I don't normally write reviews but with this location I had to. My boyfriend and I each ordered mint mojitos. As I was drinking, I would get small pieces of mint in my mouth. I decided to open the lid to remove the mint since it kept bothering me....when I opened the cup, there was at least a handful of mint leaves in there!! Loll I don't mind the mint but holy crap, it was like a whole plant was shoved in my cup. The Philz by SJSU only puts the two mint leafs on top of my drink so I was really surprised by the amount put in my large cup. Lol Anyway, I just wanted to share that. The drink came out good if u must know. Lol but next time I order a mint mojito at this location, I'll just ask for 2 mint leaves. read more

I love Philz Coffee! I wish they had one where I live. Went to this coffee shop almost every day. Busy in the early morning, but that's how all coffee shops are. I order one drink, and one drink only from this place... Iced Mocha Tesora. The best! I prefer extra sweet & extra strong. This location makes my drink alright. I've visited other Philz locations and they've made my drink better. read more

Philz Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

quite large, airy and spacious environment...3 baristas taking orders and creating...taking 2 mint mojito iced coffee medium sweetness and medium cream $5 total each...payment at the another line and food counter...honor system?...busy weekend, few minutes of waiting and name called...finding the mint mojito iced coffee quite refreshing...bit inconsistent in sweetness depending on barista making the drink...good quality individual drip coffee drinks.... read more

Philz Coffee - $5 even for a mint mojito iced coffee...medium sweet..medium cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Dear Philz, I know I've been a pretty bad(ass) boy last year and is undeserving of anything remotely nice but thank you for answering my prayers. I can't tell you how many times I've said, "There needs to be a Philz in San Mateo ASAP". Boy, oh boy, was I ECSTATIC! For the longest time I was mad confused because you opened up two joints in Palo Alto, two, deuce, two numero uno, I thought you might have skipped San Mateo all together. Quit playing games with my heart, you funny man. I will be the first to admit, parking in San Mateo still sucks major balls but thank you for this new addition to the neighborhood. Forreals, you are my favorite dope dealer. As much as I love the terrarium in Mission, the broken piano in San Jose, the dirty couch in Palo Alto, this place is mad fresh. I really like what you did to the place, very lively, modern, and industrial. I love the raw brick wall finish, the deliberate unfinished roof, and of course them yellow highlights. I know you've been watching HGTV fam. I also know your glasses are straight up designer. I know you rock that top hat because you are not a businessman, you are a business, MAN! Straight up killing the game, Al Capone in the flesh. On the real though, thanks for being the Philzanthropist. Ecstatic coffee light light, that's me. read more

To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of coffee. Don't hate me, I was taught to avoid it at all costs since my parents basically need it to function every morning. On the other hand, I can't say that I've done my best when it comes to avoiding it. As for Philz, I tried it many years ago when me and some friends from college made a day trip to SF. As avid coffee drinkers, they wanted to stop by Philz so I had my first sip of their famous 'Mint Mojito'. Long story short, it was good and that's how I ended up here. First things first, this location is pretty popular, but I've always managed to get a seat. There are numerous tables for multiple people, couches, and bar-like stations around the walls for people working independently. Despite being a well designed Philz, I can't say that it's much different. The drinks are good and the service is friendly. I definitely plan on coming here in the future to get my work done on my own. read more

Mint Mojito! Can't find it anywhere else. Coffee is powerful and will not disappoint. Quality pick up pastries. Love this place. Expect long lines and sort of a crazy ordering/payment system. Otherwise a perfect coffee worth the wait. read more

I don't even drink coffee but wow that mint monitor coffee is definitely addicting! It's kind of changed my views on coffee and is very oddly refreshing. I also tried the chai tea out and it was pretty good as well. read more

