Updated February 2022! Philz Coffee was originally recommended to me by my good friend Hannah. She lived in the Bay Area, where this coffeehouse started, and raved about their Mint Mojito Iced Coffee. Hannah has an amazing ability to find special vegan-friendly spots, so I wasn’t surprised to see more Philz Coffee shops pop up. They now have locations throughout California, and a smattering of other big U.S. cities, like Chicago and D.C. Each store has a great range of dairy-free beverages and food, all covered in this guide.
Philz Coffee Overflows with Dairy-Free Drink Options at No Extra Charge
Most Philz Coffee shops now offer dairy-free almond milk, soymilk (vanilla), and oat milk beverages for customizing your own vegan lattes and mochas. And they are one of the few coffee chains that doesn’t have a surcharge for milk substitutes! But we’ve also heard that the coffee is so good, you might want to enjoy it black sometimes.
Heads Up! Another website misled people with a headline implying that Philz Coffee is replacing all dairy with oat milk. They did discontinue 2% milk at their stores in 2020 due to low demand, but they still have options like nonfat milk, whole milk, and cream. Despite being very accommodating, this is not a dairy-free coffee chain.
And ordering dairy-free is very straight-forward, because Philz Coffee doesn’t use syrups or toppings. Here is more information from the Philz Coffee team:
We specialize in coffee blends, each crafted by Phil himself to bring out the best flavor profiles in each mix. When you look at our menu online you’ll find tasting notes associated with each blend. These are NOT added flavors, but rather the natural tasting notes you might experience when sipping a cup (think wine tasting). There is one exception to this, our Philtered Soul does have an artificial hazelnut flavoring roasted into it.
Our approach to customizing a customer’s coffee is pretty unique. We prepare each cup by hand, using a pour-over method, so you won’t find any lattes or other espresso-based drinks on the menu. A customer starts by choosing a blend and from there, they can choose if they’d like to add any creamer [see milk beverage options above]or sweetener. For sweetener options, we offer brown sugar, equal, sweet n low, splenda, stevia, or honey.
On our menu, you may also see on our “Featured Creations” some specialty options with unique flavors. We have our Mint Mojito Iced Coffee, made with fresh mint and sugar – typically recommended “sweet and creamy” but just like our other coffees, a customer can choose if and how they’d like creamer or sweetener added. For our Iced Coffee Rosé, we incorporate a freshly made rose cream into the coffee. For our dairy-free customers, we offer an oat-milk version.
Bean to Cup to Your Home
Because Philz isn’t just a coffee shop. They actually manage the entire chain of production, from bean to cup. They source their beans from around the world, roast them at their roasting plant in Oakland, California, and then brew each order “one cup at a time.” Their custom blends range from two to seven different beans from around the globe, and they offer single origin coffees and seasonal blends.
In store, you can buy their custom coffee blends by the bag, and they also sell tea and spices. If you don’t live near a Philz Coffee, then you can order it online. They also sell gifts and coffee subscription services.
Philz Coffee Dairy-Free & Vegan Food Menu Guide
Unfortunately, the dairy-free food options at Philz Coffee have shrunk in the last couple of years. But they still offer a nice little selection at all locations. The Handmade Food sold nationally can be custom ordered. Other sandwiches and baked goods sold regionally are sourced from local businesses, so they can’t make any changes.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All of the following are made without egg, peanuts, soy, and tree nuts, unless otherwise noted. As you can see, most items contain wheat. All of the following are vegan-friendly, or can be made egg-free and vegan as noted.
Philz Handmade Food (all locations)
- Almond Butter & Jam Toast (contains wheat, tree nuts)
- Mediterranean Avocado & Egg Toast (order no egg for vegan) (contains egg, wheat)
- Avocado Energy Bowl (order no egg for vegan) (contains egg, wheat)
- Protein Energy Bowl (order no egg for vegan) (contains egg, wheat)
Bay Area & Sacramento Regional Food
- Vegan Pumpkin Slice (contains wheat)
- Plain Bagel (contains wheat)
- Everything Bagel (contains wheat)
- Plant-Powered Sandwich (contains wheat)
Southern California Regional Food
- Vegan Sugar & Spice Donuts (contains soy, wheat)
- Plain Bagel (contains soy, wheat)
- Everything Bagel (contains soy, wheat)
- Plant-Powered Sandwich (contains wheat)
Chicago Regional Food
- Plain Bagel (contains wheat)
- Everything Bagel (contains wheat)
- Plant-Powered Sandwich (contains wheat)
D.C. Regional Food
- Vegan Morning Glory Muffin (contains wheat)
- Vegan Cranberry Scone (vegan; contains soy, wheat)
- Plant-Powered Sandwich (contains whea)
Heads Up! The wheat-based bagels sold at the D.C. stores contain milk.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Philz Coffee
They have numerous shops in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Chicago, and Washington D.C. See the website below for addresses and hours.
Website: www.philzcoffee.com
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3 Comments
why no mention about drinks and drink options besides the milk.. i appreciate everything else, but you said you’d cover it.
Hi Joanna, that’s because they’re all dairy-free, as long as you order the right “milk.” I realize it’s confusing, so I contacted Philz Coffee to get a better explanation – I assumed they’d know how to say it best, and they did! So I’ve added that information to the post above for clarity. But in a nutshell, all Philz drinks are within dairy-free reach.
The pumpkin chocolate chip bread is soooo good. I like the corner piece best. Moist and flavorful