I had my first Peet's soy latte here and I instantly fell in love when the superb creaminess of the foam met the strong hand of excellent espresso. I'll always remember that day... that latte.... Without a doubt my favorite Peet's Coffee. It's such a nice location, on a beautiful corner in Ghetto with the sweet little birds chirping in the early morn. Wide variety of peeps to entertain you people watching types, from the grunge master to the nerd boy to the Maserati parking yupster to the old guy who's lived in the 'hood since Berkeley was a happening place to be. read more

This is probably the worst of the local Peet's, and only under the most dire circumstances do I enter. Service: Uneven and often half-witted, the service leaves a lot to be desired. I've never had so many miscommunications in my life, and it's all very inexplicable. I don't know how many times I've explicitly declined the courtesy cup of coffee only to have one appear (trust me: over cafinating me may be a bad thing for all involved). Shouting: Oh, it happens. There are two cashier stations, right? One for fluid, one for beans. Anyhow, the queueing process is unclear. Sometimes it's okay to go up and pay for the beans at the beans cashier station, and sometimes shouting. No kidding. The tool at the beans station once actually screeched at me for trying to pay at his cashier station for work he would be performing, directing me instead to go to the other station to pay. "It'th a thmart line!" he screamed diversely. Clientele: O Berkeleyites, you never cease to amaze me. In your honor, I've composed a poem Alabama's red, New York is blue If you're from the Berkeley hills, Catch a fucking clue Which is to say, don't dawdle at the counter, don't dick around with your phone in the points of egress, and ordering sissy drinks will result in mockery and pointing no matter how environmentally sound and politically conscious the choices might be. And no, I don't want to hear you recite the "funny" thing you heard on "Wait wait don't tell me." One star, because we can all do better than this. read more

Peet's has a lot of charm. I worked here for 2 hours - 2 hours of free internet! - and people watched for a while. A lot of people come here who know each other and who also hang out for a bit. I also appreciate that a lot of people come here, drink their coffee, and read their paper solo. The awkward part of this cafe is mostly the waiting space. Where customers wait to pick up their coffee is a little close to where other customers are sitting. When it's crowded in the store, this set-up is a little annoying. Overall, though, I enjoyed working here and enjoying a latte. read more

Today I went to Peet's Vine Street location in Berkeley for the first time in quite a while. I frequent the Peet's locations in Alameda and 4th St in Berkeley. I used to live on Rose, then Hopkins, and I used to go to the Vine St location often and I remember it as a welcoming environment. This doesn't appear to be the case now. I went to have a cup, but I wanted to use the bathroom first. The "customer's bathroom" had a sign that clearly read "OUT OF ORDER, USE THE OTHER BATHROOM". The other bathroom was the "EMPLOYEE'S BATHROOM". The lock indicated that it was "OCCUPIED". After waiting some time and knocking several times without a response, I went to the counter and asked if I could use the "EMPLOYEE" bathroom, as the sign directed, and the woman said, and I quote, "If someone doesn't come out in a few minutes I can open it for you." At this point another woman employee, "Brandy", came over and said, again I quote, " That bathroom is out of order, too." I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE and I told her so. Why would someone put a sign on the door telling customers to use the EMPLOYEE BATHROOM if that bathroom is not available. Is that the way Peet's management wants to run things? I don't know "Brandy", or what her position is, but she apparently needs some sensitivity training and training on what effect coffee has on the human body. My personal opinion is that a coffee based business should be required to have a working restroom. If not, they should have to close up until it is fixed. I'm not going to say that I won't ever spend another dime at a Peet's, but I think I'm going to avoid this location in the future and remember today's experience and Brandy for quite a while. After all, most of the time when you see a Peet's there is a Starbuck's across the street. I would rather spend my money where people are more considerate. read more

I really wish this Peet's would teach its baristas that a cappuccino is not a latte. I know the difference. If I'd wanted a cup full to the brim with milk and very little foam, I would have asked for a latte. I don't like a ton of milk, and I love foam, which is why I order cappuccinos. Even after my order was remade, it was an ever so slightly less milky latte. Which I'm now throwing away as I make coffee at home. Ugh. read more

Frequently having breakfast here. They have great cappuccino and friendly staffs. Highly recommended!

