Peet’s Coffee & Tea

The cashier was very friendly and had time to chat a little with no one else in line. I am enjoying the turkey sandwich with a round thin roll.
My caramel latte was way too sweet, but I read in a review that you can request more or less syrup or sweetener in your drinks. I’m taking my mine home to add some coffee to it.
I agree that there could be more comfortable furniture. The chairs are made of wood. How about a little padding? I sat on my jacket instead.
The noise level is high because the walls and floor are all nonporous surfaces. There are many people conducting business meetings at the tables. I suggest adding some fabric or other material to absorb the sound.
Manager: Please do not ask me to email you because I don’t have time.

I’m from California and have long loved me some Peet’s. I was definitely happy to see them in my neighborhood. Everything there is delicious and fresh. But I’m actually writing this review to specifically compliment the staff, because it’s the staff that makes this my go to coffee shop.
Every time I walk in to this location, I’m greeted extra warmly. I’m usually there in the 8 to 9 am range, and that crew is freaking lovely. Everyone is alway smiling, and regularly provides me with little extra «tips» on their favorites or best ways to order things. It’s these kinds of little extras that keep me coming back. A special shout out to Anthony, who after I had only come in to this Peet’s once remembered me and always greets me with the literally the biggest smile on the planet. More than once, he has absolutely made my morning and put me in such a good mood that it carried through the rest of the day. What a delight!

I never could get into Caribou coffee, everything was just really sweet and not satisfying. When I saw that Caribou had been closed down, and Peet’s was opening instead — I was so happy. I had been going to Peet’s back when I lived in The Bay Area, and I missed it. Peet’s has stronger coffee than Starbucks and much less crap in their sugary drinks than the other chains like Caribou and Starbucks.
I especially love their green tea matcha, it is actually pure matcha. Whereas other places *coughs* Starbucks adds sweetener and vanilla in theirs. This is pure and you can totally taste it. They also carry both soy and almond milk, which I love. You can also get your drinks lightly sweetened or super sweet. Love the fact they are so flexible!

I want to like Peets, but I have had several meh experiences. (Not to mention I miss Caribou.)
First, the green tea latte had the most off putting fake taste ever. I love green tea and matcha — I order both from Japan frequently (as well as other goods from Japan with both), so I am familiar with what it should taste like.
Second, the Mexican mocha I had the other day had no spice to it at all. If you aren’t familiar with Mexican mocha or hot chocolate, it should have a kick of hot pepper and cinnamon. It is delicious when done right, but this tasted exactly like regular hot chocolate.

I went to this place with my husband and his friend to kill time before a party. They got a can of pelligrino and I got something called the black tie only because it was on the menu behind the cashier. It is the most delicious iced coffee drink I have tasted. I went by the next morning and got another one before I hit the road.
If Peets open up a shop in my town, I will abandon Starbucks for them. It’s that serious. I was curious about this brand because I saw the k-​cups in grocery stores by my house, yet I never heard of them. Now I will pick up a box the next time I go grocery shopping.

I come here regularly. Generally speaking, the service here is good. By saying so, I mean even my worst experience here is still acceptable, not to say normally the service is good. However, the quality of coffee here various. The cappuccino I had last Saturday morning was just amazing! One of the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. But this morning’s was more like a cup of bitter water. Foam was loose, coffee was hard to swallow. Hope coffee quality can be more stable here.

I feel conflicted… On the one hand, my actual experience in Peet’s was very off putting. On the other, the coffee and croissant were delicious!
On my way to work, I decided to stop in for Peet’s as I had a few minutes to spare before catching my bus. I had never been to Peet’s since they took over the old Caribou and had heard positive reviews of their coffee. I enter and walk up to the cashier. This guy had no desire to be there this morning and it was clear.
He did not greet me, stared me down like I was an enemy and spoke to me like I was stupid.
This was a lovely way to start my day! Once I completed my order (confused and beginning to feel upset) he did not say thank you, did not give me a receipt, and barked at the person behind me «what do you want!» without instructing me that the coffee I had ordered would be given to me at the counter by another woman. In the meanwhile, two other people had received their coffee (simple coffee of the day, same as me) and I was left standing there like an idiot looking around confused. Finally I was able to grab the attention of the woman who was surprised that there was an order she missed and promptly retrieved my coffee for me.
I’m not sure if I felt extra sensitive this morning or what it was, but the cashier guy really should reevaluate his strengths and weaknesses and attempt to find a position better suited for him. He had a hostile attitude and it frankly made me never want to go to Peet’s again.
Unfortunately for me, the coffee was damn incredible. Please please please Peet’s, either have higher standards for your customer service training or put this guy in a position that doesn’t deal as closely with customers. I’d rather take Starbucks or Einstein’s crappy coffee than be treated like this guy treated me. That’s a very sad trade off but at least it doesn’t leave me feeling like crap for the next 20 mins.

