With no other place to get strong coffee near campus (and I'm not a fan of a Starbucks that isn't even really a Starbucks since it's not owned by the actual company) - Peet's definitely HITS THE SPOT. Especially on days when you're feeling like a zombie and need some good old coffee and caffeine and just nice baristas. The layout is a bit small - it's not the biggest but it's decently sized for people to set up a little study station/work area. I do like Peet's Coffee a lot - so it's always nice to have multiple locations in one city. Makes running errands and going to class a lot nicer! lol Parking usually isn't too bad in this plaza - you may have to do some walking but Peet's is easy to get to and the wait for drinks is never superbly long here - another perk of being located at UTC and not on campus. Hheheh read more

We just got out of dinner and we stopped in for coffee. I am little hard of hearing especially in a noisy place. I kept misunderstanding the girl at the counter. By the time we got our order in we were all laughing hysterically. It is good to laugh....makes the coffee taste better. With or without a laugh...the coffee was good as was the service. read more

Good atmosphere here for studying. I like coming here for iced beverages because they serve them instantly, as opposed to Starbucks which puts you at the back of the line behind people getting the time-consuming hot stuff. I wish the food options were a bit better though. Microwaveable sandwiches would do the trick! read more

Horrible coffee - beans are way over roasted - in the New Orleans airport No tops for the coffee cups. At 5:45 am, they were brewing the last coffee they had. Server said cup tops and more coffee had been requested several times but management hAd never responded Fuhgedaboutit read more

There are a few things that I actually like from NorCal. Peet's Coffee is one of them. This Peet's Coffee used to be a locally-grown Diedrich's Coffee when I was an undergrad at nearby UC Irvine, but ironically, that local business has since been substituted by something from the Bay Area, capital of Kashi and mecca of things sustainable, organic and locally owned. However, any place that plays classical music unabashedly and constantly should automatically get an extra point for trying to bring back some culture and class in our lives. All Peet's do this, it seems. In fact, they do this so well that I feel like saying the word "Dartmouth" or "Yale" or some other ivy-league east coast school that I didn't go to every time I'm here. This Peet's also has more plush furnishings than your run-of-the-mill Starbucks and generally I feel the quality of the coffee seems a bit higher. Now, I'm no coffee connoisseur, but stronger smelling coffee usually means a good thing. My one qualm about this, and all Peet's for that matter, is their plastic cups. They have blandly designed plastic cups for cold drinks. It features some blue Latin American sun design with no Peet's branding whatsoever. Like a good wine, you want people to know what the heck it is you're drinking. I'm a little uneasy about the "cap-less" presentation that they occasionally do if you order something without whipped cream. You usually then have to walk over to the--what would you call it?--"condiment counter" I guess?--and pick up a plastic cap, either flat or rounded, depending on whether you have whipped cream or not. I find that since my cup is already exposed and since I'm already at the "condiment counter," that I might as well dash some cocoa on it and some other exotic spices before sealing it with a cap. I'm sure my waistline appreciates that extra peppering of chocolate. This particular Peet's is also very crowded during days in which there is class at nearby UC Irvine. You also have to be mindful of the parking spaces nearby that share with the Trader Joe's...some of them are timed to 30 minutes or, a more obscure 45 minutes. An aside: As a grad student at UCI and a current alumnus from their undergraduate school, I can't help but cringe a bit when I see young people talk about how college life is. I just put on my earbuds and blast the music louder than they can talk about the inane subjects of whatever it is college people talk about these days. read more

I work at UCI right across the street and needed my coffee fix so I came here this morning and got a medium coffee. I'm supposed to be good and not eat so much crap... but the pumpkin chocolate cake looked too delicious to pass over. An epic fail for me for self-control -_- The cake is friggin awesome. It's not too overbearingly sweet especially for so early in the morning. The chocolate that runs through the cake is effing rad and it's perfect with slight bitterness of the strong brewed coffee. I've never had a bad experience coming here so I must be getting lucky. Maybe it's only the good baristas work in the morning? In any case, I woke up feeling irritable and now I feel content all thanks to the deliciously caloric pumpkin chocolate cake and coffee. read more

