Cute coffee shop right across Alamo. Loads of seats outside, as well as parking spaces. Indoor seating is also available. Good coffees. Variety of pastries.

I dont often find myself at coffee shops, mainly since I get it free at my apartment, but that should change as I was satisfied with my recent visit at Merit Coffee.When you walk in, youll immediately see that its a cozy homey environment with the beautiful aroma of coffee in the air. As you take a look at the menu, you see that they have a wide variety to choose from depending on your mood. You could go sweet or savory, lattes or lemonades. And to that I say: why not both? I got:- Iced Matcha Latte: a good, herbal and balanced way to start your morning- Blackberry Lemonade: if you werent awake before, you will now. This was really sweet!- Poptart: takes you back to childhood memories, but its higher quality and is more rich in its jelly filling- Jalapeño Kolache: this aint your typical kolache. The sausage is higher quality and more chewy with the breading being a croissant!Overall, you cant go wrong with any of the above. They still had a lot more options not seen here, so I would come back again. Since I had a great time, I give them a 4/5!Sincerely,@thehungrylonghorn from Instagram

Great little coffee shop on South Lamar with friendly staff and good iced coffee! The inside and outside atmosphere of this place is very well designed and makes for a great place to get some work done or meet up with friends! I definitely see myself returning in the future!

Great coffee and service (as expected).Merit Coffee is a regional chain that started over a decade ago in San Antonio and has expanded into Austin and other cities. I support them because they focus on delivering quality coffee while valuing each customer.One thing special about this location is the history of the building, the Dawson Stone House. Definitely check it out!

My favorite local coffee shop. Matcha latte is meh but everything else is excellent.

I really like this coffee spot, great place to hang out, work on your computer, bring your dog. The only drawback is how long it takes to get your order. This is not the place to stop if you want to run in for a quick cup.

Merits cold brew is legit! It’s got some fruity notes at the end that are delightful paired with their cheddar bacon scone. My first time here, but will definitely be back next time I’m in Austin! Apparently they started in San Antonio. The building is a Texas landmark!

This is one of the slowest coffee shops Ive ever been to. This morning, the line was out the door and around the ramp, and the baristas were commenting about how it wasnt that busy. They rationalized it by saying that it was so empty inside the shop. Well, its empty because you arent serving people quickly! I really want to love this place, but the baristas never hustle when theres a line. They always take their time. Not the place to go if you want to grab a quick cup of coffee.

A little hole in the wall with great coffee. Food is also very special. Have to try the pop tart for a fun experience.

Located at an historic building, this Merit coffee has very nice inside and outside siting. Their coffee, is prime like at any other Merit in town. They have parking (Small, but I can often park there). Highly recommended to meet with friends, a date, work or just read.

The new place on South Lamar has an expanded seating area, great pastries that go quickly, and of course, Merits coffee is top notch.

Amazing coffee. Horrible parking. Puppy friendly tho!

Good coffee shop and baked goods. Price is a little aggressive IMO, however, I can see why that may be considering the location. Either way, $4.00 for a muffin is still pretty steep. Friendly staff and everything else is good!

Lovely coffee shop. Pristine interior. Very clean.Limited parking so dont count on getting a spot.Great pastry selection and knowledgeable baristas.This is the type of place you can expect third wave coffee and espresso, so sizes arent variable.Alt milk options: oat, almond, soy.

Fantastic coffee, wonderful vibe, and incredible merch!

Cute coffee shop with indoor seating and air conditioning if you need a respite from the heat. Nice vibes as well!

Very pleasant atmosphere, great coffee, and friendly baristas!

Not to be missed! Get the lavender iced coffee, its amazing!

This cozy little shop has excellent coffee! Some of the best Ive had in Austin.

BEST CHAI I HAVE EVER HAD. And the staff was amazing

I love Merit Coffee! Their lattes are amazing, especially with their homemade syrups.

Such a cute little spot for coffee. Great service and amazing coffees. Tons of indoor and outdoor sitting.

I visit coffee shops way more than youd ever imagine, and this one is perhaps the best one in Austin. I frequently order a customized coffee drink here, and they make it consistently. The coffee tastes amazing, the environment is picnic meets productivity, the staff here is super friendly. Whoever runs this place does a good job of selecting staff members. The pastries and breakfast tacos are a great compliment and well curated. Theres a relatively large patio out in the front and, although its close to traffic, is a great space to work or converse when the temperature is right. This place gets nearly every aspect of the coffee experience right, even better than the other Merit locations. Just a word of advice, Id recommend getting there before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM if you want an easy seat. This place can get crowded and is popular.

