Jacob Jaber - How Philz Coffee Built a Cult Following

Jacob Jaber helped turn his dad’s corner store in San Francisco into one of the most beloved coffee brands in the country. In this episode, we break down how Philz became a Silicon Valley icon — without ever serving espresso.

We cover:

• How Jacob scaled from 1 store to 80+
• The real reason they refused to add espresso machines
• Why hospitality was always the product (not coffee)
• Their $100M raise — and the Naval Ravikant story behind it
• What Jacob looks for now as an investor in brick-and-mortar startups

This isn’t just a story about coffee. It’s about obsession, word-of-mouth, and building a brand so good, people tell their friends. If you’re building anything consumer-facing, this one’s a must-listen.

Links: 

Buy or sell your franchise: https://www.frandawgs.com/ 

Jacob’s investment firm: https://www.humblelion.co/ 

Follow Jacob! https://x.com/JacobJaber