Merit Coffee — Restaurant in San Antonio

Things change with time, and not always for the better. I used to love this place, even bought merchandise here. Merit Coffee tastes excellent. Their drinks are excellent. Their coffee beans are excellent. But that’s where the excellence abruptly stops.

Some time last year, Merit decided to change their rewards program so that points expire. Not only do they expire, they expire fast. Perhaps if you came in daily, the rewards program would suite you. But for the average Merit goer like myself who came in a few times every months, bought a coffee bag and a drink, and enjoyed getting a free coffee every once in a while, the new rewards program was rendered obsolete as the points expired far too quickly to get even a handcrafted drink. There doesn’t appear to be a good, logical explanation for the change as the change can only upset their loyal customers.

After destroying their rewards program, Merit decided to, perhaps due to inflation or to try to increase profits, raise prices. A lot. We’re talking about 20%-75% depending on the item. My wife’s drink came out to $8.60. That’s not a typo. What an embarrassing moment when you have to downsize the drink to a small and get a different drink because it’s so expensive. It was at that moment that I decided we’d never buy drinks at Merit again.

And then the bean prices increased. Not the beans! Well the was the last straw. We now go to What’s Brewing Coffee Roasters, whose drinks and beans are far less expensive (but just as delicious) as Merit. It was a fun ride with Merit, but things change with time, and not always...

I’ve always been a big fan of Merit. The coffee is consistently delicious, and the atmosphere is truly one-of-a-kind — it’s been a go-to spot for me for years, despite the consistently frustrating parking situation.

But today, I left feeling genuinely disappointed and, honestly, disrespected. While I was sitting in the café, I saw another customer receive a matcha made with the new honeysuckle limeade. Intrigued, I went up and asked for the same — only to be met with a response that felt unnecessarily cold and dismissive.

The barista consulted her manager, who then came over and informed me — in a condescending tone — that while many people were ordering the same drink, they wouldn't make it for me. She said she would “bring it up to her boss,” and offered me a different drink instead. But here’s the thing: I had just seen someone else receive that exact drink. It was clear that it was possible — just apparently not for me.

That double standard stung. It felt like a slap in the face as a loyal customer. I don’t expect special treatment, but I do expect to be treated fairly — and...

This coffee shop is great. It’s got a perfect temperature to study. Warning: if you’re going to be here for more than 2-3 hours bring a light jacket or pants. Even in 105 degree weather the temperature inside remains at a library study temperature. The staff is very friendly, and I’ve seen them cleaning and wiping tables on numerous occasions. Register for their rewards program and you get one free coffee for every 9 bought. Pricing is pretty reasonable for the area, I’d compare it to be about what you’d spend at a Starbucks. I drink pretty much any coffee put in front of me, but I think it’s pretty good coffee served here. It has both outdoor and indoor seating. If you’re reading this during the quarantine, cash is currently not accepted, card only to prevent viral spread. My one negative on the coffee shop is I wish it had a bigger selection of food or lunch items. My favorite coffee shops to study at all day have sandwiches, soup, etc that you can order without leaving. But overall, a great spot to grab a cup of coffee, meet for work, or study...