Me and a friend were the first people in at opening. We were early so we even waited to walk in. The staff was absolutely rude for no reason. Wouldn’t allow us to sit inside and was cold outside. The next two persons walk in after we were sitting outside and they are able to sit at tables. I thought “maybe inside is reservations only”. I checked and this place doesn’t have reservations. Coffee wasn’t bad but I would never go back. Little man behind the counter should be fired. I stood by the door waiting on my friend to pay for his and was told very rudely “I will bring your coffee outside”. I get not wanting loads of people crowding due to covid but at that time we were the only ones in the shop. I went back in for a packet of sugar, I said “thank you”... he just looked at me without reply. Cute little shop, easy location to swing into in the mornings, and plenty of seating inside/out but I can’t overlook being talked to like I’m trash. I never leave reviews but this one was the worst experience I’ve had in Austin. I even had to reset my Google password to write it. That’s should show you it was bad enough for me to have to go through the extra trouble to leave the review.

No recommended for summer time, no specialties for this hot weather. Must work to avoid flies over desserts

Great coffee in a wonderful old limestone building. There is an historic landmark plaque, even! Some old oaks shade the patio making it a comfy spot to sip your coffee and eat a snack. They have some cute pastries like donuts, pigs in blankets, and artisanal pop tarts. If youre looking for low carb youll need to go elsewhere.

A delightful slice of California in Austin. Also the location is great.

Love this place ! Their chai is unmatched and my barista, Caroline, was so helpful!!!!!! Wish her the best!

Iced Almond Milk Latte + the best customer service on South Lamar - Merit Coffee is located in a historic building with a patio under a canopy of trees - Austin Icon

Free refills, lovely deck patio under very old oaks. Plenty of birds to distract you from the road traffic, but have yet to be pooed on. Coffee generally tastes good. I only get the coffee of the day. Very friendly staff and plenty of dogs to meet on the patio.If the parking lot is full, there is always street parking a block away.

Definitely one of my favorite matcha lattes! This spot has such cozy vibes to sit and watch passerby’s or read a book and sip on delicious coffee and tea. The homemade Mexican Vanilla latte was perfect as well! Neither bitter or too sweet!

Enjoyed the latte. I ordered it with whole milk, honey, and stevia. I knew i should have gotten the bigger size when i took the first sip. Great taste!Nice outdoor seating area. A lot of students were studying for finals and/or writing research papers on their laptop computers.I recommend finding a seat somewhere and ordering your drink online. A member of the staff will bring it out and set it on the table by the main entrance.

Great coffee shop with lots of coffee options. They also have kolaches, muffins, topo, and other snacks.

Such a great space and the best almond milk matcha latte I’ve ever had. I don’t usually like matcha but got this on a reco and didn’t regret it.

Super chill spot that are reminiscent of a chill Colorado spot.

Awesome coffee. 👌

Best Coffee in Austin!! Dogs are welcomed, they have an indoor and outdoor seating area and the people are always so nice!!

I love it here.I love that the staff always asks how your day is going. I love the string lights and the live oaks hanging over the patio. I love their drip coffee. I love the tasteful interior. I love that they take COVID precautions really seriously.

One of the best caramel iced lattes I’ve ever had and very friendly staff!

Their service was amazing. Everyone was being safe, the cafe was clean, and staff are awesome. They have chocolate doughnuts and Japanese green tea here-yum. When I went it got rainy, so I wish they had a better outdoor set up with umbrellas and heaters.

Great little spot for a shot of caffeine.

Friendly staff and good coffee! It is a little pricey though.

Great coffee, friendly staff. Wifi does not work at all.

We go to Merit Coffee every single day. My husband and I are coffee snobs and have tried the best coffees in LA, SFO, Paris, NYC, Austin, MEXICO... During the pandemic we fell more in love with Merit at the Triangle and it became our home away from home and the highlight of our day is getting a capuchino and a matcha latte. The baristas are awesome, they run the shop as if it was their own, with true love and passion. The quality is always consistent and they go above and beyond customer experience.. great people. Every time I have a business meeting or a foodie friend over from out of town I take them to Merit at the Triangle. Everyone has loved it.