I'm a loyal peetnik and just love the dark roast coffees, especially Ethiopian and major dickensen. Today was a pleasure visiting the original peet's where it all started. Love the atmosphere and history. read more

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I decided to stop by because I work not too far from this location. It wasn't too busy when I got there. I ordered a medium soy chai latte and a pastry. After being there for 8 minutes I see all the other people who were in front of me and behind me already got their orders. I waited a few more minutes and asked about my order. Looks like the cashier did not ring up my order correctly or didn't pass the receipt to the barista. The barista asked what I ordered and I told her a soy chai latte, but they made me a drink with Expresso. The barista seemed annoyed that I told them that isn't what I ordered and quickly remade the drink. The drink wasn't that good I felt that it lacked sweetness. It took almost 18 minutes since I ordered my drink to get the right one. I understand that it gets busy and mistakes happen, but I'll probably just go elsewhere next time. read more

My favorite Peet's is of course the original. I have been going here for 10 years since I moved into the neighborhood and I love it. From getting to know the workers to sad goodbyes when they leave, it has always been a pleasure to go here. I love seeing the old Peetniks in the morning with their papers and coffee chatting away. For me, the dedicated bean line is a huge plus. I was a little sad when they stopped using the hand stamps and hand applied stickers. It just doesn't feel the same with printed labels, but maybe that's just me being nostalgic. I can definitely tell that the store is more organized now, but also a little more commercial as well. Regardless, this will always be my favorite and Peet's holds a special place in my heart. read more

Everyone around here owes a debt of gratitude to Alfred Peet for bringing European dark roasted coffee to the Bay Area in the 1950s and then eventually opening his own shop in Berkeley in 1966, which is this one on Vine Street. The coffee is good, consistent and strong, and Peet is generally attributed with the reason West Coasters prefer a stronger dark roast coffee profile than East Coasters (who for reasons I cannot come close to fathoming appear to prefer Dunkin Donuts coffee). Now, for those unaware, here is my brief summary of the tangled history of Peet's and Starbucks: Peet's was first. One student at USF (Jerry Baldwin) worked for Peet. He and his buddy at USF (Gordon Bowker) moved to Seattle after graduation, and started Starbucks, basing it on the Peet's model. At first Starbucks was just a roastery, not a cafe. They only did coffee "tastings" like wine tastings to get you to buy coffee by the pound. They were Peet's converts and proselytizers. Several years later Howard Schultz (who most people associate with Starbucks) joins the fold. Then Alfred Peet retires, and then STARBUCKS BUYS PEET'S (no kidding). Schultz wants to take Starbucks national -- the founders say no, they want to keep high quality and expand slowly. Schultz leaves to start his own chain. But then the founders of Starbucks decide they really just wanted Peet's all along, and in 1987 sell Starbucks to Schultz's group (for around $4 mil) but keep Peet's. Starbucks goes IPO and becomes an international behemoth, and the rest is history. (My source: Schultz's biography Pour Your Heart Into It.) So kudos to Peet's for keeping profits and expansion second to quality. For that, I give this location, the original Peet's coffeehouse, 5 stars. read more

Let's see. 1) A lil' scoop of Japanese matcha (green tea powder) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha 2) Ice 3) A f******kload of milk (or soymilk) 4) Blend into the Vitamix contraption 5) Pour into a cup A nice attempt, but Petey boy, I wanna taste that tea, not the milk! This is not a Tea La Tay freeze, Mmm-kay? Our lactose intolerant Asian asses thanks you very much if you can modify the receipe and perhaps blend it with tea instead of soy milk or bovine juice. Kudos at least for not using that Tazo stuff blended with whipped cream like *$ does. In conclusion: Peet's Matcha Green Tea Freddo \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ ====\ \========== | \ \ | | ~~~ \ \~~~~~~~~ | | \ \ | | \ \ | | \ \ | | \ \ | | THIS DRINK | | SUCKS! | -------------------------- read more