Philz, Philz, Philz. I have a love/hate relationship with this place. Let me first start this off by saying I am a decaf drinker so their regular roast might be the greatest thing in the world and I wouldn't know. A while back when I first went there, I simply ordered a coffee. I can't remember exactly which one. Since i wasn't familiar with Philz, I asked the barista(?) to make whatever he recommended. I told him I like the natural creaminess of a good espresso. He did his magic and gave me a very average tasting cup of coffee. Then, I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said "you HAVE to have a mint mojito" so I ordered a decaf mint mojito. I actually liked it. So, I started ordering those. Then one day I asked if I could get lowfat milk. She said they only made them with heavy cream and almond milk and something else. (Turns out she was wrong) Anyways, I ordered it with almond milk and it made me realize the reason their drinks taste so good is because they use heavy cream. Later, I tried one with a lower fat milk and it was very average. I was still actually convinced their beans were special so I ordered a pound of decaf to go. #2 grind. I get home and open the bag. I could not smell the beans at all. I made a cup and it tasted like nothing. My wife said it wasn't right. She told me I needed to order Swiss water decaf. So I went back and told the guy that the beans I got weren't right. He smelled them and he actually agreed. I told him my wife recommended Swiss water so he kindly gave me a bag of that #2 grind. I went home, opened the bag...and IT WAS THE EXACT SAME THING! Boring, bland tasteless coffee. So, that was it with me and Philz. I HATE giving bad reviews but their prices are so incredibly high for a product that is basically lipstick on a pig. You can get Yuban, throw some heavy cream..some mint leaves, sugar and ice and you can make it taste like a specialty drink. read more

Wow, I didn't even know that this location existed until today! I know that there's a new location in Sunnyvale, which is closer to me, but I haven't made it there yet, but hadn't heard about this location. I guess it's pretty new, & it has been open for approximately 2 weeks. My friend (who lives in SF) & I were trying to figure out where to meet up to hang out & catch up for the day, & we decided that San Mateo was pretty much in between for us, & then we discovered that there was a Philz was there. Funnily enough, I had spent part of yesterday afternoon at the Palo Alto location, so I've actually hit up Philz 2 days in a row now. I tend to get their ice drinks, the iced ecstatic & mint mojito, but I actually ended up getting a hot mocha tesoro today. As far as I know, they're all set up kind of the same way, with one line (which they have roped off at this location to keep orderly) that feeds to several spots at the counter of baristas. Once you order your drink, you can go pay at the other counter, & then you pick up your drink from the barista you ordered from when it's ready. There's actually a bench in front of the barista counter, so you can make your way back & sit on the bench while you're waiting for your drink, if you want. A wide variety of seating: tables (some large communal ones) & chairs, & sofa, easy chairs. This is one of the larger (the largest?) ones that I've been to (& I've hit up a lot of their locations). It's got a nice modern look to it. Philz has a tendency to be open on holidays (maybe abbreviated hours), vs. other coffee places, so often times, they get really busy since there's fewer options for people to get their coffee fix. Street parking, & I believe there's a parking garage behind the building in that block too. It's about a block away from the Caltrain station too. Located on east side of S B St. between 1st & 2nd. read more

My favorite addition to Downtown San Mateo is definitely Philz Cofee. It serves as a great hangout spot and draws a great crowd to Downtown SM during the morning hours. If you're not down to wait and want to make Philz a daily habit I highly recommend downloading the OrderAhead App and ordering ahead using the app so when you stop by in the morning before work you can pick up your coffee and leave in 5 minutes flat. Otherwise if you decide to take a leisurely trip to Philz expect a wait! Everyone who has been to Philz has heard about the Mint Mojito Iced Coffee. I highly recommend it for first time visitors who don't know what to order. Another popular drink here would be the Mocha Tesora, really rich in flavor. However my favorites are the Gingersnap Iced Coffee and a PhilHarmonic Medium/Medium. Their almond milk is out of this world! As for snacks I think the snacks rival the coffee in quality and flavor. I love getting the vegetable quiche which is perfect in texture and flavor. They recently added toasts, who doesn't love avocado toast? Definitely hoping they'll keep it on the menu as it is the perfect food item to start your day. They also have nice twists on your average bagel you can get it toasted with hummus and tomatoes/cucumbers! Overall love Philz here in Downtown SM! :) read more