I ordered an iced macchiato with Mexican vanilla and paid $5 for it. About 15 minutes later they brought out a 16 oz cup halfway full with iced coffee. It tasted really good but why was it only half...?

The Coffee selection is great, I had the regular drip brewed coffee and it was awesome. Reasonably price selections and plenty of seating available.

The atmosphere, coffee, and pastries are fantastic. Their “pop tart” is definitely worth buying. I come here for the consistently quality product, good service, and great atmosphere.

Truly superb. Great espresso, milk steamed perfectly, even have cute latte art. Reasonably priced. Also, in cute historical building.

I didnt try any dessert because I saw flies over them. The coffee was ok.

Been doing a coffee and Tacodeli tacos for breakfast from here a lot lately, and I appreciate how timely it is and how seamless the pickup process is.

I enjoyed my visit . Plenty of seating and good location.The 4 stars because the coffee was a bit sour to me . My tummy ached after . But yo, my tummy isn’t your tummy.

Great coffee spot. Good for solopreneurs (with headphones). Love that its unique and not a chain.

We like Merit Coffee coffee! Tasty drinks on a cool street, in a 1900 Era home

No parking at all, had to wait a bit for someone to leave. Guy at the counter was rude and off putting. Coffee was bad. Flies in the pastry case. Wont come here again, ew.

I had a good experience.Their water not only refreshed me but gave me my energy back and made my muscles flex like a protein shake.I bought a veggie wrap that was flavorful because the hummus was seasoned and a disappointment because it consisted mostly of flavorless spinach but its not a big deal because they are a cafe that means they put their focus on quality coffee. Also they had beautiful baked goodies and coffee type gifts on the wall you could buy. Thank you for a good experience and everyone for reading this review.

One of my fav coffee shops in Austin. The matcha latte with almond milk is my go to. 🍵

Friendly staff and good coffee

5/5 would recommend the pastries. Very interesting bakes!!

Merit Coffee is one of my favorite local coffee shops! They are consistent, and delicious. Their lattes and homemade syrups are some of the best I’ve had. Highly recommend!

Very over priced, subpar cafe in a poor location; bad ambiance due to noisy location next to lamar; Espresso tasted under extracted or perhaps made with oat milk gone bad because it tasted sour; Matcha latte with oat milk tasted sour as well, possibly due to spoiled oat milk. Many better cafe’s in austin for this price

Nice little quiet cozy coffee place.

Honestly, this location has been a godsend during the lockdown. I can easily order from my laptop and then walk 3 minutes over to pick up my order. The employees always been to be cheery and helpful.As far as recommendations for coffees...Im not much help since Im not knowledgeable about different coffees. Im basic with mocha lattes :DBut I enjoy the atmosphere and thats why I hop on over to the shop.

Super friendly, dope branding, cozy atmosphere.

The cold brew tasted stale/skunky but the sea salt choco doughnut was awesome. Also great service with inside seating unlike that of many current coffee shops in Austin. Thanks Merit 👍🏽

I’m from out of town and this was my first trip to Merit Coffee, it was an accidental find and I’m so happy it was! It was so delicious, they have quality tasting coffee and homemade flavors if you like in your lattes. I had their Mexican vanilla and it was absolutely blissful! Just the right amount of sweetness. Staff was super nice and friendly. Will be on the list of places to return to visit when I’m in town next.

Great coffee. Large latte comes with 4 shots and bound to get you started anytime of the day

Bright and inviting atmosphere. Great place to get some work done. Interesting teas and tasty fresh muffins. Staff were friendly. Well be back next time were in town!

Probably my favorite coffee in Austin! Get the Iced vanilla latte with oat milk if you want a transcendental experience.

Taste like real coffee, none.of this starbucks rubbish. Freindly staff.

Great local roaster, typically offers a 2 for 1 discount on bags. The cafe is great too, plenty of outdoor seating and friendly baristas.

Normally, I dont review when I dont try the product, but I had money and was not allowed to try the product. Wake up and smell the coffee. Cash is not about covid, its about keeping my data private. The Social Dilemma is an au currant documentary about it, but if you read any history book that is not written by Howard Zinn and then add a dash of Alex Jones ... Take the cash and wear gloves.Plus, it says on the bill all debts public and private. Are you just going to pretend you dont know its there? Im pretty sure everyone knows its there.

