Philz Coffee — Restaurant in Colma

Need a place to get some work done? Or to catch up with some friends? Well, this is the place for you. Philz Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops to visit anytime I’m back in the Bay Area. The first time I was introduced to Philz was on Tik Tok. People were raving about the Mint Mojito and so my mom and I paid a visit. Unfortunately, the Mint Mojito wasn’t my cup of coffee. Perhaps my taste buds were off or the coffee wasn’t brewed correctly. A sour taste was left in my mouth, but I decided to give Philz a second chance. With hope in my mind and a second chance ready to be given out the Iced Coffee Rosé was chosen. This drink was also raved about on Tik Tok. My mom loved it but I imagined the taste to be different, so it was also a no go for me. At this point I was ready to give up. Little did I know how downloading the app would change my opinion. After another day of hanging out with mom we decided to stop by Philz again. The waiting area was filled with people so we decided to download the app to order ahead. Little hope remained but as I was scrolling through the menu an item caught my eye. It wasn’t on the menu in store so I decided to give it a try. We paid and waited for a couple of minutes before we headed inside to pick up the goods. As we walked out I took a sip and was prepared for more disappointment. But wow! My taste buds were dancing and I had to do a double take on the label on my cup. So, you may be wondering, what is the name of such an amazing drink? The answer is an Iced Honey Haze. A coffee brewed strongly, cooled with creamy oat milk, and finished with a drizzle of honey. Perfection. Ever since that day it has been my go to order. Never strayed away to another drink. With every visit I leave with satisfaction and a great cup of coffee.

(I had to create a review for an English assignment which is why my review is quite long. I do love Philz...

Coffee is always solid, of course — at this point, I feel like it’s consistent across all Philz. BUT here is the reason I gave them three stars.

1. This is the first Philz that I’ve gone to where the customer service was ‘meh’. Now, I don’t expect a red carpet or nothing crazy but I stood there for my pick-up order via door dash for almost 10 mins.

No one acknowledged me, which is fine as I was “early” for my 4:15pm order. But once it hit 4:14, I had to get the attention of an employee to pick up my 4:15 order which was already sitting there hidden behind the counter. Perhaps they were short staff, but I would not come back to this Philz because of how cold the staff seems..

2. Also, it’s physically FREEZING in there. It’s as cold as a mortuary in and honestly the whole layout seems funky having the couch all the way towards the back.

3. Ambiance definitely needs work, not a place I would ask a friend to join me for coffee nor a place I would do work / homework.

Hope this place warms up from their customer service to the actual environment — especially with winter & the holidays on the way. Best of luck to...

Do you want a low-key, queer-welcoming place to have a sip and a bite? C'mon over here! I was one of the clueless today, staring at the board and asking about iced tea in a coffee shop, and the register person was so patient and gentle with me, suggesting the black iced tea (which comes with a sprig of fresh mint, cuz why not) and letting me take my time. My trans wife and I especially appreciate the queer-inclusive flag near the back. The barristas are cheerful, not exhausted. There's no judgement. And I get the best pastry I've ever had (I don't remember the name). The music isn't so loud you can't have a quiet conversation. There's also outside seating. Philz' coffee is pretty strong, but there are other options if you're not an aficionado and it's just such a nice place...