Philz Coffee

I had the mint mojito iced coffee and it was amazing. Best drink ever. Shout out Daniela!

Simply some of the best coffee available. Made to order. Worth the wait.

When I got there in the morning it wasn’t much people so perfect time, the lady that help me was nice I forgot to ask her name. She was very patient and good customer service. I ordered honey haze coffee and burrito and chocolate croissant it was good I like how the people have good customer skills and the spot was nice and clean would say one of the best coffee spot

The two iced coffee drinks we ordered were delivered promptly. The Honey Haze had a delightful hazelnut flavor complemented by a subtle hint of honey, making it refreshing and enjoyable. The Iced Mint Mojito resembled a mojito cocktail with the addition of mint leaves, sans the alcohol, yet still quite satisfying. I will certainly consider ordering more of these delicious caffeinated beverages.

Take my dad to Castro Valley shop! I get to say the service here is wonderful, the staff here super friendly. Glad that they don't give me attitude like the embarcadero shop. Thumb up for the GM for this location!

Excellent place to get coffee, hang out with friends or get a small bite to eat. Lots of seating options inside and outside. Clean / sleek design. Staff was excellent: they were super busy but everyone was calm collected and did good expectation setting for incoming customers

I had never been to this location before, I order black coffee and was disappointed to realize that it was flavored. But I also ordered wildcard off menu, and the mojito cold brew was fantastic. Love that it's a rehabbed gas station, super cool.

Update - it’s been a lot faster lately! Happy to have a Philz in Castro Valley and the coffee is pretty good, people are nice, and the cafe itself is really nice inside and out with plenty of seating. However, this is the slowest in-person Philz I have ever been to and that seems largely due to how they have the cashier prioritize warming up food for online orders while people are waiting in a long line. Weekends, weekdays, morning, afternoon / it’s always slow. Perhaps 3 stars is too harsh for that complaint but it’s been that way for a while now so I don’t think it’s just growing pains.

Now that Phil's is here, i know what I've been missing my whole life. Unlike the burnt flavor of decaf espresso offered elsewhere, they offer brewed decaf which is delicious, and i much prefer it. On top of that, they have Stevia as an option when they prepare the drink. So I can get my dairy-free sugar-free decaf mocha, and it's oh so good! Friendly people too. I will never go anywhere else.

Alicia S

Take my dad to Castro Valley shop! I get to say the service here is wonderful, the staff here super friendly. Glad that they don't give me attitude like the embarcadero shop. Thumb up for the GM for this location!

Patrick Min

The two iced coffee drinks we ordered were delivered promptly. The Honey Haze had a delightful hazelnut flavor complemented by a subtle hint of honey, making it refreshing and enjoyable. The Iced Mint Mojito resembled a mojito cocktail with the addition of mint leaves, sans the alcohol, yet still quite satisfying. I will certainly consider ordering more of these delicious caffeinated beverages.

Damon Tighe

Excellent place to get coffee, hang out with friends or get a small bite to eat. Lots of seating options inside and outside. Clean / sleek design. Staff was excellent: they were super busy but everyone was calm collected and did good expectation setting for incoming customers

Luci Ramirez

I had never been to this location before, I order black coffee and was disappointed to realize that it was flavored. But I also ordered wildcard off menu, and the mojito cold brew was fantastic. Love that it's a rehabbed gas station, super cool.

Ankur Vishwakarma

Update - it’s been a lot faster lately! Happy to have a Philz in Castro Valley and the coffee is pretty good, people are nice, and the cafe itself is really nice inside and out with plenty of seating. However, this is the slowest in-person Philz I have ever been to and that seems largely due to how they have the cashier prioritize warming up food for online orders while people are waiting in a long line. Weekends, weekdays, morning, afternoon / it’s always slow. Perhaps 3 stars is too harsh for that complaint but it’s been that way for a while now so I don’t think it’s just growing pains.

cablemotion

Now that Phil's is here, i know what I've been missing my whole life. Unlike the burnt flavor of decaf espresso offered elsewhere, they offer brewed decaf which is delicious, and i much prefer it. On top of that, they have Stevia as an option when they prepare the drink. So I can get my dairy-free sugar-free decaf mocha, and it's oh so good! Friendly people too. I will never go anywhere else.