The staff here is extremely nice! Good selection of beans (including at least two varieties of decaf every time I’ve been there). The beans are in bins with the roasting date visible, and are bagged while you wait. I’ve always gotten a pound, but I would guess you could opt for any smaller amount you like. People driving around in the parking lot always seem at best a little confused and at worst somewhat crazed, but there’s plenty of parking, so just stay calm (and alert) and enjoy your coffee.

On the last day of the year, 2014, I was walking to the nearby Giant in the morning when I remembered I had a coupon for a free drink from this location. I made a quick detour to cash in on it. I’ve passed this place many times but never went in. It’s next to the very awesome Crisp and Juicy Peruvian chicken spot (read my review 5*). I go in and the cheery girl behind the counter and I have this conversation:
Me: «So I got this coupon…»
Her: «For a free drink?»
Me: «Yep. I don’t know what I want to get. Never been here before…»
Her: «Might as well get the most expensive drink. Its free»
«I like the way you think» I think to myself ~
So I just stand there while they make a caramel cappuccino of some sort. It takes awhile, which is odd since it’s just me and this light-​skinned brotha who looks like he summers at the Vineyard. So I take it all in. Nice space. Spacious with a wood feel. Plenty of tables, a couple comfy chairs with a checkers-​box and another board game in the corner. This isn’t Starbuck’s. It’s more like a large, public living room of sorts. But it’s clean with very Cali-​inspired photos. I later notice they’re based in Berkeley, Ca. A plus for me. I really like Berkeley.
So the drink comes and I pan around for a wall outlet… Because that’s what you do at a café when your laptop battery is on 4% power these days. I end up sitting at a small tabletop facing a wall… staring at my laptop and sipping my free $ 4.75 drink. It taste good and I’m content. Staring at the computer and the wall I think of several things:
My Fantasy basketball trade was approved. Cool!
I bet smoked chicken legs with ramen noodle would be great together.
Man, I’d love to bang (wont’ name) chick who responded to a comment I made on her page.
Man I can’t believe Notre Dame beat LSU in the Music City Bowl.
You know… Guy stuff.
So I’m settled in and I stay a while. A bit longer than expected. It’s early morning and quiet and I don’t have to be at work for just a while. I use the bathroom and note that it’s large (handicap-​accessible) and very clean for a public place. Nice.
When I leave I think:
What a pleasant surprise.
I’ll have to come back.
I need to Unilocal about this.
Done ~

Jean and KT are the best! They are always so friendly with everyone! All the staff at this location are great! They take their time with each and every drink order. I keep hoping they’ll buy an oven to heat up the pastry hut they are yummy even not heated up.

Good bye Caribou, and hello Peet’s Coffee.
What has changed? As far as interiors go, not much beyond a few minor details and of course, Peet’s menu. I didn’t frequent Caribou too often but the few times I’ve come to this place as it is now (as Peets) I do feel like Peet’s coffee is better and they offer a fuller menu with variety. That’s just me, though.
If you check in you get a $ 1 off any coconut beverage coupon, which is nice. If you’re looking for a spot to study, read, or plop down with your laptop this *may* fit the bill if you can procure an outlet. Usually you can or you might have to wait a few minutes until someone leaves, it’s not as bad as say one of the trendy coffee shops in the city.

Tentatively 4 stars, maybe 5 on further review. But I hesitate to give a place 5 stars based on a single visit, and also based on a visit where I did not order more than a cup of tea — I’d like to sample their pastry offerings before a final decision.
I hadn’t been to any of the Caribous-turned-Peet’s since they made them over a few months ago until today, for some reason. I guess I just never happened to be in the vicinity when I was in the mood for some tea. I had expected my reaction to be positive because this place calls itself Peet’s Coffee *&*Tea* — not just Coffee as Caribou used to and Starbucks still does. (There used to be Tynan’s, which also had tea in their title, but they folded, unfortunately.) I was not disappointed. Some good points:
*They have a printed list of teas so you know what they have to order — and while not the variety that the late lamented Zen Tara had, more variety than most places like Starbucks and their ilk have.
*The person behind the counter knew enough about tea to tell me – as only at Tynan’s have I been told — to let it brew for 5 minutes before drinking.
*They have, besides the usual sweeteners, a little pitcher of pre-​dissolved sugar. In hot tea, such as I had today, this is less important, though even so it helps since stirring with these little stirrers doesn’t disperse granulated sugar as thoroughly as one would like, but in iced tea it would be essential — which is why Starbucks pre-​sweetens the iced tea, but this way you get to choose how much sweetener you want.
Though I am not a coffee drinker, so I cannot evaluate the coffee, my wife, who was with me, told me their espresso was REAL espresso, so that is a point in their favor, though she had a platter with hummus that was, according to her, not the best hummus she’d had, though acceptable.
I imagine all the other Peet’s places would rate identically, but I can’t speak on their behalf since this is the only one I’ve been to.

