Guys,

I noticed that there are really no discussion on Peet's coffee. It does not seem to be popular with everyone here. Is it because they are usually considered dark roasts which are not popular with everyone here? I like to know your opinion on this.

The original Peet's location -- the one Alfred Peet himself opened on the corner of Walnut and Vine -- is just down the hill from my house. Generally speaking, as soon as I discovered that there were great roasters that would ship coffee to me the day it was roasted, I stopped buying my weekly pound of coffee at Peet's.

I still go in either the original or one of Peet's other locations -- on average once a week -- and get a small cappuccino, but the only time I buy my beans there nowadays is if a) I mis-time my order from an online source, and have run out at home; and b) if I cannot get to Blue Bottle at either the (Saturday) Berkeley or (Sunday) Temescal Farmer's Market.

Now, that said, Peet's remains my preferred "chain," compared to places like the ubiquitous Starbucks, or The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but -- while I think a huge debt is owed to Albert Peet and to Peet's Coffee & Tea -- there are much better micro-roasters* and so-called "third wave" cafés out there . . . (IMHO, of course; YMMV).

Cheers,
Jason

* Perhaps "speciality roasters" is a better term to use.

I used to love Peet's—it is where I learned to love coffee and espresso. It is also where I bought my first espresso machine. Here's how that went in those days. If you expressed an interest in buying an espresso machine, you scheduled an appointment with a manager who was familiar with all the machines they carried, about four or five—la Pavoni, Gaggia, Rancilio. When you arrived at the appointment, all the machines were hot and ready to go. The manager worked all the machines and let you work all the machines, including grinders for sale. There was no shortage of beans, and the beans were roasted according to what brought out the best in the beans. There was also the signature Peet's slow roast. At the end of the session, you were free to buy the machine of your choice or hold off, and the hand's on comparison with expert guidance made a confident decision much easier. What great service and coffee.

At some point Peet's went on the stock exchange. It is my estimate that to appeal to shareholders the brand had to be distinguished from others, and the way they did it is to emphasize the roast, such that any Peet's coffee you sipped had a distinguished character, not of a particular bean, but the Peet's roast, to the point of caricature.

So I really enjoyed Peet's beans in the past, but I think the prominence of the roast character these days is to the detriment of the cup.

I have a soft spot for Peets from my Stanford days living in Palo Alto from 1976-80 and frequenting their shop. I thought I lost good coffee moving back east but I learned of their mail order business and used it until a couple of years ago when I discovered better roasts. Their Kenya was my go to regular cup and I still think its very good for a dark roast.

I fully agree with Jason and his comments about how pioneering Mr Peet was and the debt owed to him by newer specialty roasters.

Back in 2001- when I moved to Oakland. I used to go to Peet's Emeryville warehouse/roastery and buy their espresso blends - as green beans - and roast them myself! $5.00 lb.

I see they have expanded considerably since those days - are they going the way of Starbucks? .... there is even one down the block from me ... in Capitola.

I would look to smaller independent local roasters, at this point. I hear there is one called "Verve" in Capitola - with a good reputation, that is where I would buy beans if I needed/wanted to try "'pre-roasted" ones.

Howard

P.S. I did buy a bag of our Capitola Peet's espresso roasted coffee about 3 years ago - yeah, it was, if I remember correctly, quite dark... darker than I prefer.

I grew up in Berkeley and dealt with Alfred Peet and the original store. Peet's Coffee is now a commercial organization with multiple stores and a brand to define and retain. With that said, I think that they are the best of the commercial coffee roasters/houses (Starbucks, Peets, Coffee Bean, etc.) and I know that I will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee there if I see a Peet's store or stand.

There are now many small roasters either, local or available by order that are more refined and/or specialized. Near me in San Diego I really like Bird Rock Coffee Roasters as an example. I really like to be able to make a decision on a coffee while I smell and see the beans so I don't tend to order beans online but clearly there are numerous roasters that have temped me and have great reputations and strong followings.

Dory,

I order on-line from Peet's. My wife likes Peet's. But I like Black Cat. She said she doesn't like the acidity from Black Cat. I usually order New Guinea from Peet's for her.

I just noticed that there were not too many discussion about Peet's. I wasn' sure how people in the forum feels about Peet's.