Looking for coffee shops to try in Philadelphia? Check out our Brew Review of Function Coffee Labs in Philadelphia to learn what you should know before you go.
Function Coffee Labs in Philadelphia
Function Coffee Labs is a coffee shop that combines science and coffee to make delicious coffee drinks for their guests to enjoy. Using the hashtag #sciencemadecoffee, Function Coffee Lab prides itself on integrating science into the brewing process of the coffee. After coming across this Instagram account when looking for cafes to visit for brunch, we decided that we’d give it a try since neither of us had been there before, despite being from the Philly area.
THE VIBE:
The cafe is small, cozy, and very inviting. The decor is what I would probably describe as being modern with an industrial twist. There was a mixture of light and dark wood with whites, beiges, blacks and blues. There was an adorable gallery wall with coffee-related references on it and shelves adorned with coffee-related puns and trinkets. It’s clear when you walk in, however, that the focal point is the mural on the wall at the back of the cafe, detailing the coffee process. I am not sure who painted, but I found it to be very creative and informative since it shares with you how the coffee we’re drinking gets from seed to cup.
Additionally, the environment appeared to be very friendly. The baristas were patient, kind, and informative. They were willing to answer whatever questions my husband had about the roasts as he tried to decide which one he wanted. As regulars came in with their kids, they greeted them as they would a friend, asking them how their family members were doing whilst preparing their order. While we there someone, who I am assuming lives in the neighborhood, brought some food to them for them to enjoy during lunch and it immediately made me smile. I think it says a lot about the shop’s willingness to get to know their customers and the connection that they make an effort to have with each of them.
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THE COFFEE
They have regular house coffee provided by Vibrant Coffee Roasters, but what they’re known for I found out about after we’d visited, unfortunately – their specialty drinks prepared by their Hario V60 pour-over including their “coffee shot” drink.
Their website describes these drinks as, “These coffees are sweet, bright and unlike any coffee that you’re likely to have come across, with tasting notes that range from fruity and floral to buttery, earthy and nutty.“
I really wish I would’ve read their website before visiting and decided to try this drink. I noticed that there were some people who had drinks served in vials you’d often find in Chemistry class, but I didn’t realize it until after I’d ordered our coffees. However, it’ll definitely be a drink I will try the next time we manage to visit the coffee shop.
What we did end up ordering though was just as enjoyable, however. I opted for their peppermint mocha, which was their seasonal drink on the menu while Han grabbed their regular house roast served in a to-go cup. The drink was refreshing, but not overly sweet, which I loved. I don’t really like it when my coffee is super sweet, so I appreciated that it was created with just the right amount of peppermint and mocha without overpowering the natural flavor or the coffee.
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THE FOOD
As a cafe, while they are focused primarily on the coffee, they have a menu that features food that you can enjoy as you work or catch up with loved ones over coffee. I am not sure if the food menu changes as often as their coffee menu does during certain times of the year, but the day that we grabbed their avocado toast, butter toast and their chocolate croissant.
The avocado toast was the best avocado toast that I’ve had and this is coming from someone who wasn’t much of a fan of it when I first tried it nearly a year ago. In the avocado toasts that I’ve had, the avocado is mashed but unseasoned with assorted toppings that don’t really mesh well with the taste or consistency of the avocado so it ends up tasting bland.
However, this toast was on sourdough bread with seasoned avocado mash, pickled radish, and red pepper flakes garnished on top. I would have originally never paired those items together, but what resulted from it was a delicious medley of spicy, savory, and tartness. The sourdough toast was crispy where it needed to be, but nice and warm on the inside.
I did not get to try my husband’s croissant, but he says that it was really delicious.
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WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
If you are in the Bella Vista area, I would recommend that you give it a try. As avid coffee lovers, we appreciate when cafes know good coffee and I’d say from our visit to Function Coffee Labs, they have a good awareness of their brews and what the customer may enjoy. Whether you’re looking for something semi-sweet like my peppermint mocha or dark and robust like my husband’s choice of coffee, there’s a little something for everyone.
Function Coffee Labs
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