I love this little coffee shop. The staff is warm and kind. The coffee is strong and sourced responsibly. My personal favorite is a heated almond croissant with a "big bang" dark brew. It can just be me, but, it's all about the little things in life and this coffee shop never fails to provide. read more

It's so nice to have a Starbucks alternative so close to campus although I miss Dietrich's! Peet's coffee is so superior, the flavor of the coffee is so much deeper and smoother. It lacks the bitterness of Starbucks coffee. Love their drip coffee, pumpkin spice latte, and all their pastries are delicious and reasonable in price. I love when they have vegan cookies, scones, or fruit filled croissants. A good place to study although you have to come early to grab a seat. They have free wifi if you ask the cashier for the code when you order and the standard cushy arm chairs. It can get a little loud if people are talking inside, so it would be best to do less intense studying or reading here or bring headphones. read more

The difference between a tea drinking experience at Peet's versus Starbucks is like day and night. Black and white. Cool and Uncool. Non-corrupt and corrupt. Excellent and not so excellent. Life and death. Starbucks will give you a tea bag that was packed in China, that you could buy a box 30 for $5 at your local supermarket, that ultimately tastes very packaged and processed. Peet's, on the other hand, gives you a loose leaf tea bag, carefully stored with their other bags, with (if you ask) instructions on when to take the bag out once the tea is fully brewed. The taste is deep and aromatic, not stale and Made in China. I've been to this particular Peet's three times now; I go about twice a year to visit the same friend. I find the staff very friendly and helpful although I still have issues with the lack of space and seating - the last time I went, our party of four squeeze into a table made for 1.5 people and I sat right by the door, shifting my seat every time someone entered the place. Unlike Starbucks, Peet's has good coffee AND tea. I just really don't like Starbucks. read more

Yes, you are very close to UCI. Yes, students tend to drink coffee and need to study. Does that mean that Peets is required to provide copious amounts of study space for you? NO. Just beware that there is not a lot of space in this location. Starbucks probably has more space for you and your laptop and your text book. Or go to Lee's and their huge seating area. I come here about twice a week to get coffee (drip) and on occasion I have to wait for more coffee to brew which can be annoying because I feel that their drip should be the first priority. They have capacity to brew three batches of coffee so I'm not sure why they aren't. Perhaps I have bad timing, but having to wait for drip eliminates one of the best features of drip (no waiting for your drink). However, the service in general is friendly and smiling and for me Peets is the best coffee chain for drip coffee. read more

How random that the very day I decide to review Peet's, they announce free unlimited wi-fi. That was my biggest complaint!! So glad that they did this! I really like this location, except that it is not quite big enough for all the student traffic from UCI. If you want to sit down to work at this location, you'd better get there before 8am. The baristas are very friendly, knowledgeable, and well-trained. The quality of my drinks is much less variable than at Starbucks. read more

I love their coffee!! It is always soooo busy in here but I can see why!! I got horchata latte with oatmilk and it's definitely my new fav!! I like Starbucks, but I just tried both of their new nondairy coffee drinks on the menu and they were honestly soooo gross and bland! :( and I have a lot of experience with drinking and ordering nondairy coffee drinks so I was sad, but this drink was the bomb!! I'm in love and definitely will be coming there more often for this drink lol read more

Peet's Coffee - Horchata latte with oatmilk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

True coffee lovers fix. Much more care goes into the prep of the drinks and food items than a Starbucks. I will drink black coffee here, where I would not at a 'bucks. Be prepared for strong coffee and a large selection of teas. If you are an iced tea fan, be prepared to wait about 5 minutes to put a freshly brewed tea of your choice over ice. You have about 15-20 teas to choose from - Black teas, green teas, oolong teas, mixtures. Favorites: pronounced Yin-How Green Tea, soy latte (soy is actually less sweet than many others that I've tried at the chains), Reduced-fat Morning Star muffin No cake pops, no breakfast muffins, no premixed or made drinks - made to order. read more

