Karmic Grounds — Restaurant in Frisco

Love this place! Coffee is unique in flavors and great quality.

I usually get an iced or hot mocha latte, it has fruity notes and very smooth chocolate flavor. Pretty sweet, but not chocolate milk/hot chocolate sweet like some other places. The coffee really shines through in this drink which I love.

They only have one sugar free flavor, vanilla, which I've enjoyed occasionally in my lattes. As a diabetic I wish they had more sugar free options besides vanilla but that's pretty standard at most coffee spots.

The vibe is usually pretty quiet as most patrons seem to be students or WFH individuals using the space to study and work, it does get pretty busy in the afternoons so it can get a little noisier.

They have a "Work/Quiet" pod in the corner for those needing some distance/quiet, I haven't tested it out yet but thought it was a cool feature. A huge dog friendly patio area is a nice plus too.

The reason I'm not rating 5 stars is due to every single time I've visited the employees seem to be very confused about how the loyalty program/app works. Redeeming rewards/points is always a struggle and every employee I've interacted with has a different method on how they do things by entering a phone number, scanning the app, one time they had me just place an online order to redeem a reward because they couldn't figure out how to redeem it at the cash register.

I've had to explain to the cashier more than once how to add points to the app or redeem the rewards which can be confusing and awkward when I feel like they should already know how to use their own app/rewards program. It's not a deal breaker but it is something they really need to work on in my opinion.

Other than that employees generally are pleasant (sometimes you can tell they are stressed/short when they are busy, they usually only have 2 baristas/workers even when they are most busy) and my order is always correct and quick to arrive even when busy.

One other thing they might consider is taking names for the drinks, when it's busy and people order the same things (they usually just call out "Mocha" or "Vanilla Latte"), I've noticed multiple times people thinking a drink is theirs but then 3 other people try to grab the same drink because there's no name.

My drink has been "stolen" once by someone who ordered the same thing as me after I ordered, my friends have complained about this too. Unfortunately most people don't pay attention whether it's their "turn" or not and just grab "their" drink as soon as it's called out even though there's 2 people that ordered before them waiting on that same drink. It's basically who can grab it first whether it's your turn or not.

Hopefully they can work on these things and improve, but I'll be back regardless since the quality of the coffee/drinks are always consistent...

As a regular patron of this establishment, I have always appreciated the ambiance and offerings that make it a preferred spot for many. However, my current visit left me deeply unsettled, (YES THIS IS IN REAL TIME) prompting me to share this experience in hopes of having a more inclusive environment.

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the music playing overhead. The songs were laced with the repeated use of the N-word and other derogatory terms. As a Black woman, this was not just uncomfortable… it was profoundly hurtful. Music has the power to set the tone of a space, and in this instance, it created an atmosphere that felt unwelcoming and offensive.

Believing this might have been an oversight, I approached the bar to address the issue. I politely asked if the music could be changed, explaining the nature of the lyrics and their impact. The lady at the bar responded that she had set the playlist in the morning and hadn’t been paying attention to its content. While I understand that staff may not always be aware of every song’s lyrics, I hoped for a more empathetic response once the concern was raised.

Instead, she questioned, “So, are you going to stay here?” When I affirmed, she retorted, “You’re not planning on purchasing anything?” She then rolled her eyes and turned around. This line of questioning felt dismissive and deflective. Firstly, this venue has always been a communal space where individuals can relax, work, or socialize, regardless of immediate purchases. Moreover, during my visit, several other patrons were present without beverages, yet they were not subjected to similar scrutiny.

It’s disheartening to feel singled out, especially when my intention was to address a legitimate concern about the environment’s inclusivity. In the past, I’ve frequented this place and have always made purchases, valuing both the products and the space provided. This encounter, however, has left me questioning my desire to return.

I share this experience not out of malice but out of a genuine hope for positive change. It’s crucial for establishments to be mindful of the content they broadcast and to approach customer concerns with empathy and respect. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and valued in shared spaces.

I sincerely hope that the management will take this feedback to heart, ensuring that all patrons, regardless of their background, feel welcomed and respected in the future. I for damn sure will...

I think this place could be great, but I feel compelled after my experience today to share some critical feedback and help management improve upon some things. I'm not going to give a '1' star rating because the staff wasn't rude at all.

My experience:

I place my order for a drip coffee and bagel/cream cheese toasted. The credit card machine isn't working, ok no problem I'll wait for that to get resolved and it does, great. I also left a tip regardless, so we're good at this point.

I go to sit down with my friend, he has his coffee brought to him but not mine (ok no problem, maybe mine is coming in a couple minutes). The coffee never comes, I go to ask where the coffee is, they forgot it. That's a little annoying but it happens I guess.

My bagel never comes. I go up to the counter and ask about it, then I see a brown box that has been sitting at the end of the counter for about 10 minutes...that would be my (now cold) bagel and cream cheese. So now 0/2 on items I ordered actually getting to me or making me aware they are ready. For context I'm also sitting about 10 feet from the counter, so I'd have heard if my name was called.

I need to take a phone call so I go outside to the nice covered patio. An overwhelming stench of either dog poop or sewage is wafting throughout the entire patio. Patrons are not wanting to be out there for long because nobody can stand the stench.

I go back inside and ask if the area behind the double doors is part of the shop and if I can take a call there. Nobody seems to understand what I'm asking. I pack up all my stuff to take the call and behold, the doors are locked.

This was one of the oddest coffee shop interactions and experiences I've had. Like I said nobody was rude, the place had a lot of potential but the staff just seemed... aloof/unaware and it really showed. I hope this place improves, I'd be open to giving...