This Philz has a great order ahead bar, friendly staff, and even long lines go quick. plenty of room here to sit for a bit, but it will fill up during the day, and this Philz is typically a little warmer than it's comfortable to be. There are a few pros that make great drinks, and I recommend the Philz spice bagel but it runs out early in the day regardless of the day. weekdays they make the best drinks, and weekends is sometimes a bit more of training time. The amount of cream and sugar can vary widely by barrista, but those are the only real downsides here. love this place note: they are moving from order ahead to trycaviar read more

TL;DR - Phliz is amazing! Ok, I might be biased because I used to frequent (the first and only, at that time) Philz on Middlefield in Palo Alto. Good times! Now, this location has more room, and more baristas! Even better! Most people get the Mint Mojito or any of the specialty coffees. I kinda just get the black iced coffee. Not as good as cold brew coffee, but it hits the spot. The reason for the deducted star? I hate that its a chain. Not because I'm a "hipster" but because its hard to quality control 17 locations! Oh. For the complainers out there ranting about prices. Are you serious? Have you BEEN to starbucks? The prices are just as much (if not HIGHER) than Philz, and the coffee, substandard in comparison. If you're drinking dollar coffee, maybe McDonalds coffee is more up your alley. Also, heyo, we are in the bay area. EVERYTHING here is pricier. I'm just glad Philz didn't up the price. In LA and NYC, a cup of brew at any cafe is about 4-8. Soooooo..... enjoy your underpriced delicious coffee and go about your day on a caffeine high! read more

How is it possible that I haven't been here before? This place is great! Love the interior, lots of individual seating for one to come work alone. I had the mocha and it was absolutely delicious! It tasted like heaven. One of the best coffee drinks I've had. Lovely service and lovely ambiance. If your serious about your coffee that's the place to be. (And that's coming from a Starbucks-only kinda girl). read more

Seems like its just a place to linger all day, where people go to order coffee and work. That concept isn't horrible its just for a specific crowd. My most current experience was an odd one you'd expect this location to be more culturally friendly but seems that the annunciation police were working today as per a hard accent was the talk of the coffee counter after a customer miss spoke. Again this was done with the customer unaware but poor taste is still poor taste. Needless to say with the development in mechanized coffee quick cup seems hopefully the day of baristas in pajamas will become the joke of a occupation as it is. read more

Simplicity. Many take it for granted in a world of fast-paced and mass-manufactured crap. I had always heard about Philz, still coming up for trips to the Bay Area, I rarely had the opportunity to head over to the peninsula. I heard the angels singing when I arrived. No wait it was Biggie Smalls. I haz hip hop, and coffee. Woot. I completely flubbed my first visit by asking for a latte. *facepalm* It was late in the evening and driving through a maze of holiday shoppers rendered me useless. The barista kindly explained their order of operations. The vibe in that place was chill. It was a wonderful cornucopia of colors, scents, and people. This is why I love the Bay Area, my forever home. I was hesitant to order just a 'regular drip', but I rolled with it. I chose Philtered Soul, which I am currently drinking out of a Philz Coffee mug here in the middle of Riverside County. That night I don't think I slept, hell I actually got some work done. It's so good that it tells procrastination to GTFO. During that visit, we purchased mugs and a pound of whole bean coffee. My bag of whole beans just ran out this morning and I'm patiently waiting for the next bag to arrive. The beauty of it is that you can drink the coffee black. Quality. read more

WOW, I swear this place is always busy!! The seats and tables are always crammed with people either working, doing homework, catching up with friends, or just playing games and lingering. This place has a very hip and casual vibe, it's a big establishment, and the set-up is pretty interesting. I ordered a black Jacobs coffee (size small), and almost forgot to pay for it! (Phew, that was a close one) You are supposed to order your drink at the front counter, and then take it to the cashier at a separate counter to pay for it. The Jacobs is a very good dark roast beverage. It's super bitter and gives you energy that'll last forever! I have yet to try the famous Mint Mojito. Bathrooms here are so clean! Parking is ample; you've got parking garages on both sides of the street and lots of street parking available to pick from. read more