If it weren't for my boyfriend introducing me to their Green Tea Match Freddo then I don't think I would have taken much notice to this place. Whenever I'm in the mood for tea this is the place I'll be. I chose this location because I'm currently here sitting outside. Three stars for their lack of indoor seating and having to request a code for their complimentary one hour wifi. I think it would be nice if they had those lamp heaters for their customers who don't get inside seating due to crowdedness. read more

I used to love Peet's but the service could be really off sometimes... I ordered hot chocolate with soy. I knew it's sweet so I asked for half sugar. It still came out really really sweet, which is fine, and I asked the barista to put some more hot soy to my drink. I though this is a legitimate request (have to say, i did it at Starbucks before without a single problem), but the this barista gave me a hard time. She seemed all pissed when adding hot soy to my drink. read more

I was there today at around 1pm. Gentleman who brewed a fresh Big Bang was very kind; reminded me that, once again, people are good and kind on a beautiful day like this. Loved the gingerbread despite the calorie count but it is okay to spoil yourself every once in a while at Peet's Coffee. Every time it is a pretty good experience at Peet's. I couldn't thank enough. Thank you for your kindness. Happy holidays:) read more

This location needs to hire more people only three people working on a busy Saturday and only one register. Long line please hire more people read more

I am deeply saddened to discover what a low-quality coffee house this has become...This morning I discovered 3 hairs in my latte, and my cookie consisted of raw dough in the middle. However! It is still far superior to any coffee joint within a 5 mile radius, that says a lot unfortunately :( Also, the internet was intermittent, so that alone deserves -2 stars ;) The servers however were very nice and accommodating, but the hairs rendered in my latte were not :P read more

Friendly staff. Always knowledgeable about the menu/offerings. And their cold brew is really good. It tastes like cold brew. Not regular iced coffee. (Unlike a more popular coffee house chain I won't name.) read more

I remember when I took my first ever sip of Peet's (iced vanilla latte), my mind screamed out, "Why the hell have you been wasting your precious money on Starbucks all these years?!" I'm no coffee expert so I can only describe this in layman's terms, but Peet's coffee is stronger, much richer and smoother than at Starbucks. This Peet's has great service and a quiet atmosphere. The pastries are okay, not really worth spending your money on. Wi-Fi is technically free, but you have to make a purchase before they give you the code; each code expires after two hours. read more

I didn't get a lid on my Freddo... But it was quiet and peaceful like Peet's Coffee should be. Good Service Good Coffee. I think I'll try tea next time. read more

Everytime I come in here, the workers are very welcoming. GREAT customer service -- Today, I couldn't decide between the Pumpkin Chai Latte and the Pumpkin Latte. Not only did the workers help me pick one, but when I went up to pick up my order, the barista was nice enough to make me an extra cup of the drink I ended up not choosing just so I could get to taste it. How awesome is that :) To add, both the Pumpkin Chai Latte and the regular Pumpkin Latte are delicious! I have to say that Peet's is a little bit on the pricy end just for the amount that I am getting (even though it's about the same as Coffee Bean and Starbucks.) I don't mind paying the amount once in a while as long as I'm satisfied with whatever it is I am buying. I have no complaints about Peet's, especially this one located at the UTC in Irvine :) read more

I've never been to a Peet's before, and was out in the area to eat at Veggie Grill, next door. The place was pretty packed when I came in (around 4:30 pm or so, mid-week), and I practically injured someone when I tossed (ok, I threw it, Olympic discus-throwing style) my laptop bag on a table as soon as I saw someone leaving. Hey, that's prime real estate! Baristas were really friendly, and the coffee was actually superb. I've been drinking coffee long enough my definition of "tolerable" is quite broad. While all coffee is clearly not equal, caffeine is caffeine. But Peet's basic drip coffee was excellent. So much so, I got a 2nd cup, and went from a medium to a large. While I was there, I was looking for an aeropress, and one of the baristas was super helpful and searched their stock in the backroom, as well as all their cupboards in the front. Unfortunately, they couldn't find one, but still, the effort she put forth was great. The only negative thing is they don't have restrooms, but I just slipped on over to Veggie Grill to use the restroom there. Great coffee shop! I'll be back. read more

