Function Coffee Labs — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Function Coffee Labs has the friendly coffee craft game on lock. I live in a city that attracts coffee enthusiasts from across the country, and I’d trade all of Portland’s award-winning specialty roasters and retailers for easier access to a café like this.

Take 60 seconds to scan the menu overhead and there will be no need to read between the lines: Function Coffee Labs is out to save you from so much as a sip from a subpar cup. This is very, very good coffee. Meticulously sourced, small-batch, artisanal; you could rattle off all the makings of a third wave coffee shop too. But it’s not just the espresso (or the coffee shot, or the cortado, or the cappuccino -- oh my god, the cappuccino) that makes me wish FCL were a fixture on my own walk to work.

-Service: Chances are, the owner will be the one behind the bar. Here’s what I liked about Ross: he’s able to read people. If Instagram is your thing, you can count on a latte that looks too good to drink. If you want to talk about the latest signature drink and grams and fluid ounces and what he’s tweaked to dial it in that day, he will happily oblige. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve ordered the same drink for the past decade or if 90% of your counter space is devoted to home brewing gadgets and accessories. There’s nobody more down-to-earth, knowledgeable, or contagiously enthusiastic about temperature, technique, purveyors, and flavors. But if you just want your large iced coffee to go, ideally sooner rather than later (since you’re running a few minutes behind), he’ll hop to it. And in either case, he’s bound to remember your name the next time you come in.

-Ambiance: 10/10. Perfect playlists. The happy hum of caffeinated (and soon-to-be caffeinated) people. Just the right amount of miscellaneous background noise. No shortage of green growing things. A variety of tables for slow-sipping, talking, reading, or working. This is the type of place where you can meet someone for a blind date, catch up with a friend, get good work done on your laptop, and/or easily befriend someone sitting a table away.

-Aesthetic (and other bonuses): Ross’s fiancé and co-owner, Meg, is behind much of FCL’s aesthetic appeal. The brightly lit, smartly branded shop has a clear color palette, with broad navy strokes and splashes of white. Copper elements abound, as do pretty pops of turquoise. A chalkboard sign out front speaks to Ross and Meg’s combined intelligence and wit; the creative commentary is often as social media worthy as any pourover action shot. The real draw, however, may be the bakery case, which is loaded with the homey and locally sourced, each more irresistible than the next. If none of the day’s sweet treats sway you, snack options range from Stroopwafels and bean-to-bar chocolates to RX bars and overnight oats. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on one of the half dozen breakfast sandwiches the café puts out each morning, don’t tell me. You’ll break my heart.

All this to say, if you’re lucky enough to have Function Coffee Labs at your fingertips: Go hungry. Go thirsty. And go now, before the place shoots to the top of the standing-room-only list. This is specialty...

I used to go to here at least 2-3 times a week. I thorougly enjoyed their coffee, especially the specialty latte as they never go overboard with their flavors. You can still taste the expresso, subtle added natural flavors, and there's a nice balance of the expresso:milk ratio. When i get a good cup of latte from them, it makes me very happy. However, I've had at least 3 instances where my latte tasted like diluted milk with very faint to no taste of expresso, all made by the same barista (who seems to be making their coffee everytime I try to stop by now). I don't understand how differently the lattes were made - I could never finish them. Initially I thought it was a bad day, but it was consistently terrible the 2nd, 3rd and 4th times that I cannot justify spending $7 on a latte I dislike. If you have boiled the art of coffee making down to a science, I don't know how this can be explained. We make our own cold brew during the week to drink at work. On the weekends FCL latte is my treat. But it's now become an anxiety trigger for me when I go to the shop and see the barista standing behind the counter. I've straight up just walked away when i see that. I don't know what to do - I don't want to be rude, but i've had amazing lattes like nowhere else made by all of their other baristas. My husband has tried politely requesting a different barista who was taking our order to make our latte but was met with resistance and attitude by the barista. For a shop that prides themself on their coffee-making technique, you should be more accommodating for your patrons. We would like to come back for your amazing lattes. But we're put in an extremely awkward position as a paying customer. I hope you can figure out a system that is welcoming and makes it easier for your customers to enjoy their coffee. Or at least quality control and ensure consistent training for...

Not sure how they got any good reviews. Their attitude sucks, and the staff are rude. Also, you literally only have TWO food items- "sandwiches" on your entire menu, and don't serve either in the early afternoon lol? So stupid. Don't waste your money or time at this establishment, plenty other much better places within 2 blocks. In response to the delusional owner, you can also see the MANY 5 star reviews I've given. The fact is, I'm honest in all of my reviews. Establishments always have the same excuse, trying to make the customers reviews look invalid while not taking responsibility for your ignorance. Clearly you didn't even recognize the content about the ignorance of your staff. Including yourself, which reflects that in your response. Also, your coffee products suck as well. You're trying to sell expensive, cheap coffee and act like you're "upscale" when realistically you're a below average coffee shop with incompetent staff and Starbucks prices. Your ignorance is actually comical, and I hope future customers can experience it for themselves. I'm just giving my honest review and opinions. Sorry that you're unable to handle the truth. PS: one of two sandwiches on your menu is considered "insane expectations?" Hilarious. So pathetic. Also, let the readers keep in mind the tons of 1 star reviews you already have from...