Function Coffee Labs

Vibrant Coffee can be found here, and this was the cafe that introduced me to my now favorite brand of beans from Philly. Coffee is delicious here and a great place to grab a cup of some of the best that Philly has to offer. If you find yourself in the Italian Market, check this place out!

The pour over coffee is amazing. The combination of the pastry and coffee made for an amazing start to the weekend. I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to truly enjoy their coffee.

These guys take what they do more seriously then any other coffee shop in the city. Always friendly and patient.

They have the best Latte in town. The last time I had a latte that good was in Montreal in the 80's! I stop there almost every day. It is addictive. The staff is relaxed, friendly and very coffee knowledgeable. They really know their stuff. Some have interesting stories about their years of travel studying the art of coffee making. Very cool place.

Fante’s, the kitchen shop on 9th, makes these amazing frozen cappuccinos from May to October, $3 for a 12-oz cup. Being a little shy of this range but craving a frozen coffee drink, we followed the signs for frozen cortados into Function. Attached is a photo of what we received for $5.50. I would like to note that I am 5’2” with a small hand. It was three scoops of a small spoon. $5.50. Around the corner, Villa di Roma was handing out samples of tomato sauce in the same sized cups. Samples! The frozen cortado was bitter and chunky, and paying so much for one fluid ounce of it has put a stink on this otherwise very nice day.

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 coffee done right.

My favorite coffee shop! The staff is so kind and welcoming, especially Marf!

excellent coffee and atmosphere. very friendly and very hip.

Great neighborhood coffee shop! If you enjoy good, quality coffee from a friendly, knowledgeable staff, this place should be on your list of coffee shops in Philadelphia. May become your favorite

Great specialty coffee selection. Pour overs served perfectly. Helpful staff. Delicious pastries. Whats not to like?