"According to an email sent by Philz Coffee, a San Francisco-based chain that now boasts locations across California, Washington D.C., and Chicago, its newest SF store is “mobile-only.” That means that customers without smartphones, who wish to pay with cash, or who don’t want to download its app will have to seek their java elsewhere, it first appeared. The 1000-square-foot spot at 425 Mission Street is “the first mobile-only cafe in San Francisco,” the SF Chronicle reported Thursday morning, writing then that it would require all patrons “to download the Philz app to order and pay for takeout-only drinks.” A look at the FAQ on the Philz site confirms the Chron’s reporting, and also notes that the app is also unable to take any orders that involve gift cards or promo codes. The app also requires that users allow it to access their location, which Philz says that is necessary so users can “see accurate store and menu information.” Its app (which the Chron says was launched about two years ago) isn’t the first time Philz has made an effort to track patrons — privacy-minded folks might recall that in 2014, the chain made a stir when it was revealed that it was collecting information from customers’ Wi-Fi connected devices both inside and outside its locations, an issue that prompted enough outrage that the company dropped the practice." - Eve Batey