Hard to believe I have never written a review for this Peet's. I have been many a time since I was a teenager and for 3 summers straight, this was my Peet's since it is near where my daughter did summer camp (the Berkeley/Richmond JCC) and was on my way to work. This Peet's makes THE BEST foam for lattes and the drip coffee is always perfect. I love it when I ask for a "smarge" they do it exactly as it should be (small coffee in a large cup). I was in the other day and was pleased to see they had expanded since the last time I was in with counters and art and more places to hook up a computer! What is also hard to believe is that it has been almost 8 years since I have lived back in the Bay Area. What a fortunate life I am living! read more

I always come here in the mornings whenever I am back in the bay area. As we walk down the hill, enjoying the crisp autumn air, I get excited as soon as I see the bustle in the storefront and smell the wonderful aromas coming from Peet's. I just went today and bought a bag of whole bean house blend for $10.95. They offer a complimentary cup of coffee upon purchase which was perfect because I couldn't wait for that first sip! The coffees here are bolder and richer than Starbucks or Coffee Bean, in my opinion. I also like how it is less acidic/bitter even with all that flavor. The place is small, but I always see this particular location packed with people enjoying a hot cup o' joe while chatting it up with friends or reading a book. It's a great way to start a day and makes me feel like I am back home. read more

This is the location where I first discovered my favorite crack-like beverage, the Jasmine Lime Cooler. It is the best, most refreshing summer drink ever invented. Not too sweet, always icy cold, and wonderfully flavorful. Peet's is also the place where I had my first espresso drink, which led to quite the cascade of caffeine addiction that I don't regret to this day. I have been disappointed as of late in the rapid expansion of Peet's, which seems to be emulating Starbucks more and more each day to the detriment of the in-store service and barista abilities. However, the coffee itself is so good that I just paid $11.00 out of my oodles of loan money for just 12 oz. at Kroger's in Richmond, VA out of homesickness. read more

Ah, the mothership at last! This location is the OG Peets --- the Kenya AA (circa 1979) was the first coffee beans that I remember got me "hooked on coffee." My roommate in Grad School was from Berkeley, and he used to bring bags to our house in Santa Clara in the south Bay Area. In the back, a "museum" of sorts commemorates the life of Alfred Peet, the company founder. They even display vintage bags from each decade, 70's, 80's etc. It was a very nostalgic experience. Very few folks realize that the Starbucks craze was initiated at OG Peets. The beans (roasted at this very same location) were shipped to Seattle for the original Starbucks grand opening, and it wasn't for several months before Starbucks started roasting their own coffee! read more

Peet's needs no new reviews. I've long been a fan, and so going to this, the original Peet's, was an unsurprisingly tasty pilgrimage. This is, instead, a review of the people who work at Peet's, and especially of the people who work at this Peet's -- and especially of Noah and Ivonne (?) and their colleagues, who helped me today. Quite simply, it was one of the most interesting, most informative, and most appreciated coffee experiences I've ever had. I've long wondered how coffees from different parts of the world really differed from one another. I've long wondered what the difference was between earthy and acidic, and crisp, fruity and floral. And no, I still don't really know. But I've got a much better idea, and my conversation with the fine, knowledgeable and patient people at Peet's today was a big step in my education. This future, educated coffee consumer and appreciator really appreciates their help. Thanks! read more

This place is special, because it's the mother of all Starbucks. Thank you Peet! It's located in a rural portion of Berkeley. This area has a certain charm, and so much character. I feel like it was built for Alice in Wonderland. I had an iced mocha. It was made fresh, as all the drinks here. I loved it. Their coffee doesn't have an acidic aftertaste, and the beans never taste burnt. There's a few outdoor seats, and PLENTY of space inside. I never try the baked goods here, but they look glorious (especially compared to Starbucks). The staff here are like friends, and they treat you that way. read more