My office just moved nearby so I stopped in to Pete’s recently. I got my usual, chai tea latte, and it was one of the best ones I’ve had. It easily beats out Starbucks. Service was friendly and place was booming.

I’d give them 4.5 stars if that was an option. I don’t like it quite as much as when it was a Caribou Coffee, when it had a more rustic, homey décor and was open later. It’s still my favorite hang-​out when working on a laptop or reading, though. They have floor-​to-​ceiling glass windows all around, so it doesn’t seem like a dark cave as Starbucks and others sometimes do. They also have plenty of outdoor seating.
They have more food options than they used to. In addition to pastries and pre-​packaged sandwiches like Starbucks often have, they also have oatmeal, hot panini sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches (egg, etc.), and quinoa salad.
I just have two complaints. One is that they fill the cups up to the very brim and don’t put the tops on for you, so there’s danger of a spill. The other is that they cut the hours back. Now they close at 9 pm instead of 10 pm, which is not that big a deal, but closing at 7 pm on Sundays really sux. I want to stay longer! :-)

I’m not really a coffee person, but I seem to love those pumpkin latte’s as it gets cold outside. I love the fact that they have almond milk, and that they take the time to explain the items on the menu when I ask. Always customer service with a smile is how I like it.
4 Stars!

Haha I guess I’m the opposite of all these reviewers– I HATED Caribou! I tried it a few times way back when and always thought it was gross. Since I only drink tea these days, I was happy to hear that they have tea lattes and popped in on the way to Giant.
I decided to try the iced matcha green tea latte with almond milk and enjoyed it. It basically tastes exactly like Starbucks’ green tea frap, only iced not blended. I also snagged the last ham and cheese croissant, which was pretty good. It reminded me of the Vie de France croissants I loved as a kid. It’d be nice if they had an oven to warm it up in though.
I’m glad there were empty patio tables because it was 15 degrees hotter inside! No AC or even fans (at least that I noticed).

It’s a fabulous location and the staff is nice. When I usually go to Peet’s, I usually get coffee, and it tastes fine/​good. This time I needed more of a kick, so I ordered my usual Starbucks drink of mocha latte with extra shots and whipped cream. I can only say that the drink tasted sad, and was topped with cream in the shape of a severely dehydrated and misformed snake. I’m never ordering that here again!

Not cool that on Sunday’s Peet’s closes at 7pm… Caribou used to stay open later for patrons…

I miss Caribou. I liked the comfy seating and the fireplace. Peet’s feels very uniform and somewhat sterile. It has an open floor plan with only two leather chairs. There’s free wifi, but the six center tables are not near an outlet. I am not sure if the front window seats have an outlet or not. There is a wall seating for two that faces the wall. Guess that’s okay if all you want to do is stare at your laptop.
I’ve only had tea here I’m the past, but today I used my Unilocal check-​in for $ 1.00 off a coconut beverage. I got the iced coconut macadamia latte. All I can say is that it makes me want to stick with Café Mochas in the future.
I have found the baristas to be very nice, and because it is close to home I will most likely return. The croissants look good. Maybe a future check-​in for discounted pastry will make me explore the beverage menu further.
The patio seating is a bonus, but it looks out onto East-​West Hwy.

I miss Caribou. So far every drink I’ve tried at Peet’s has been bland to gross, depending on the selection. The latest drink I tried was some sort of green tea latte that I couldn’t even finish — even my husband, who will eat/​drink anything, took one sip and declared it heinous. Even their breakfast oatmeal is blah (Caribou’s was so delicious!). I did sample a few pastries that they had out and those were quite tasty, but I’m not inclined to buy such things so that doesn’t do much for me. The atmosphere is very sterile, I can’t imagine wanting to spend much time there.
Oh well, at least Starbucks is still nearby (and cheaper, shockingly enough!). It’s a little less convenient to get to, but it’s better.