Great service from Jade.Amina made a great coffee with a smile. Pesto sandwich was delicious . I Would recommend Philz nice and friendly staff.

Jesus Villarreal

Great service from Jade.Amina made a great coffee with a smile. Pesto sandwich was delicious . I Would recommend Philz nice and friendly staff.

Daisy Mussatto

Very rich, flavorful coffee. Perfect for cold mornings and hot days!! Staff is very sweet and quick - even when they're packed. Coffee flavor descriptions are very accurate too! Plus the pastries are always a perfect pairing (my favorite is the mini banana bread 🍌🍞). I love coming here by myself and with family, it always exceeds my expectations and hits the spot!

My absolute favorite drink from here is the Iced Mocha Tesora. Hubby tried the Iced Philharmonic which personally I was not a fan of but he liked the taste of cardamom in it.

Great coffee and really nice baristas with a quiet atmosphere but better for a more relaxed pace visit rather than a quick coffee before work. Mocha tesora is great and I love the gluten free/vegan brownie option. However, there's a full bar of people waiting for coffee and a wait time of 20+ minutes for their coffee order. Seems like the staff gets barraged with tons of mobile orders with a full slate of in house orders frequently.

Pricey coffees but here really good. I always order on the app to avoid long lines. Staff is always very friendly, though I wish they would join their community partnerships more when everybody else around does.

Coffee was as good as any other Philz. PRO: Cool renovation from old auto shop. CON: Noisy, very disappointed the roll-up garage doors are bolted in place and will never open. They don't take cash.

This Philz Coffee is very convenient — and usually is my go-to location as I work around the Castro Valley/San Lorenzo area. I was very excited for the opening of this Philz Coffee, as it has been quite long awaited by the community, and for commuters like me, who work either from the South Bay or the Valley. They make the drinks quick, and with precision — and are very patient when it comes to the making of the drink. It’s also very conveniently located, as it’s right off the Main Street, which is Castro Valley Blvd. I usually get my iced coffee rose from this location, and among the many times I’ve tried to pick up via online order, they almost make it fresh on the spot (which isn’t a bad thing — they make the drinks in real-time which I honestly really appreciate a lot)! I would definitely go back and support more, and even partner with them should a fundraiser idea arise.

It’s always nice to visit the Philz in Castro Valley or Fremont to grab one of their famous Mint Mojitos. This location’s staff was nice and most of the seats were taken. It’s in a nice area of Castro Valley Blvd next door to a barbecue joint that I’ve got to try next time. The drink was superb as usual, you can’t go wrong with a drink from Philz Coffee.

Sparce seating, uncomfortable chairs, all hoodies are size small. Over $10 for two drinks. No steamed milk. Ordered philtered soul, good drink. Waited 20 minutes for just two small drinks so they definitely need more help. And they are completely cashless so bring your card. Register expects a tip before you even tried anything. Daughter unhappy to see glob of mint in her chai, which changed the flavor.

I still can't believe we have a Philz here in CV! The shop has a charming retro exterior, and since it's right next to my favorite grocery store, I'm always stopping by for my current obsession: a small Philtered Soul Cold Brew, sweet and creamy. My only wish is for a bit more consistency--about 1 in 3 times, the drink varies, sometimes too sweet, not sweet enough, or not creamy, and occasionally the cold brew tastes a little chalky. But aside from that, this place is a solid ten!

Austin Zhuang

This Philz Coffee is very convenient — and usually is my go-to location as I work around the Castro Valley/San Lorenzo area. I was very excited for the opening of this Philz Coffee, as it has been quite long awaited by the community, and for commuters like me, who work either from the South Bay or the Valley. They make the drinks quick, and with precision — and are very patient when it comes to the making of the drink. It’s also very conveniently located, as it’s right off the Main Street, which is Castro Valley Blvd. I usually get my iced coffee rose from this location, and among the many times I’ve tried to pick up via online order, they almost make it fresh on the spot (which isn’t a bad thing — they make the drinks in real-time which I honestly really appreciate a lot)! I would definitely go back and support more, and even partner with them should a fundraiser idea arise.

Mar

It’s always nice to visit the Philz in Castro Valley or Fremont to grab one of their famous Mint Mojitos. This location’s staff was nice and most of the seats were taken. It’s in a nice area of Castro Valley Blvd next door to a barbecue joint that I’ve got to try next time. The drink was superb as usual, you can’t go wrong with a drink from Philz Coffee.