First time enjoying an iced coffee in a "hot beverage" cup! Ordered the medium cream. It was pretty delicious. It was a grab and go, service was about 10 minutes or so. read more

Philz is just the best coffee. I don't know what they do. Don't care. Just as long as there's one near home. Its part of our weekend ritual to drop in. My faces are Philharmonic and Turkish. The kouign amann is absolutely spectacular. Buttery and flaky with perfect density to match the rich coffee that is Philz. This new store is spacious and bright. A happy place to be. We do need to figure out how to order ahead as the line gets pretty long. read more

I absolutely LOVE Philz Coffee and I am so happy they opened up a location in San Mateo. About time! Now I can have two of my favorite things in thee entire world all at once, Ramen Dojo and Philz Mint Mojito, hehe! This Philz Coffee location is HUGE compared to the other Philz Coffee locations I have been to, which makes it thee perfect place for studying or working! They also have an evident systematic process, which I appreciate so there is no confusion about ordering your drink first and then paying afterward. In addition, the baristas here are all extremely welcoming and friendly, making the process of ordering Philz even more fun! I can't wait to come back! read more

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I recognize that this place is really popular and there's a reason it's always busy. Yes, the coffee is thoughtful and pretty good. However, my return will be far off if ever simply because waiting 25 minutes for a cup of coffee that doesn't come with hash browns, eggs, and a side of toast is ridiculous. Not to mention it's twice as expensive as anywhere else. The second most frustrating part about it is good luck finding a place to sit. You have people on their laptops, on their smartphones, or holding meetings of 6 to 8 people inside with no coffee on the table. My favorite is the girl sitting by the bathroom on her MacBook with what looks like tea from Peets. read more

Philz! Finally one near me! Right next to curry up. Beautiful venue! Nice big location. Plenty of seating! read more

Philz Coffee - Soft opening! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Ever since Philz opened their doors in San Francisco, I've been a believer. A believer that starting your morning is not just about getting in line to get a cup of coffee, but about starting the day great and/or what someone can do to make it better? Drinking coffee is always about finding a way to perk yourself up in preparation of a long day/night ahead of you. Philz reinvented the way people of the Bay Area (and now Los Angeles) pick themselves up in the mornings and afternoons. From the warm and friendly welcomes, all the way to having THE BEST TASTING COFFEE in the land. Every Philz ceases to amaze me every time I walk in which is why I make sure I have time to stop in. This one in particular just adds the ice cream with the cake, not just the cherry. Employees seem to love working, which is what it's all about. I wish I can learn everyone's names here to write them all a review but for now, I hope they all feel accomplished for making me fall in love with the company each and every time I walk in. I wish nothing but growth and prosperity for this company. Wdup earnest! - an asset to Philz and even better friend. read more

We came here Saturday morning for our coffee fix. This is my first time at a Philz coffee. It smells so good in here and you can immediately tell that it's good quality coffee. The menu is mostly drip coffee. Very different from Starbucks in that they don't really do fancy coffee drinks. They make up for it in the quality of their beans though. Plus less calories from the no sugar :) read more

Philz Coffee - Decaf house blend and pumpkin bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

That was weird. The cashier kept the 50cent change as tip under assumption. I mean I usually tip but to assume when you have tip jars already for you customers is wrong. She didn't even toss it in the jar! This was the cashier at 12:50 today. Otherwise I love Philz but the San Mateo staff does not hold a candle to the Westborough crew. read more

Always hits the spot for coffee. I'm not a regular drinker of coffee, but I am a fan of their hot latte with almond milk.