If you're trying to be on time for work, school, a movie, funeral, etc., DO NOT stop in here. I come here before I go to the office in the mornings sometimes and they are slow, slow, slow. During their morning rush (6am-9am) I don't think I've ever seen more than three people working. Forget about sense of urgency. From waiting in line to actually receiving coffee is like 12-15 minutes. Not good. They are friendly enough I guess, except for the one girl who sometimes works the barista who thinks it's cute to slide the drink at me across the bar when she's finished with it. I'm not a coffee connoisseur by any means, so it tastes fine to me. Pretty overpriced IMO, even more than Starbucks. read more

I love this Peets with a passion. The staff have been so good to me. They make me amazing drinks that I never even heard of. I am a regular at this Peets and study here for midterms and finals. This place, due to it's popularity has limited seating. So, just sit outside for a little and wait for a spot inside. I decided to write a review today because Natalia (which usually works at Laguna Niguel) made me an amazing drink that consist of soy milk, honey, and nutmeg. She is so sweet and has such an amazing personality, I wish she worked at the Irvine one forever! LOL! read more

Peet's Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is the best & only place to get the best flat whites (not on the menu) due to the male barista making it is knowledgeable & amazing!! Every itehr Peet's location in OC around here still dont know what flat whites are and when i try tell them how to make it, it comes out bland or weird like watered down coffee and milk. read more

Coffee was delicious. Interior was pleasant and appealing. Outdoor seating isn't as decorative. Customer service, based on first impression, wasn't phenomenal but nonetheless friendly. Kind of let down knowing a lot of people referred me to this place but my favorite coffee shop remains to be the coffee bean. read more

Peet's Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Good service and study spot! :) They play good classical and jazz music!! opens early, which saves my life!! Cashiers are always friendly and patient. Drinks are good too. A lot of UCI students study here. read more

Convenient to Trader Joe's for morning coffee or tea or oatmeal. I like their oatmeal with dried blueberries, nuts (either almonds or walnuts, I forgot which one) and brown sugar. Granted it's pricey but I buy it for the convenience. Friendly service. They have had problems with running out of their pumpkin spice for their coffee and chai tea. That has really disappointed me. They have been at this location long enough to know how popular certain seasonal drinks are and how to order appropriately. They make it pretty cozy inside with the couches. Peet's is pricey and I can't give more stars than 3 due to this reason and lack of consistently with their seasonal drinks. read more

This was my first time stepping into this place. When I was a student at UCI, it was a diedrich's coffee..Anyways, got my super hot coffee which burn the top of my mouth and sat down with my daughter. One of the employees start talking about their bad experience the day before at the other coffee shop that uses green straw and how horrible it was. The other employee starts talking about another Peet's coffee that they went to and what a bad experience they had. Totally unprofessional conversations to have in front of customers. Atmosphere is okay besides that. Music was nice and stimulating. Obviously, there were lots of college students hogging the tables with their computers and even an extension was laid out in the middle of floor! I'm not complaining about this because I did the same thing when I was a student at UCI. Lol. read more

Despite it being constantly busy, with your business crowd, tourist crowd, and the student crowd of course; the staff is always friendly and prompt. These baristas sure know what's up! The bakery case always looks great! read more

I use to like Peet's but after going there more, I started disliking the place. They drinks are okay. I use to like their coconut javiva and camrel macchiato but with Time I didn't like how they were making mu drink so I get couple sips and I don't drink it. Their staff are really nice and welcoming! Their wifi is REALLY BAD!!! Most of the Time when I'm there I connect to tender greens. Space is very small and limited. The only reason I go is because their staff are not nice read more