Julie S

Sparce seating, uncomfortable chairs, all hoodies are size small. Over $10 for two drinks. No steamed milk. Ordered philtered soul, good drink. Waited 20 minutes for just two small drinks so they definitely need more help. And they are completely cashless so bring your card. Register expects a tip before you even tried anything. Daughter unhappy to see glob of mint in her chai, which changed the flavor.

Ivy Bang

I still can't believe we have a Philz here in CV! The shop has a charming retro exterior, and since it's right next to my favorite grocery store, I'm always stopping by for my current obsession: a small Philtered Soul Cold Brew, sweet and creamy. My only wish is for a bit more consistency--about 1 in 3 times, the drink varies, sometimes too sweet, not sweet enough, or not creamy, and occasionally the cold brew tastes a little chalky. But aside from that, this place is a solid ten!

One of the best coffee spots around! The drinks are always fresh, smooth, and flavorful. The vibe is welcoming, and the staff make every visit a great experience. Highly recommend Philz if you want coffee done right.

The place is busy and simple, I went to buy some beans, they only had 3 kinds only, I was kinda disappointed, I would have thought they would some kind of an assortment to buy. The place is not flashy like other coffee places with alot of merchandise, they have a small place for that and that it, simple. Simplicity is best.

Mark G

One of the best coffee spots around! The drinks are always fresh, smooth, and flavorful. The vibe is welcoming, and the staff make every visit a great experience. Highly recommend Philz if you want coffee done right.

I used to frequent Philz before I moved to CV and was excited to see one coming in. I have now been a number of times and I agree with other reviewers that it’s often slow. I don’t personally have an issue with that but I do have an issue with the quality. I have had many cups of Philz that blew me away but each time I’ve been in CV, the coffee is watery and bland. They’re just not pouring a good cup. And it costs $9 including tip for a large. It’s disappointing to say the least but I hope it improves over time.

Another coffee place that thinks it’s cute to say your name wrong on purpose. Really it’s just annoying and makes you think you’re waiting longer than you should. Beverages were alright though and the place is clean and comfortable.

I really like the coffee but when you place an online order it’s always late by 8-10 minutes. (Consistently across many orders and many months) This is really disruptive if you are planning to swing by and pick up on the way to school dropoff or work. They need to do better.

My mom ordered her filter sole which said it was delicious. I ordered a chai tea but they put a mint leaf in it. Chai is not supposed to have mint leaf in it. They're mixing up cultures by doing that. It tastes weird more like mint tea then a chai tea. If you want chai tea then I would recommend going somewhere else because this does not taste like one and it tastes more like mint tea. Also said they didn't have a milk steamer so you're not going to get a latte here. You might get more customers if you had a milk steamer which again they said they didn't have. That's because the milk steamer would make the milk hot when it goes in your drink instead of using cold milk. Without the milk steamer it means that your drink comes out lukewarm like mine. The atmosphere is nice. The place is nice but the service is slow. Also they don't take cash. Also their merchandise shirts for souvenirs only come in small for sweatshirts and mediums for long sleeve. They could use a few improvements.

Good coffee but service and quality lags behind other locations. If you order ahead and have food with your coffee, anticipate an additional 10-15minutes for your food on top of the estimate given for coffee pick up. As a heads up, this location has a propensity for attracting customers with non-service animals inside a food establishment. Consider this a warning if you have allergies.

Gabriel R.

Good coffee but service and quality lags behind other locations. If you order ahead and have food with your coffee, anticipate an additional 10-15minutes for your food on top of the estimate given for coffee pick up. As a heads up, this location has a propensity for attracting customers with non-service animals inside a food establishment. Consider this a warning if you have allergies.

Kajdien Ahbib

My mom ordered her filter sole which said it was delicious. I ordered a chai tea but they put a mint leaf in it. Chai is not supposed to have mint leaf in it. They're mixing up cultures by doing that. It tastes weird more like mint tea then a chai tea. If you want chai tea then I would recommend going somewhere else because this does not taste like one and it tastes more like mint tea. Also said they didn't have a milk steamer so you're not going to get a latte here. You might get more customers if you had a milk steamer which again they said they didn't have. That's because the milk steamer would make the milk hot when it goes in your drink instead of using cold milk. Without the milk steamer it means that your drink comes out lukewarm like mine. The atmosphere is nice. The place is nice but the service is slow. Also they don't take cash. Also their merchandise shirts for souvenirs only come in small for sweatshirts and mediums for long sleeve. They could use a few improvements.