I would give this location 3.5 stars. The coffee itself is excellent and deserves a 5-star rating. However, on my visit to this location, there were just a couple things that didn't make sense. First, it's a large location, and things are rather confusing. It's my first time at a Philz Coffee so maybe I'm just not familiar with how it works. Apparently, you have to order your drink with a barista on one side of the store. The menu itself was a bit confusing, so there are people just standing there trying to figure it out. Then you walk to the middle of the store to pay for it. How the cashier knows what you ordered, I have no idea. But in any case, you tell the cashier what you ordered, pay for it. Then you go back to the barista to pick up the drink. All in all, seems like an operational nightmare. The kicker was what happened when I asked the barista for some whole milk for my son. She was really weird about it and told me that they don't have whole milk. Really!?! It's a coffee place - how can it not have whole milk? And the barista of all people should know that. Of course, I walked over to the cashier and asked them the same thing and he charged me $1 for a cup of milk. Umm... ok. Clearly something weird. Anyway, I'll probably be back and I'm sure they'll work out their kinks with the operations and training. read more

I absolutely love this coffee shop! Every single time I am in San Mateo this is a must have for me. I've had so many different coffees from here and everything I've tried has been wonderful! My favorites are the tantalizing turkish, Jacobs wonderbar and philharmonic. My friend is obsessed with the iced ginger snap and mocha tesora. We also had breakfast here last visit and that was such a treat. The bagel with zatar and cucumber seemed to be a huge hit. I always go for a breakfast burrito. If only there was a Philz in my area... read more

The San Mateo location is so different from the SF locations. Don't get me wrong; I love the SF locations - that's where it all started and that's where I was first introduced to Philz. However, the San Mateo location is modern and extremely spacious. The staff is friendly and service is fairly fast. I like how they have a designated area for OrderAhead orders. Simply order and pay through the app, park, walk in, pick up, and go. So convenient! My favorites are the Iced Mint Mojito, Mocha Tesora and Philtered Soul. Bring in your own tumbler and only pay for a small. Save some money and be good to the earth at the same time! read more

This place is such a cute spot to hang out at. I definitely love the atmosphere here. I wish we had one of these in Fresno but this is definitely my go-to spot when I come to the bay area. I ordered the tesora (hot) and my fiance ordered the mint mojito (iced) which was so refreshing. At first it tasted a bit watery but once u give it a good mix than the flavors start kicking in and I loved it. Maybe could be a little more creamier but it was delicious. My drink on the other hand was really rich and a bit too chocolaty for my taste. It was good but maybe a bit too rich for me. Can't wait to go back and try more drinks :) read more

This is the largest Philz location to date, and there's a lot of space inside to work or study. They are pretty good about keeping the line moving quickly, and they also sell quiches and donuts and other pastries by the cashier. My go-tos are the mint mojito, mocha tesora, and silken splendor, lightly sweetened. Protips: you can use Order Ahead to skip the wait, and be sure to fill out a short survey on the iPad at the entrance for a chance to win $10! read more

If you're trying to venture off like me and wanna try something besides an Iced Coffee Mint Mojito, a couple of hot drinks I recommend starting off with are the Tesora, Sooo Good and Jacob's Wonderbar. Don't be afraid to ask, you'll get some good recommendations. Pair it with a Kouign Amann pastry and enjoy the awesome ambiance this location offers, spacious and plenty of modern furniture for seating. Such a great spot to work from! I've been to almost all of the Philz locations, even the new one in Sunnyvale and I think this DTSM spot has to be the best one so far. Oh and I almost forgot to mention that the baristas are super awesome. read more

Philz Coffee - Jacobs Wonderbar and Kouign Amann - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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finally a philz by my place. the only place i know with 120$/lb coffee! sadly enough, i couldn't try it because they ran out. always love the mint mojito and ginger snap ice coffee. haven't tried any of their roast coffees. since it recently opened, its super crowded. or maybe because they make it all individually that they are slow. who knows. anyways way tastier than starbucks. huge place too. order your coffee one line and pay in a diff line. lots of places to sit and drink or do work. just a cool hang out place in downtown. get some coffee then get some cream across the street. perfect pairing :) know its time to join the philz train. woo woo. the barista: sky recommended some coffee not on the menu that is very similar to the blue mountain $7 cup of coffee. it ends with the word light? pretty tasty black! read more