Peet's need to get better in customer service training on their front line personal. Kiarra has more than once works the Saturday morning shift between 7-8am, and ordering coffee from her makes you feel like you are using food stamps in exchange for food rationing: no smile whatsoever. When I asked for Kenza Auction lot daily brew, it seems she's trying to discourage me from ordering because she will have to brew a new batch and that may be a bit too much work for her. I ordered anyway and told her I'm willing to wait My wife later told me she had similar experience last time she was there served by Kiarra. It looks like the store manage can certainly pay a bit more attention read more

I always come here before work and I recently started to make a 15 min drive from home just for the service. Top tier service, they know my drink and my name and everything. Thank you Peet's! read more

I think my review's gonna be basically the exact opposite of lovely Charlene P.'s -- three stars all for the service and seating, but ZERO points for my drink! Boooooo on the Chai Freddo. Yay for everything else. The young ladies who work here are SO incredibly nice. Very polite, very accommodating, very patient -- I overheard a lot of whatnot going on and they dealt with everything in stride. Since I thankfully was alone, I had my pick of the litter with seats. As outstanding as fate treats me, there was a comfy couch seat with an outlet right next to it. Although this placed me within 'annoying' proximity of the King of UCI (I swear to GOD he knew like EVERYONE who walked in the door), this was a thankful opportunity for me to get studious and buckle down -- looks like UCI summer sessions are in full swing! Free internet for 2 hours is always a plus, and although the place was filled to the brim with families and students, it was still a chill place -- so chill, in fact, that I almost missed The One That Makes My Heart Go Boom saunter in to watch a movie with me afterward. Awesome. Anyway, booooooooo stars on the drink. It was pretty much tasteless. Thank goodness the guy at the movie door let me take it in, otherwise it would have been another five bucks down the drain on some watered down tea drink. That being said, I'd say this Peet's seems more like hit-or-miss more often than not. I'd come back if Irvine in general didn't make me feel sort of icky inside. read more

Updating my review for Peet's acknowledgement and attentiveness to the issue addressed. I appreciate the followup.

Lots and lots of outlets! At every table there is an outlet nearby to sustain your laptop's life. YES! This means, at least to me, that it is a great study spot. Being in walking distance to the UC-Irvine campus, Trader Joe's (aka, let's go shopping for groceries before we head home), and yummy restaurants, Peet's is definitely a go-to for me when I need to study. Unfortunately the bathrooms in this plaza are outside the restaurant itself. Parking is easy. Also, I love holiday drinks. I usually drink my coffee black, but sometimes I like to experiment.... Their cinnamon hazelnut latte (I substitute milk with almond milk because I'm lactose intolerant) is very subtly sweet. read more

Guess what? Peets is Starbucks. Really. Can't help but compare to the former Diedrich's. THE POSITIVE -More crowded -More space -Better coffee -UCI WiFi reaches here and is free for UCI students/faculty/staff -Peet's WiFi for free for 2 hrs with purchase (better than nothing) -It's not Starbucks, per se THE NEGATIVE: -More crowded -It's owned by Starbucks -Lots of in-and-out traffic given busy location Would have given 2 stars but free wireless internet is an automatic bonus star. read more

Matcha green tea latte with vanilla is REALLY good. Use their yelp deals and save $$$!! They always have new yelp deals when they get new drinks. Their lattes are always really smooth and rich. One thing I really like is that there is always FOAM! yum. Starbucks on campus sucks. Go to Peets for better coffee. read more

I prefer the coffee here over Starbucks, but this place is inconsistent! Last week I got an iced mocha and it tasted great, not too sweet and not too bitter. Hoping to get the same quality mocha today, I visited this Peet's coffee for another. Today's mocha turned out more like a regular unsweetened latte. No chocolate flavor whatsoever, but very bitter and acidic. This wasn't the first time that my coffee tasted like this either. When I come to Peet's occasionally, my coffee has always been very bitter and acidic, no amount of simple syrup can sweeten that load up. I'll give the 3 stars to the service. The baristas are very nice and welcoming! I'll stick to my opinion that Intelligentsia coffee has the best mocha, hands down. But this coffeeshop does not exist in Orange County, sigh. read more