The worst customer service I have ever received at a coffee shop. Had this been my first visit to a Peets Coffee, it would have been my last. Neither the order clerk nor the barista could be bothered to even politely smile. The young man taking our order was surly and rude to my 70 year old father who was merely ordering a plain black coffee amd trying to be friendly. When I inquired about the Mayan Mocha, he could not give any description, just that he didnt like it. It wasn't rush hour. There was not a long line waiting impatiently behind us. Not that any of these would excuse his lack of basic manners. The barista just shoved the black coffee at us. Didn't call our name. Didn't say "here you are". Not even eye contact. And then it was lukewarm. I am so sorry I chose to take my visiting father here. Of the hundreds of coffee choices in Berkeley alone, I will not ever make this mistake again. Sadly this is the Original store and many Peets coffee lovers like I was will go out of their way, like I did, to visit "where it all started" only to be imnensely disappointed and disenchanted with Peet's if this is how they are treated. Two stars only because my Mayan Mocha was good (although not very hot) and the young lady working cleanup smiled and was polite as we were leaving. She was the only redeeming virtue of the original Peet's location. This Peet's experience has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth amd a sinking disappointment in a coffee I once loved. I will not be visiting any Peet's locations nor purchasing any Peet's coffee products for a very long time. read more

I like this Peets because it's tucked away in the neighborhood. I was surprised to learn that this is the first Peet's ever...I feel so privileged to be so nearby! I'm glad it's that time of year again...the pumkin spiced latte has debuted once again! read more

This is the mothership. This is where specialty coffee in America was birthed. This is mecca! The original Peets coffee. Please bring sacrifices to the alter and offer them up while you down a perfectly brewed cup of Major Dickason's Blend. Long before Starbucks turned coffee into a fruit drink (and long before they stole their type of roast from Peets), Peets coffee was roasting up brilliant and hand selected coffees from around the world and selling them to the happy people of Berkeley. Its not just the speed that kept all those hippies marching up and down Telegraph Ave! This Peets is nestled right into the gourmet ghetto, walking distance from the Cheeseboard and Chez Panise. It is a beautiful shop made of dark stained woods matching the coffees nicely. Don't go in to get a mocha caramel whipped cream topped bowl of milk, go in to get a great cup of coffee. Notice how they brew it, notice the coffee to water ratio! Its perfect. Also note that the Teas here are really good. The Irish Breakfast is some of the best around. And the herbal teas are also of the highest quality. So really this is the place for hot liquids of all sorts. read more

The other well-put Yelp reviews are adequate and there is no need for me to add. This is the original establishment. The Vine Street location is the heart, soul, and birthplace of Peets. This cafe has a museum in the back documenting the history of its beginnings. They offer Free Wifi. It is always busy and they make a great cup of joe! read more

I was an assistant manager at a coffee shop in Santa Cruz while in college. After I graduated I was involved in a start up and oversaw all of the roasting operations. As luck would have it, one of the founders was a friend of Alfred Peet -- and was able to arrange to have him as consultant to enhance my coffee and roasting skills. I was already a huge fan of Peet's coffee -- and to this day I can still remember the first cup of coffee I ever had at Vine street. Alfred was the Warren Buffett of the coffee world -- he was the country's authoritative voice on all things coffee. That being said, he was not a quiet or soft-spoken man, he knew what he was talking about and was quick to let you know if you didn't know what you were doing. We had a rep from the roaster company come to our facility and Alfred quickly put him in his place -- and reduced the man to tears For a reason unknown to me, Alfred was very patient and helpful with me. My time spent with him was as valuable as it was memorable. Granted, there is a connection between Alfred Peet and Starbuck's -- but the origins of great coffee in this country start with Alfred Peet and his first store on Vine Street. This is where I had the cup of coffee that will be the yardstick I will always measure all others to -- it was a cup of Kona -- and secrets be told.....Peet's Kona is not 100% Kona -- and in that secret is why their Kona was always soooooo good. read more