Philz Coffee - Ginger snap ice coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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These reviews can be the toughest for me to write. Why? There's so many locations that it can be hard for a location to have distinguishing qualities. In a case like Philz, I find that to be a mark in their "Pros" column. They have successfully provided a product and service that you're expecting! If this is your first visit to Philz this is how it works: Pick your beverage of choice and size. Wait for an open Philz member to wave you their way. Tell them what you want and if you would like cream and what type of sweetener (honey, sugar, etc.). Mosey on down to the register and pick out a pastry if you're craving more than just a beverage. This location happens to have more space than other locations and their baked goods have a nice display. Wait until your concoction is ready (back where you ordered it). Take a sip and let them know if you need any cream/sweetener adjustments. My usual is a small Istanbul Treat (sometimes iced) with medium honey and medium cream. This time, I went for one of their donuts which was quite tasty. If you're a Philz regular, I wouldn't expect anything than your regular quality Philz treatment at this location. read more

My go to lunch hour coffee spot almost every day! The staff here is real friendly. I usually order a philtered soul with almond milk and if I really need to wake up, I'll order an ambrosia with almond milk too. The music they usually play here are good vibes. read more

Really enjoyed our iced, sweet, mocha tesora and Philz everything bagel. Considering that the bagel came with cream cheese, tomato, and cucumber, it was a great deal. Also, the staff are super friendly. I didn't know the ordering system: you order your coffee from the first line then move to the second to pay and order food/pastries. (Yes, I realized after the steps are on the wall.) Came on a Sunday and this place is busy all day long! Luckily we snagged a table but be prepared to not find a seat. The good thing is parking is free on Sundays, but again, the later in the day it is, the harder it is to find. read more

Great atmosphere and friendly staff that makes sure they get your order right. Highly recommend this place. Nice jams inside

First time at this location but not my first sweet taste of Philz. This location is pretty spacious with tons of seating room, including comfortable couches. They also have a bakery section that carries some delicious pastries from places like pebbles donuts and cupcakes from Sibby's. The red velvet is amazing but expensive at $4.75 a cupcake. Not sure if that's sibby's pricing or theirs but even Kara's is only $3.50. The baristas at this location are pretty nice, quick to gets your order and the coffee is always ON fleek! My recommendations for those who have yet to experience coffee is this intimate and personalized way is to start with Tesora (hot) or if you prefer iced coffee, you can't go wrong with the Mint Mojito. Customize your sweetness and cream level and you're good to go! ;) read more

If you've been to any of the other Philz, then you will absolutely LOVE this location. It's bigger, brighter, and way cooler. There is so much space, you can cartwheel across the room and truly enjoy hanging out here all day long with your special cup of joe. I usually get the minto mojito, sweet and creamy, less minty. It's the perfect drink any day, and when it's too late in the day I get the house decaf!! I love you, Philz, I wish you were closer to my home, but this will have to do. More reason to visit my friends in the peninsula!! read more

I love Philz Coffee..I think it's what got me into drip coffee. I was ecstatic to see this location open by me since I'm in San Mateo several times a week. The layout of this location is particularly spacious, open, and beautiful. It is a great space to meet friends and catch up, do work, study, or simply just chill. They have excellent, speedy wifi which is a big plus, too. Staff here is chipper and friendly - love it! They really do care about customer satisfaction - I came here on a rough day and needed some coffee to keep me up for some work and the gal was patient with me and totally made sure I loved what she surprised me with. 5 Stars Way Up! read more

I absolutely love everything about this coffee place. From the technique these baristas use to brew to their pastries to their black on black mugs, I could come here every day for the rest of my life.The first time I was here, I got the mint mojito coffee with a ham & cheese croissant. OMG that was the flakiest, crispest and gooey-est croissant I've ever had. I savored every crumb. The coffee was more on the okay side only because I wasn't a huge fan of mint and I figured I'd just try it since it was so popular. The barista stuffed a ton of mint at the bottom of my cup. Maybe I'll ask for less next time or even try a different drink. I never have time to come back to this place for coffee so I usually get their bagels but next time I'm early for work, I'll definitely be back for a different drink. read more

Philz Coffee - Usually I'm satisfied with their bagels but this time I was just so sad to see this. I couldn't even enjoy it properly. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California