18%. There were 2 selections higher. I haven’t been in the habit of tipping someone at a register, but started to make that a policy as I become more conscious that servers don’t make a living wage. Seated at a table, I was informed that they ran out of the item in question. Adding to my disappointment was the regret over the tip. Note to self: never tip until the goods are delivered. I wanted to get a refund, but hate the credit card refund process. So I ordered something else. That took longer than usual, so much that I came back to ask what was going on. After standing around a few minutes I got my substitute dish. It wasn’t very good. When we left the special of the day whiteboard had yet to be erased. So why do I give it 4 stars despite their problems? The food and coffee are usually excellent. The service is usually timely. They have a wonderful al fresco eating area, and they are very bicycle friendly. Many of their customers come in dressed in Lycra. I’ll be coming back, but I’ll be more careful how I tip, and I won’t believe what it says on...