Dark, but not burnt. Strong, but not caustic. I'm a lifelong light-medium roast feller. Cream and 2 sugars. That's my drinking profile so you can put my comments into perspective. If you're not really paying attention and tasting the different varieties, you might want to look elsewhere. The flavors are deep, balanced and understated. If you're just jonzing for a coffee fix, the best parts may be passing you by. Adding cream and sugar really makes it difficult to appreciate the flavors. Fatapple's restaurant brews up an amazing Peet's coffee. All of the drinks made here are really good and the mixed drinks aren't sugar bombs like at Charfucks. There's one guy who made a really lousy mocha once. He's gone. And there's a female employee that while smiling and cheery with everyone else, treats me like I said to her- "NICE TITS" or something else reprehensible. I must look like an ex-boyfriend who boffed her BFF or something cuz I am pleasant like a monk in my transactions. Be sure to listen in on the bums outside this Peets discuss the world, philosophy, and politics. read more

Madrigal for St Peet's Day Tran sated from Olde Englishe by St Ell C OhPeet's, Peet's, Peet's Thank you, tra la, la, la, lala You get me going in the morning, tra la, la,lala, Your coffee tastes like coffee That's why you are the saint of which, Tara la Searching from Abyssinia to Zanzibar , trar, lar, tral lar, From Guatemala to Guinea. la, lalala. We sing your praises near and Fa, la, la, la We grind and measure to your command , Ladiadah, didah Dear St Peet, in heaven above. lura, lura lu. Danika, thanks, Merci and gracias. Las, Las, Las read more

I have been visiting this Peet's on and off for over 10 years and never complained. Today i got served a Starbuck quality latte and bad attitude when I asked for my drinks to be remade. Not sure if the shop has new management, but this is sorely disappointing for "the original" Peet's. read more

This location is very hit or miss. I used to be a barista and have high expectations for the quality of my latte orders. Because I refrain from adding sweeteners, the freshness of the shot is important for me to be able to enjoy my drink. A bitter, dead latte is hardly worth wasting $3.90. The man who took my order was courteous, knowledgeable, and attentive. I felt valued as a customer. But the connection at the hand off plane was terrible. Today my latte was bitter. I often expect this because I have a more developed pallet than the average customer but am not usually upset because it's just coffee. I don't ever mind waiting for a remake if it means my drink will be delicious. Today my order was one of only two drinks in queue. So I politely informed the barista, a redhead with tattoos, that it was bitter and I would like it remade with less time between pulling the shot and adding the milk. She sighed heavily and proceeded to inform me that the shot in my drink was not expired and that it must just be too much espresso for me. "Sorry. I don't control how much coffee the grinder puts into the machine. I could remake it but it will be exactly the same. There is nothing I can do." She flatly refused to fix my drink. If you want your espresso made right, don't bother with this location. Go to Peet's on Solano. They get it right almost every time and have no problem remaking drinks the rare time they don't. And their customer service is 100% kinder. read more

When I'm in North Berkeley, my morning starts at this Peet's. Why does this Peet's rock the house so much? Three words: vegan breakfast goods. I don't know any other chain coffee joints that have vegan pastry options and while I'm not sure that Peet's does this in every store (I suspect not), but this one has won me heart and soul for this thoughtful addition. Of course, great coffee, nice location, and free Wi-fi don't hurt a bit! read more