Nice atmosphere for working. Clean, Bright. Good AC. Nice outdoor deck. Lots of electrical outlets to charge devices. They have a really killer green tea (sencha?). Best green tea in the city? Coffee and related is excellent too. Good parking. There is an overflow lot next door.

You really should take cash. It says so on the bill. Legal tender for all debts public and private. Use gloves and hand sanitizer.

Might be a fluke but my espresso was super bitter.Clean bright environment and friendly staff. Inside is a little cool. Seats are all hard so you won’t want to stay more than a an hour or two and that’s a classic money making interior design. See Starbucks. Fair amount of outdoor seating on a nice deck under trees. Traffic is close by so not quiet outside but is lively!Parking is limited with nowhere around to park but other businesses if you want to take that chance.Great location in the middle of all the bars and restaurants in this area

I love them. They have a great iced matcha with honey at a very reasonable price. Consistently yummy. Online ordering during COVid easy and friendly staff:) also cute shop

Merit Coffee restored my faith in coffee shops in Austin! Their oat milk lattes are next level!!

One of my favorite coffee shops in town! This location is very cozy. Theres indoor and outdoor seating, and bathrooms for customers. The only challenge is parking. Definitely recommend!!

Good iced coffee

I love the coffee, the place, the coffee culture, but please stop hiring arrogant, entitled white people who reek of holier than thou. I cant stand the snobbery.

Great location for San Antonio based roaster/Cafe Merit Coffee. Every cup Ive had from them has been incredibly good. Complex flavors and aromas from expertly roasted beans. Buy a bag and grind them at home, they are worth the effort.

Cool place!

Cozy nice and friendly place

Merit is my go to coffee shop and I love their iced mocha! They offer Taco Deli breakfast tacos, even on weekdays. Great place to get some work done...my only complaint is that the internet can be a little spotty.

Rude customer service. Good coffee

I ordered a Carmel latte and a croissant and they were both amazing the staff is super nice although its bummer they had no jelly for my crossiant and a little pricey but I still loved it definitely gonna go again 😁

Great lattes and amazing customer service! Merit makes their own syrups, such as chocolate and caramel, and they are excellent. They also offer solid breakfast choices, including some unique tacos. If youre in the mood for something sweet, try the other chocolate sea salt doughnuts.

Best cup of joe hands down in Austin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Cortado in Austin

Cute coffeehouse in a historic building. Interior decor is minimalist and modern, outdoor patio adjacent to busy South Lamar (but quite shady under trees). Parking may be a bit difficult in their tiny lot, but coffee and pastries are deserving of the difficulty.

Friendly baristas who really take pride in their craft. Merits espresso blends are always so distinct and tasty. While they feature delicious milk from local area favorite Mill-King, the alternative milks are all trendy barista blends and thus have added sugar. Limited options for those of us who prefer a low-carb/keto diet.

I had black tea that was so flavorful and also very smooth which is a very hard combo.

Gorgeous deck area. Beautiful interior. Decent coffee.

They always have several freshly roasted coffee varietals in stock. Some of the cashiers have an attitude. I just tried Greater Good coffee roasters they have great staff, great coffee and is a local ATX roaster.

I was eating at Paperboy next door, but I stopped by Merit to get a dirty chai with coconut milk. The girls are sweet, the coffee is great and the manager did well under pressure because the health inspector coincidentally showed up while I was waiting! Haha you guys are awesome 🤙 Ill see you again soon

Was there this morning and had an amazing pot of tea with honey. Service and tea were excellent.

Beautiful coffee shop! Sit outside on a nice day. And they have parking in the back

Best coffee in austin so far. Great pour over, good side treats, friendly staff and patrons.

I really enjoyed this shop but the other day I showed up an hour before close and the customer service was bad. They barely greeted me and sighed when I walked in. Ordered my coffee in a cup for here and sat outside where one of the baristas kept harassing me for my cup. As it got closer to closing time, the barista went back outside and slammed one of the chairs on the ground as if they were signaling they didn’t want me there anymore. All I wanted to do was enjoy a cup of coffee at my favorite shop but I guess that day wasn’t that day.

Delicious coffee, good vibes. Indoor and outdoor seating

Friendly service, kind faces and the epitome of Austin weird