Peet's Coffee and Tea

I'm living on the west coast for the summer, and so I had the unique pleasure of walking into a Peet's the other day. I ordered a cappuccino, and took a sip. Wow, this is good, I thought. This is REALLY good. I vowed to never go to Starbucks again. Okay, I admit, I've made a few much needed afternoon iced coffee runs. But after that first taste of Peet's, there was no going back.

THE SERVICE Overall very friendly. They're patient, they wait for you to order, they'll tell you about the drinks. I showed up at a Peet's recently and the baristas were all chatting in the back. But once I cleared my throat, someone helped me and the service was excellent. They helped me set up my Wifi (free for an hour with purchase). While I was working, a barista came over and gave me a free quarter pound of coffee.

BARISTA BIO Joseph loves Peet's because of the great employer's discount (50% off) and the free drip coffee and tea. He likes Peet's better than Starbucks, but for the best coffee, he prefers blue bottle coffee, a Bay Area brewing company.

THE TASTE So far, everything I've tasted at Peet's has been great. The foam on my cappuccino wasn't quite dense enough for my liking, but Peet's is definitely an upgrade from Starbucks and tastes a lot more natural and fresh.

RECOMMENDED Coffee of the day. They never let their drip coffee sit for more than half an hour, so guaranteed freshness and deliciousness. I have yet to try the Freddo's (a Peet's frappuccino) , but during July, medium Freddo's are only $2 on Fridays. The Jasmine Tea over ice is also delicious and refreshing.

THE CUPS The hot cups have an African twist. The "for here" cups seem to have an available saucer, but you have to ask. No metal spoons either.

THE PRICE Money savers: if you reduce the amount of espresso shots in your beverage, they lower the price. And for every pound of coffee you order, expect to receive a free drink.

THE ATMOSPHERE Very homey and welcoming. Beautiful marble tables and comfortable chairs. Peet's has a very rustic feel to it. The last Peet's I frequented had a teeny two-room attack. A little two crowded and the second room didn't have a window, but still cute.

NOW PLAYING Chopin Piano Concerto

ON THE WALLS I sat in front of a very ugly tapestry behind glass that seemed to be glaring at me. It was mustard yellow and ketchup red; a repetitive pattern. I was not so fond.

WHO'S THERE Pretty much everyone. A more select group than Starbucks. Expect a West coast flavor.

FASHION ADVICE A skateboard, jeans, and a tee and you'll fit right in. Or a button down tucked into khakis. The barista at my last Peet's was wearing huge gauges, a pink tee with black writing, and black jeans.

FUN STUFF Peet's has been around since 1966 when it opened its first location in Berkley, CA. Peet's is also a proud sponsor of many local artists and organizations. You can even tour their roasting facility online (all of Peet's beans are hand roasted).

WEBSITE