Love the history of this place and I love Peets in general.... But this particular location (ironic because it is the original) and it's workers are more hilarious than anything else. Maybe it's the eclectic Berkeley charm. I order a normal coffee because I actually like the taste of coffee sometimes (although I also like the sugary espresso drinks from time to time) and she fills up my medium cup half way... I'm kind of confused as I paid for a medium and take it back to her... 'uhhh I don't use THAT much cream... can you fill it up a bit more' .... is she high on coffee beans? She then offered some excuse like 'oh i thought you said small' blabla but.... you put it in a medium cup... simple mistake okay whatever... just kind of a blotch in their service. In addition to that, there is limited seating plus very very awkward high stools for a ledge/counter thing that is too low. The stools are about the same size of the counter... is this supposed to be comfortable? The age range of the patrons are slightly older... which also makes me wonder about the whole really high stools thing... There are only like 3 tables and a few benches... can't really do any sort of reading or studying here comfortably. I really like the other Peets location on Shattuck though!! PLUS it has a bathroom (unlike this Peets on Vine). *trivia: Starbucks learned how to roast their coffee beans from Peets ... they basically just had a better marketing team and reproduced like bunnies across the world. read more

I enjoyed visiting this Peet's a few weeks ago when the demolition was complete and the place had been stripped down to the studs. I walked in this morning to check out the remodel. WOW!!! I'm very impressed by the job that they did and was especially floored by the Alfred Peet room in the back. Come and check it out! read more

Lots of seating. The baristas seemed a little tired, but they gave me what I needed. I used an email coupon to get a free small drink with oatmeal purchase, but she still charged me for both, so I had to remind her. The iced pumpkin spice latte took a couple minutes to make, but I was happy to get a medium! All of the other customers were pretty chill, so this could be a nice study/ relaxation place. read more

Is nobody going to mention how consistently awful their drip coffee tastes? It's a cup of lukewarm burnt sewage. Do they ever clean their machines out? It's goddamn revolting, and it's always like this. The service, however, is just fine and dandy. I work a block away, so I end up going here when I don't have time to make it to The Cheeseboard for a cup. I can make a better drip at home in my friggin' $20 Mr. Coffee with a bag of Peets from Safeway. Maybe it's time to invest in a thermos... read more

It's Peets. I love Peet's. This place is no bueno. Recent experiences: - Came in with my four-year old in search of a cookie. My daughter "Mama, I want chocolate chip!", Barista, "I will check" barista two mumbles something... I say "do you have a chocolate chop cookie?" Barista two: "I JUST SAID NO- DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?" What the F??? NO I did not hear you and the rude attitude was totally unnecessary and I am sorry you hate your job. Geezus. Overall, slow service and the tables in the middle make it feel really crowded and cluttered. read more

I'm a coffee lover. Well, more like coffee addict, some would say. So, being able to visit the original Peet's whenever I wanted (when I was a student at Cal) was awesome! This location is pretty big compared to other Pee'ts in the area. There's room to sit inside and outside but most of the time, it's full and hard to find seats. So, really it makes the store look small... Towards the back of the store is a little Peet's museum (at least that's what I called it), where they feature the history of Peet's coffee. The restrooms are back there as well. Anyway, stop by Peet's for a nice cup of latte and then walk down a block and grab a cupcake from Love at First Bite. Yum. read more

Since I used to work at Peets I TOTALLY understand the whole "Hipster-Emo disgruntle worker behind the counter" gig. They don't get much pay, they deal with people who NEED their fix before and after work everyday, and they typically have to get up at Butt-Thirty in the morning to open their shop everyday. ...BUT...good costumer service is good customer service and if you work for tips, its generally a good idea to just be nice, smile, and occasionally kiss your customers asses to make that extra dollar per hour. That being said, If you're not a REGULAR at this spot, don't expect the royal treatment or waste your tip pennies at this Peet's because the hipsters behind the bar could care less about you or your cup of coffee. The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is that its conveniently close to my boyfriends house, a couple of my friends work there (Much LUV to Erin and Beth) and the regular cups o' Joe kick my ass into high gear when I REALLY need it. read more