Shelley Stortz

I really like the coffee but when you place an online order it’s always late by 8-10 minutes. (Consistently across many orders and many months) This is really disruptive if you are planning to swing by and pick up on the way to school dropoff or work. They need to do better.

They don't take cash. Are they trying to be cute? Hip? Because of this alone, I won't be back. My money says "legal tender for all debts public and private." The coffee is good, but the service is incredibly slow and the parking is rough. I went during a slow time with a friend, ordered two coffees and waited 15 minutes. Peets coffee is just as good and doesn't take as long.

Every time I come to Philz, they always make my drink differently. The same drink I always order never tastes the same, some days are worse than others. It is hard to study, especially since the music is playing horribly loud. Even with my head phones on, blasting my own music, the music is just way too loud. However, the staff is friendly, which I appreciate. They just need more training on how to properly make the drinks correctly and please turn the music down.

First time I went here was a week after their Grand Opening. I was honestly so excited to come here because I live in San Leandro and I would have to commute pretty far to get my Philz coffee. So I came here around opening time for them and I believe it was also the day after some major holiday. Anyways, I came in and ordered my coffee. There was a guy with a mustache there working in bar and he was very intimidating and had an attitude from the moment that some of us walked in. For example, no “welcome in”, no good morning from him and other baristas there, and at one point I saw him roll his eyes. I get it, it’s early in the morning and maybe he didn’t wake up right. So I didn’t think much of it and just waited patiently. There wasn’t much people at that hour so I didn’t really understand why he was rushing or angry. He wasn’t calling out any names but I saw some drinks on bar and the people that ordered before me walked up to the same area and picked up their drinks. And at that time, I didn’t see any sign whatsoever for Mobile Pick ups in that same area. After 5 minutes, I walked up to just check my name, since I didn’t hear him say names, and he was so aggressive for no reason. Didn’t even greet me or anything, just very aggressive at me and saying that these are for mobile and my order isn’t ready. Like okay I get it, you don’t have to be so rude about it. I wouldn’t say he was yelling but his voice was so loud and there literally was only me and a family of 6 after me in the cafe. No one else. So yes, I felt stupid for even looking at the names and it’s only 5:45am. After that encounter, I felt embarrassed so I just sat down and waited patiently. After 10 minutes gone by, I still haven’t heard my name for my order and I started getting antsy since the family of 6 after me got their coffee first before me. But I was kind of scared of that guy so I just waited. After 20minutes, he finally called my name for my order and I just rushed to get it. I know that review is late, but I did come by about a week ago with a friend of mine and it wasn’t the greatest experience as well. Long wait times during their off peak hours and the coffee isn’t as great as their other locations. I’ve been a barista and I know how it is in the mornings. So at the time, I kind of brushed it off and let it go since I understood that it was early and especially after a holiday. But the second time I went, I still felt like this store isn’t welcoming and friendly. And the coffee for some reason isn’t the same as the other locations. So sorry Castro Valley but I’d rather commute like I used to, to other locations to get my Philz.

This place makes Starbucks look good! 😂 my iced coffee was very watering did not even taste like coffee it taste like somebody put beans in a cup with water and just shook it around! It wasn't the worst coffee I've ever had but I bought a breakfast burrito for over $10 and it was probably the size of a frozen burrito and it tastes awful this place is not worth the hype I heard from former coworkers that it's so good apparently this is not worth the hype and money save your money!

Drinks are good but wait times are absurd. It should not take 20 minutes to get a coffee every time I come to this store.

Have been here a few times now and honestly this will be the last time, just sub-par “Philz coffee”, watered down and always just off. When compared to Fremont Philz it’s like drinking bad office coffee that you get the pleasure of paying $8 dollars for.

Yamah Anwari

Have been here a few times now and honestly this will be the last time, just sub-par “Philz coffee”, watered down and always just off. When compared to Fremont Philz it’s like drinking bad office coffee that you get the pleasure of paying $8 dollars for.

