Philz Coffee

My favorite coffee chain in the Bay/Cali! Forget about Starbucks/Peets/Blue bottle/Verve. You can choose your bean or choose any of the different flavor combos they have on the menu. You can customize sweetness and type of milk. A secret menu hack is to order cinnamon in the filter for added flavor or hazelnut syrup (get the Soul Train if you really like sweet hazelnut flavor). The iced mint mojito is always popular. I usually get the iced tesora sweet & creamy with cinnamon. Plus they always have a nice artsy and spacious vibe.

Fell in love with Philz when I first tried them in San Diego earlier this year. Back then, I was hooked on the Rose coffee and the Mint Mojito. This time, I came back determined to try more of the lineup—Gingersnap, Honey Haze, and Mocha Tesora. A few seasonal specials caught my eye too, but they’d already sold out a couple days earlier. The Gingersnap and Mocha were solid, though neither really clicked with me. The ginger had a sharp, almost edgy aroma, and the mocha leaned a little too bitter. Honey Haze, on the other hand, was fantastic. More like an ultra-creamy honey milk than a coffee, which reminded me of the drinks I loved growing up. This particular location is a short walk from the main tourist drag along the pier. If you’re craving a quick coffee break without a big detour, it’s a worthy stop.

Philz Coffee on Embarcadero is so atmospheric. Here on a Saturday morning, you have the tourists, the runners and other folks in SF pop in for a coffee and to grab a bite. And a terrific wall piece highlighting all the major attractions of SF. The food was very good, and the wait was not very long. Highlights include the breakfast burrito and the chocolate croissant. But the star of the show has to be the coffee. I had a great hot coffee (Jacob’s Wonderbar - bold and rich to jolt you awake) while my wife had their iconic drink - the Iced Mint Mojito coffee. It is their signature drink for good reason - frothy, with delicate sweet notes and an aftertaste of coffee to remind you that you are indeed, in a coffee shop.

Besides good coffee, this place is very spacious. I love sitting by the window people watch and also love seeing the row of trees on Market Street in front. The staff are nice. The barista sounded so enthusiastic every time she called a customer’s name and handed the coffee to them. I enjoyed seeing the street performers occasionally sings nearby as well.

Very disappointed 😡👎 Maybe it was due to the Chinese New Year celebration but service was awful! The coffee is usually great at other Philz locations I’ve tried but this one tasted bitter and bland. The worker was rude and awkward too, seemed like he had severe anxiety. Then when I asked to use the bathroom, he said it was broken. I full DO NOT recommend this place 🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫

I tried the iced mojito coffee and egg veggie. The breakfast was good. Good customer service and speedy service.

Delicious coffee with a fun selection of flavours. Ordered ahead of time with the app and the coffee was ready as promised. Yummy!

I enjoyed the coffee, but even more, I appreciated the friendliness of the staff. This is SO VERY IMPORTANT and rare these days. Scarlett is an asset (managers, take note!) and really made our morning.