PEET'S COFFEE at Walnut Square in Berkelet, CA is like a holy shrine to me. My first visit was in 1973, at the time that I was an undergrad at U.C.Berkeley. The next year, I moved to an apartment at 1519 Walnut Street, located just across the street from Peet's. My weekly ritual was to order a small cup, and then buy a quiche from around the corner, and sometimes buy a houseplant from PLANT PARENTHOOD, also in Walnut Square. Peet's at this location gets one million stars for these reasons: (1) The coffee has an excellent flavor that invites thoughtful contemplation. In my experience, the only other way to acquire coffee this good is to order coffee at a restaurant where meals cost in the range of $80.00 to $150.00. But at Peet's, you do not have to order a $100.00 meal, just to get excellent coffee. (2) The selection of coffees is intriguing, and invites the consumer to become familiar with coffees from, for example, Guatamala, Sumatra, Columbia, as well as different roasts, such as Italian roast. (3) The selection of teas is also inviting and fascinating. In particular, I like the tea pearls, which are little spheres. (4) Peet's at Walnut Square is also inviting, because of the quiche shop, also in Walnut Square, and the various gift and apparel shops nearby. The entire ambiance of this particular corner of Berkeley's gormet ghetto is perfect for me. (5) This is about negatives. Peet's is a great place, because of the absence of negative points. Coffee from other coffeeshops and cheap restaurants is typically old, deteriorated, and burned. In particular, the "coffee" from StarXXXX's is always over-roasted to the point of being burned, resulting in an undrinkable and unpalatable beverage. Also, Peet's refrains from dressing up its coffees with outlandish names, and bizarre flavorings, as is typically the case at StarXXXX's. read more

Very friendly staff! Happy to visit the original Slightly disappointed with the vanilla latte. Foam was really thin and was hoping for more. I enjoyed my sisters matcha tea latte better read more

I fear my parents come to Berkeley merely to get some Peet's coffee and just visit me as an afterthought. The coffee is indeed good and was my staple morning meal for my high-school commute to dorky zero-period band and crew practice. Seven years later and I still have to be careful about Peet's. Let's just say I have been up to 4 shots a day and had to cut radically back. The best part about the coffee is that unlike Starbucks, which is extremely acidic and tends to get your guts astir, Peet's doesn't cause any tummy trouble. It's just smooth caffeinating. If you come here regularly, they WILL know your order ahead of time. read more

I grew up just blocks from the original Peet's Coffee, the smell permeating our kitchen every morning when my parents needed their caffeine fix... how could I not be a fan? Peet's knows how to roast coffee. That's why the folks who started Starbucks used Peet's beans for their first year of operation... that was after they defected from Peet's in the first place. But you can't beat the original. Strong, flavorful, dark and much better quality than the mass marketed chains, Peet's are the only beans I keep in my house. Even in Seattle, away from the mothership, Peet's is still excellent and can go toe to toe with any of the independent roasters here. I would recommend Major Dickason's blend, but watch out, this isn't your average drip - if you are sensitive to caffeine, this will knock you off your feet. Don't go in for your frappe-whip-vanilla-almond-whatever fancy drink, Peet's is best when you just let the coffee shine. read more

Is it me or is Peet's slowly getting weaker and weaker? I think that in their expansion, they are going the route of Starbucks and trying to appeal to wider America's taste, which is crap. And it's not just this location. I find my cup lately has been hit or miss in quality and taste. Anyway, I hope I'm just paranoid and that I just burnt whatever subtle palette I had left for coffee flavor detection. read more

The one, the only, the original Peet's in the Gourmet Ghetto. My mom used to drag me here before Peet's made it's way east of the Caldecott Tunnel, though she didn't give me coffee (always two of their fresh madeleines though!). I swore up and down to my parents that I'd never be coffee drinker. Funny thing about saying never, right? So naturally, I am as any Bay Area resident, a Peet's convert from birth, eschewing any comparisons to Starbucks or Tullys. My devotion aside, the great thing about this particular Peet's location is it's proximity to other great food and drink. Particularly Love At First Bite, just around the corner (they're moist cupcakes will be my end!) and the fantastic cheese shop on Shattuck. Pair those morsels with a perfectly made Garuda blend mocha and you have one very blissful afternoon in the hub of the gourmet universe (well in Berkeley anyway!) read more