I was really looking forward to trying this coffee company. However it was a huge disappointment. My house drip tasted like gasoline, extremely bitter, undrinkable, my chicken sandwich was bland and soggy. My almond croissant tasted like it was just pure sugar so basically I couldn't eat anything. I'll be sticking with starbucks.

We ordered 2 coffee and waited 20+ mins until we finally got it. Didn’t see too many orders here anyway the staff keeps telling me that there’re a lot of orders before ours. What I see is the staff is super chill, chatting laughing. They can see how many customers sitting here waiting for the orders but actually it doesn’t matter to the staff apparently. And that lady rolled her eyes when we checked our order status, and said thank you for your patience🙄 which is very annoying.

The service was incredibly slow, and the attitude of the staff was unacceptable. I waited over 20 minutes for my coffee, and it wasn’t even that busy. When I asked about my order, thinking it might have been missed, one staff member rudely said they were busy, rolled her eyes at me, and then started whispering negatively about me to another staff member.

Service was extremely slow! I stood at the register for over 10 mins-after being told,"someone will be right there"- meanwhile, the other batista doesn't even acknowledge my presence. Dirty counter tops . Least favorite location of the Philz...Step it up!

Light roast tastes like a dark roast! At home I make great pour overs. And I have had coffee in many countries . I love pour over coffee . But not here! I also waited for 30 minutes, and that was in the afternoon. A customer said it is worse in the morning. When I finally got mine I sat in a very uncomfortable seat. I almost never go to Starbucks, but it is better ,quicker, and half the price . And in Castro Valley , I prefer Pampas!

Coffee is never ready when the app says it is…I had to wait 15 mins one visit even though the app said it was ready. Also, they need to work on their coffee making…I worked in SF for years so I lived off Philz coffee for many years and the Castro Valley store does not taste the same! Not even close! The coffee makers are also not the friendliest like at other Philz locations. I had my last cup at this location! In Response to Philz…no thanks! You guys have been open since November and coffee is still inconsistent, customer service is bad, and coffee is never ready on time. I see these same complaints from others and yesterday nothing has been done to correct these issues. I’d recommend having another store come in and teach the crew the real “Philz” way of making coffee. The store in Fremont does it right!

Amina is the worst, I have frequent this Philz since they opened, and I really don’t like leaving bad reviews but I ordered a drink 30 minutes prior to pick up, and scheduled a pick up for 8:00 am. I didn’t get my drink until 8:11 and it was not a good drink and to have waited so much time for a drink so bad was so annoying. She needs to work with more urgency, and stick to the recipes that Philz has for them

sonia Villanueva

Amina is the worst, I have frequent this Philz since they opened, and I really don’t like leaving bad reviews but I ordered a drink 30 minutes prior to pick up, and scheduled a pick up for 8:00 am. I didn’t get my drink until 8:11 and it was not a good drink and to have waited so much time for a drink so bad was so annoying. She needs to work with more urgency, and stick to the recipes that Philz has for them

Horrible experience at Philz Coffee in Castro Valley. The staff member who helped me, Audrey, did not greet me when I walked up, nor did she show any care toward my order. She appeared very annoyed, and I had to repeat my order multiple times. The interaction felt cold and unwelcoming, which really took away from the experience. Customer service matters, especially in a coffee shop, and unfortunately this visit fell short. I wouldn’t recommend this place based on my experience.

I’ve visited this particular location when they first opened but they do not use enough coffee beans to brew their hot/iced coffees and cold brew, creating a very consistent watery taste. After visiting again, it’s like a day and night taste difference compared to the San Ramon location. Please consider using more beans for a proper brew to stand up to the creamer you add. It tastes very watered down for brewed coffee.

Sang Kim

Horrible experience at Philz Coffee in Castro Valley. The staff member who helped me, Audrey, did not greet me when I walked up, nor did she show any care toward my order. She appeared very annoyed, and I had to repeat my order multiple times. The interaction felt cold and unwelcoming, which really took away from the experience. Customer service matters, especially in a coffee shop, and unfortunately this visit fell short. I wouldn’t recommend this place based on my experience.

Karina Chan

I’ve visited this particular location when they first opened but they do not use enough coffee beans to brew their hot/iced coffees and cold brew, creating a very consistent watery taste. After visiting again, it’s like a day and night taste difference compared to the San Ramon location. Please consider using more beans for a proper brew to stand up to the creamer you add. It tastes very watered down for brewed coffee.